California Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Billing: Manuals, Codes and Payers
In California, county mental health plans deliver specialty mental health services and Medi-Cal managed care plans cover the rest, so billing rules come from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the county and the plan. This page lists the current state sources and payer sites. Checked on 9/30/26.
Get My Free ConsultationIn this guide
- ✓ DHCS fee schedules and behavioral health notices
- ✓ County mental health plans and managed care plans
- ✓ How CalAIM changed coding
- ✓ What changes in 2026 and 2027
California Medi-Cal Billing at a glance
This page covers california medi-cal billing for behavioral health claims: where the state provider manuals and code lists live, and which HCPCS codes apply to psychotherapists and psychiatrists. Rules vary by state and by payer, so confirm current requirements with the state Medicaid agency before you bill.
Use this California Medi-Cal Billing guide as a starting point. California Medi-Cal Billing rules differ by plan, so check whether a claim goes to the state fee-for-service program or to a managed care plan. Keep a copy of the current California Medi-Cal Billing manual your practice follows, and review your California Medi-Cal Billing process whenever the state issues an update.
Medi-Cal at a glance
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, run by DHCS. Specialty mental health services are carved out to 58 county mental health plans. Medi-Cal managed care plans cover the non-specialty (mild-to-moderate) benefit.
State manuals, fee schedules and notices
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Medi-Cal provider manuals (modified 12/18/2025) | DHCS manuals page Six categories are listed; there is no separate mental health manual. |
| Behavioral health fee schedules, FY 2026-27 (updated 8/27/2026, effective 7/1/2026) | Fee schedules Codes sit in the linked Excel and PDF files. |
| 2026 Behavioral Health Information Notices (BHINs) | BHIN list BHIN 26-030 (8/19/2026): authorization of outpatient specialty mental health. BHIN 26-002 (1/20/2026): access criteria. |
| Specialty behavioral health provider information (modified 5/29/2026) | Provider information |
| CalAIM behavioral health payment reform fact sheet (December 2022) | Fact sheet |
| Old DHCS mental health billing manual (September 2019, history only) | 2019 manual Replaced by payment reform. Do not bill from it. |
County plans and managed care plans
| Payer | Provider site |
|---|---|
| 58 county mental health plans | DHCS county plan list |
| Medi-Cal managed care plan directory (updated 7/31/2026) | DHCS directory Plans vary by county; use the county selector. |
| Anthem Blue Cross | Manuals and guidelines |
| Health Net and CalViva | Medi-Cal provider page |
| L.A. Care | Forms and manuals |
| Inland Empire Health Plan | Provider manuals |
| Molina Healthcare of California | Provider manual |
| Blue Shield of California Promise | Provider manuals |
| CalOptima Health | Manuals and policies |
| Partnership HealthPlan of California | Medi-Cal provider manual |
Other Medi-Cal plans appear in the DHCS directory. Kaiser Permanente is a Medi-Cal plan in 32 counties.
What is changing
Current as of the last search. Reconfirm before publishing or billing.
- BHIN 26-002 updated access criteria (1/20/2026); BHIN 26-030 covers authorization of outpatient specialty mental health (8/19/2026).
- Behavioral Health Services Act integration: DHCS targets January 2027 for counties to combine mental health and substance use administration (see BHIN 26-024, 7/7/2026).
- CalAIM payment reform continues through 2027. DHCS CalAIM behavioral health page
California Medicaid billing: frequently asked questions
Who pays for therapy in Medi-Cal?
It depends on the member's needs. County mental health plans pay for specialty mental health services, and Medi-Cal managed care plans cover the non-specialty benefit. Confirm the member's plan before you bill.
Is there a California behavioral health billing manual?
We found no current DHCS behavioral health billing manual. The 2019 manual is out of date. Use the FY 2026-27 fee schedules, the BHINs and your county or plan guidance.
Does California still use H codes?
Payment reform moved billing to CPT and HCPCS Level I codes effective 7/1/2023. We could not confirm current H, T or S codes, so check the rate files.
Where do I find California's managed care plans?
Use the DHCS managed care plan directory, which lists plans by county.
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