Alameda County Behavioral Health Memos and Notices

Memos and other notifications from QA including agency policy & compliance updates.


Show/Hide By Category Beneficiaries Rights and Access to Services | Billing, Codes, and Reporting Units | Clinical Record Documentation Standards | Confidentiality Policies | Credentialing and Re-Credentialing | Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) | External Audits and Reviews | EHR Modifications and Updates | Fee for Service Providers | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Internal Audits and CQRT Reviews | Interoperability and Patient Access | Language Assistance and Linguistic Services | Medi-Cal Site Certification| Operational Updates| Program Integrity | Scope of Practice | Timeliness | Training | Unusual Occurrences


Show/Hide By Year 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011

 2024
  2024-49 Telephone Evaluation And Management (E/M) Code Changes - 12/31/24
  2024-48 Timely Access Reporting Requirements and New Timely Access Data Tool (TADT) E-Form - 12/06/24
  2024-47 2024 Member Handbook Consumer Notice Provider Memo - 12/03/24
  2024-46 New SMHS Supplemental Documentation Guide - 11/13/24
  2024-45 SUD Scope of Practice Memo - 11/04/24
  2024-44 Amber House Closure - 10/15/24
  2024-43 Policy Updates Quarterly Memo - 10/22/24
  2024-42 Due Dates and Documentation Requirements for Authorization Requests- SUD Residential Treatment - 10/17/24
  2024-41 Fiscal Year 2024-25 Cost Reimbursement Extension - 10/15/24
  2024-40 Application Programming Interface (API) Status Update - 10/02/24
  2024-39 Update To ACBHD SMHS Scope Of Practice Reference Guide (Supersedes QA Memo 2024-18) - 9/23/24
  2024-38 SmartCare Update - 8/23/24
  2024-37 Additional Information and Resources Related to SMHS and DMC-ODS Procedure Code Changes FY 2024-2025 - 9/3/24
  • Changes Resulting from Newly Published Billing Manual and Service Tables for FY 2024-2025 - 9/4/24
    •   2024-36 SmartCare Update - 8/23/24
      2024-35 Fiscal Year 2024-25 Cost Reimbursement Extension - 8/20/24
      2024-34 Compliance Training for New Hires - 7/26/24
      2024-33 Document Translation and Multilingual Interpretation Services - 7/23/24
      2024-32 Data Entry for FY 2024-25 July Services Update - 8/7/24
      2024-31 Proposition 1 Bond-BHCIP RFA Released - Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Update #2 - 8/5/24
      2024-30 Updated OTP FY24-25 Rates - 8/1/24
      2024-29 ReBrand Memo to Partners - 4/1/24
      2024-28 SMHS System of Care Audit Results- Quarter 2 - FY 2022- 2023 - 7/31/24
      2024-27 Early Intervention Services - Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Operational Update #1 - 7/11/24
      2024-26 Release Notes: Clinician’s Gateway (CG) - 6/28/24
      2024-25 Procedure Code Changes For Prolonged Service Codes Effective FY 2024-25 - 6/24/24
      2024-24 Errored Note Processing - 6/24/24
      2024-23 SmartCare Service Completion Nightly Job - 6/4/24
      2024-22 Updated CQRT Checklist - 6/4/24
      2024-21 Procedure Codes for Peer Support Services (PSS) - 5/24/24
      2024-20 Important Updates - SmartCare Service Entry and Claiming - 5/20/24
      2024-19 Billing for Student Services - 5/14/24
      2024-18 New ACHBHD Guidelines for Scope of Practice (MH) Reference Guide - 5/3/24
      2024-17 Updated Guidance for SmartCare Service Entry Deadlines - 4/26/24
      2024-16 New and Updated Resources - 4/23/24
      2024-15 Guidance For Finalization Of Documentation In CG-SmartCare For Departed Staff - 4/15/24
      2024-14 SmartCare New Program Set Up - 3/26/24
      2024-13 SmartCare Launch Service Entry Deadlines - 3/15/24
      2024-12 Substance Use Disorder Treatment Planning Requirements - 2/29/24
      2024-11 Substance Use Disorder Assessment Requirements - 2/29/24
      2024-10 SmartCare Launch Service Entry Training - 2/29/24
      2024-09 Provider Cost Reimbursement Extension - 2/29/24
      2024-08 SmartCare Billing Setup Required For Student Services - 2/27/24
      2024-07 Application Programming Interface (API) - NEW INFORMATION - 2/23/24
      2024-06 Updated Beneficiary Handbooks - 2/20/24
      2024-05 Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) Referral Process And Child Family Team (CFT) Meeting Updates - 2/7/24
      2024-04 Changes to Data Entry Values in Clinician’s Gateway-SmartCare - 2/7/24
  • 2024-04 MHP FFS FY 24-25 HCPC Org Codes for Collateral Services- 9/26/24
    •   2024-03 ACBH Practice Guidelines - 1/23/24
      2024-02 Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) Audit Results - 1/23/24
      2024-01 Upcoming Changes To Minor Consent Laws - 1/16/24


     2023
      2023-69 New County provider for over the phone Multilingual Interpretation Services - 04/17/23
      2023-68 Fiscal Year 2023-24 Rate-Based Contract Reimbursement - 11/27/23
      2023-67 2023 Consumer Notice Announcing Changes to ACBH’s Beneficiary Handbooks Effective January 1, 2024 - 11/28/23
      2023-66 Substance Use Disorder Treatment Planning Requirements and CQRT Checklist Update - 11/20/23 Memo superseded by 2024-12
      2023-65 Diagnosis Codes Available for Medi-Cal Claiming Post CalAIM - 11/14/23
      2023-64 Updates to CQRT Checklist and Glossary to Align with New Medication Consent Requirements - 11/16/23
      2023-63 Changes to SUD Program Types in SmartCare - 7/1/23
      2023-62 SmartCare Launch Updates - 10/30/23
      2023-61 New CG-SmartCare and SmartCare Trainings Available this Month - 10/20/23
      2023-60 CQRT Combined Procedures and SUD Checklist - 10/17/23
      2023-59 Application Programming Interface (API) - New Requirement and CG Enhancements - 10/10/23
      2023-58 SmartCare Launch Updates 9.26.23 - 9/27/23
      2023-57 FFS Contract Amendment Status - 9/5/23
      2023-56 Change to Medication Consent Requirements - 8/30/23
      2023-55 FOLLOW UP - SmartCare Go Live - 8/24/23
      2023-54 Upcoming Trainings And Updated Provider Handbook And Utilization Tables - 8/21/23
      2023-53 ANSA and Program Coverage Update - 6/12/23
      2023-52 SmartCare Go Live on August 16, 2023 - 8/14/23
      2023-51 Telehealth Consent Forms Available in Threshold Languages - 8/10/23
      2023-50 Updated SmartCare Procedure Code Tables and CPT Code Guidance for Mental Health (MH) Students - 8/8/23
      2023-49 Changes to Claiming for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Residential Services (ASAM LOCs 3.1, 3.2-WM, 3.3, and 3.5) - 6/30/23
      2023-48 SmartCare and Payment Reform Quick Reference Guide, Update to SmartCare Workarounds and Paper Versions of Clinical Note Templates - 7/11/23
      2023-47 Payment Reform and SmartCare Professional Suffix Updates - 7/10/23
      2023-46 Scope of Practice for Mental Health Graduate Students Effective 7/1/23 & Update Regarding Collateral Services - 7/6/23
      2023-45 SmartCare Go Live Paused With Workarounds - 7/5/23
      2023-44 Quick Reminder: SmartCare Go Live On July 1, 2023! - 6/30/23
      2023-43 SmartCare Multi-Service Entry Training and Release - 6/28/23
      2023-42 Fiscal Year 2023-24 Rate-Based Contract Reimbursement - 6/27/23
      2023-41 Clinicians Gateway (CG) SmartCare Note Changes Upcoming Demos - 6/22/23
      2023-40 Fiscal Year 2023-24 Opioid Treatment Program Rates - 6/20/23
      2023-39 SmartCare Submission Of Required Data - Deadline Extended to June 21, 2023 - 6/20/23
      2023-38 Removed 6/27/2023
      2023-37 Upcoming SmartCare Trainings: MH, SUD - 6/16/23
      2023-36 CPT Code Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) And Other SmartCare And Payment Reform Reminders And Updates - 6/14/23
      2023-35 California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM): Systemwide Transition to Fee-for-Service (FFS) - 6/13/23
      2023-34 ACBH SmartCare Memo - 6/7/23
      2023-33 New CalMHSA CPT Coding Training Modules - 6/1/23
      2023-32 Telehealth Consent And Other Requirements - 5/31/23
      2023-31 HCSA Community Based Organizations Annual Compliance Training - 5/25/23
      2023-30 SmartCare Implementation Updates: General and Updated Training Plan - 5/22/23
      2023-29 Timely Access Reporting Definitions - 5/12/23
      2023-28 Removed 7/10/2023
      2023-27 Recent Updates to InSyst Diagnosis Codes - 5/11/23
      2023-26 CPT Code Training and Preliminary List of CPT Codes in SmartCare - 5/11/23
      2023-25 SmartCare Implementation Updates: General And Training Plan - 5/4/23
      2023-24 Updates to SMHS Progress Note Templates in Clinician’s Gateway - 5/2/23
      2023-23 SmartCare Billing System Implementation And Payment Reform FAQ - 4/26/23
      2023-22 Changes to SUD Treatment Plan Template and Assessment Timeframe for Residential Providers - 4/25/23
      2023-21 2023-21 Client Care Plans for Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) and Intensive Home Based Services (IHBS), and Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) Referral Form - 2/27/23
  • ICC/IHBS Child and Family Team (CFT) Client Care Plan and Meeting Minutes Form
  • ACBH Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) Referral Form
    •   2023-20 Payment Reform And Training For CPT Code Billing - 4/10/23
      2023-19 Required Trainings For Fee For Service Providers - 4/5/23
      2023-18 Open Payments Database Requirements For Physicians And Surgeons - 4/3/23
      2023-17 Publication of 2021 System of Care Audit - 3/29/23
      2023-16 NEW Level of Care Determination Tool for Adult and Crisis Residential Services and Clarification of Documentation Requirements - 3/22/23
      2023-15 SmartCare Implementation Town Halls - 3/22/23
      2023-14 Clinician Gateway - Changes to Access - 3/1/23
      2023-13 Updated Consumer Notice Announcing Changes To ACBH Beneficiary Handbooks - 2/10/23
      2023-12 Mental Health (MH) Brown Bag Process Updates and Launch of Meeting Notes - 2/9/23
      2023-11 CQRT Training and updates to CQRT Checklist for SMHS Outpatient Programs - 2/9/23
      2023-10 CalAIM Payment Reform Memo & FAQs - 2/7/23
      2023-09 California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM): Systemwide Transition to Fee-for-Service (FFS) - 2/6/23
      2023-08 External Quality Review of Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Fiscal Year 2022-2023 - Findings - 1/31/23
      2023-07 Change in ACBH Medi-Cal Site Certification On-site Visit Requirements - 1/23/23
      2023-06 Claiming and Documenting of Care Coordination Services in SUD Residential Programs - 1/23/23
      2023-05 ACBH DMC-ODS Chart Audit Schedule 2023 - 1/19/23
      2023-04 SMHS Audit Plans for 2023 - 1/18/23
      2023-03 Annual HIPAA Privacy and Security Confidentiality Statement Attestation - 1/10/23
      2023-02 Change in Reporting Unit (RU) Procedure for DMC ODS Perinatal and Parenting Residential Providers - 1/6/23
      2023-01 New CG Note Templates - Change to Training and Roll-Out Dates - 1/6/23