In 2021, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Division of Plan Surveys began conducting behavioral health investigations to assess barriers and challenges physicians experience in providing behavioral health services. DMHC has been conducting an average of five behavioral health investigations per year, with the goal of identifying systemic changes that could be made to improve the delivery of behavioral health care.

DMHC recently announced that the four health plans to be investigated in 2025 are:

• Health Net of California, Inc.
• MemorialCare Select Health Plan
• Santa Clara County (Valley Health Plan)
• California Physicians' Service (Blue Shield of California)

DMHC is looking for various providers (e.g., individuals, medical groups, facilities, hospitals, etc.) willing to participate in interviews as a component of the investigations of the above-listed health plans. The interviews will help DMHC gain a comprehensive understanding of provider-specific barriers and challenges. Interviews conducted will likely be via phone or video conferencing.

DMHC is looking to interview both providers who have elected not to contract with the above health plans, as well as contracted providers who have experienced barriers and challenges providing behavioral health services to their patients within the past two years. If you wish to participate in these interviews, contact DMHC at ProviderBHI@dmhc.ca.gov or (279) 666-5858. 

More information about the behavioral health investigations is available on the DMHC website.