Department of Managed Healthcare’s Behavioral Health Focused Investigations

Beginning in 2021, the Department of Managed Healthcare’s (DMHC) began conducting investigations of all full-service commercial health plans regulated by the DMHC to assess barriers practitioners experience in providing behavioral health services. The investigations also seek to identify systemic changes that could be made to improve the delivery of behavioral health care. Please note, these investigations do not include the Medi-Cal managed care population.

The DMHC anticipates an average of five investigations will be conducted per year. The five health plans to be investigated in 2022 are:

• Alameda Alliance for Health
• Blue Cross of California (Anthem Blue Cross)
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (Kaiser Permanente)
• Sharp Health Plan
• Western Health Advantage

We are seeking your assistance to identify various providers (e.g., individuals, medical groups, facilities, hospitals, etc.) who may be willing to participate in interviews conducted by the DMHC as a component of the investigations of the above-listed five health plans. The interviews will allow the DMHC to gain a comprehensive understanding of provider-specific barriers and challenges. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews conducted in 2022 will likely be via phone or video conferencing.     

Providers who have elected not to contract with the above five health plans, or contracted providers who have experienced barriers and challenges providing behavioral health services to their patients within the past two years, and who wish to participate in these interviews should contact the DMHC directly via email at ProviderBHI@dmhc.ca.gov or via phone at (279) 666-5858.  The DMHC may contact those providers who express an interest in being interviewed.  Accordingly, we respectfully request that you not forward the names of any providers directly to the DMHC.

The DMHC appreciates your efforts in supporting these important investigations. Please reach out with any questions. For more information about the behavioral health investigations, please use the following link, DMHC Behavioral Health Investigations.