Plumas County Behavioral Health Commission recommends draft BHSA integrated plan for public comment

The Plumas County Behavioral Health Commission voted to recommend that the county's draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) integrated plan be posted for a 30‑day public comment period and forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for formal consideration.

Shelley Evans, who helped compile the draft, told the commission, "We have completed the draft," and walked commissioners through key changes from the former Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The BHSA replaces MHSA and reorganizes funding and reporting. Evans said the state will take 10% for administration and the remaining 90% is to be used by counties across three components (the presentation described allocations of roughly 35% for behavioral health supportive services, 30% housing, and 35% full‑service partnerships). Evans said Plumas County's annual BHSA allocation is estimated at approximately $2,300,000 to $2,500,000.

Under the new rules, counties must submit a full integrated plan and related outcomes reporting; the county draft is due to the state by March 31, 2026, with BHSA implementation slated for July 1, 2026. Evans said providers will be required to be Medi‑Cal certified, counties must track all behavioral health funding and services in the integrated plan, and outcomes reporting is emphasized.

Commissioners asked procedural questions about board referral, page numbering and review timelines. After brief discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend the draft integrated plan be sent to the Board of Supervisors for public comment; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

During the same item staff also described housing plans tied to BHSA funding. The department reported it issued an RFP, accepted a proposal from Harvest Healthcare Solutions, and is negotiating contracts for smaller permanent supportive housing projects (houses in Chester, Portola and Quincy) rather than a large apartment complex. Staff said the housing procurement and any contract must go to County Counsel and the Board for approval. Staff also warned that state beds for high‑level care will be allocated by cohort and that wait lists for state hospital beds can be long.

Staff updated the commission on staffing and program operations: two nurses were hired, a part‑time clerical specialist started, peer support job descriptions are under union review, and wage/retention incentives will require appropriate BHSA funding sources (Medi‑Cal repayment funds cannot be used for incentives per staff clarification).

Finally, staff reported the mobile crisis unit will become an optional Medi‑Cal benefit in March 2027; until then the county must continue current implementation efforts and consider alternative approaches such as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) partnerships with first responders to mitigate staffing strain.

The commission closed the item by formally recommending the draft plan go to the Board of Supervisors and by placing the plan in a 30‑day public comment period.