SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING THROUGH PERSON-CENTERED INTERVENTIONS

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
Role: Oversees behavior services through Regional Centers and the Self-Determination Program

Agency: California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Role: Manages Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Services through county behavioral health plans

Agency: Regional Centers (21 nonprofit centers statewide)
Role: Authorizes behavior intervention services via the IPP and vendorizes providers

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Provides federal oversight of HCBS waiver compliance and behavioral health parity

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2. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE OVERVIEW

Behavioral Health Services address challenging behaviors and emotional well-being using evidence-based interventions tailored to the participant’s Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Person-Centered Plan (PCP).

Approved providers may deliver:

• Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
• Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
• Individual and group counseling
• Parent/caregiver training
• Mental health assessments and treatment planning
• Ongoing documentation and behavioral data tracking
• Crisis planning and de-escalation support

Note: Services may be delivered under different funding streams depending on whether they are clinical (Medi-Cal/mental health) or habilitative (Regional Center/DD-focused).

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3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register your business with the California Secretary of State
• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
• Obtain appropriate licensure or certification for behavioral staff (e.g., BCBA, LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, Psychologist)
• Apply for vendorization through the Regional Center (e.g., Service Code 612 – Behavioral Intervention)
• OR operate as an Independent Facilitator under SDP for non-vendorized access
• If billing Medi-Cal, enroll through DHCS and partner with county behavioral health departments
• Maintain liability insurance, supervision logs, and documentation systems

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4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Path A: Regional Center Vendorization

• Request vendor application for behavioral services ( 612 or 605)
• Submit resumes, credentials, sample BIPs, service structure, and documentation templates
• Complete quality assurance review and receive vendor number

Path B: Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Enrollment (Specialty Mental Health Services)

• Coordinate with your county’s Behavioral Health Plan
• Submit license, staffing, and facility credentials
• Contract for services such as therapy, psychiatric evaluations, or case management

Path C: Self-Determination Program

• Complete DDS-approved Independent Facilitator or provider registration
• Work under FMS agency to bill against the individual’s budget

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5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or Fictitious Business Name (FBN)
• IRS EIN Letter
• NPI confirmation
• Licensure or certification for clinical staff (BCBA, LMFT, etc.)
• Liability and professional insurance

Policy & procedure manual including:

• Assessment tools and behavioral goal tracking
• BIP development templates and training protocols
• Confidentiality, consent, and participant rights policies
• Crisis and incident response procedures
• Clinical supervision and ongoing education logs
• Service logs, data sheets, and outcome summaries
• HIPAA compliance and documentation review processes

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6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Clinical Supervisor / Behavior Analyst / Licensed Therapist
Requirements: BCBA, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, Psychologist license or certification with behavioral intervention experience

Role: Behavior Technician / Support Staff
Requirements:

• High school diploma or higher (some roles require RBT or associate’s degree)
• Supervision by credentialed professional
• Background clearance (Live Scan), TB test, and CPR certification

Training Requirements for All Staff:

• Person-centered planning and behavior support strategies
• HIPAA, documentation, and ethical service delivery
• Crisis prevention and de-escalation
• Annual CEUs or professional development hours

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7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Behavioral Health Services may be funded through:

• 1915(c) HCBS Waiver via Regional Centers (non-clinical behavior services)
• Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (clinical)
• Self-Determination Program (if included in PCP and budget)
• EPSDT – for minors with behavioral health needs

Approved providers may deliver:

• FBAs, BIPs, and habilitative behavior interventions
• Psychotherapy, mental health treatment, and caregiver support
• Crisis stabilization and data-driven progress monitoring
• Service logs and ISP/IPP documentation

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8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation
Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: Licensure and Regional Center Vendorization or Medi-Cal Enrollment
Timeline: 45–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Supervision Plans
Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: Referral Coordination and Service Activation
Timeline: Ongoing

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9. CONTACT INFORMATION

California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
Email: info@dds.ca.gov
Website: https://www.dds.ca.gov

California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) – Behavioral Health
Website: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MentalHealthPrograms.aspx

Find Your Regional Center:
Website: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/lookup

Self-Determination Program Resources
Website: https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business registration (LLC, EIN, NPI)
• Regional Center vendorization or Medi-Cal Behavioral Health enrollment
• Policy & procedure manual for behavioral assessments and documentation
• Templates for FBAs, BIPs, session notes, and data logs
• Website, domain, and email setup
• Staff credentialing trackers and supervision logs
• Client intake packet, consent forms, and progress tracking tools
• Incident reporting systems and audit preparation tools
• Referral networking with case managers, families, and clinicians

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — CALIFORNIA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER

We support licensed clinicians and behavior specialists in launching compliant Behavioral Health Services under California’s Regional Center, Medi-Cal, and Self-Determination systems.