California Department of Mental Health

Right Column

The California Department of Mental Health (DMH) administers a number of activities designed to ensure high-quality mental health services that comply with State and Federal laws are provided by certain state and local agencies.

OUR SERVICES

  • Fiscal Audits
    DMH is responsible for assuring compliance with various Federal and State laws, regulations, and policies by conducting financial and management audits of mental health programs throughout California.
  • Licensing and Certification
    DMH is responsible for monitoring, certifying, and licensing of certain types of treatment programs (Special Treatment Programs, Psychiatric Health Facilities, Community Residential Treatment Systems, Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers, and Community Treatment Facilities).
  • Medi-Cal Oversight
    DMH is responsible for ensuring that local public mental health programs and their contract providers comply with State and federal laws and regulations for the Medi-Cal program.
  • Medi-Cal OmbudsmanMH administers a Medi-Cal Ombudsman office to assist current Medi-Cal beneficiaries who need help with their mental health managed care services.
  • Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR)
    DMH is responsible for ensuring that an evaluation of an individual’s need for mental health services and placement in a nursing facility if the individual has, or is suspected to have, a mental disability.
  • Patients’ Rights
    DMH administers an Office of Human Rights to ensure that mental health laws, regulations, and policies for the rights of mental health service recipients are observed in State Hospitals and licensed health and community care facilities.
  • Performance Outcomes and Quality Improvement (POQI):
    Includes data resulting from Consumer Perception Surveys, reports to the Legislature on California's Community Mental Health Performance Outcomes, and information for mental health providers on submitting data to the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
  • San Mateo Pharmacy and Laboratory Program
    In March 2007, DMH entered into an interagency agreement with the Department of Finance, Office of State Audits and Evaluations to perform an evaluation of the San Mateo Pharmacy and Laboratory estimation process and provide a report with recommendations for improvements.  From this initiative, DMH has developed an on-going fiscal oversight team to collaborate with the Department of Health Care Services and San Mateo Mental Health Program. 

Related materials

EXTERNAL AUDITS

Department of Finance
  1. State Hospital Budget Estimate Review Report dated November 2008
  2. California Department of Mental Health, Mental Health Services Act Report dated May 2008
  3. Department of Mental Health-Internal Control Review dated December 2007
  4. Review of Claims Processes for Short-Doyle/Medi-Cal Programs Report dated November 2007
  5. Review of the San Mateo Pharmacy and Laboratory Services Estimation Process Report dated May 2007

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  6. Review of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program’s Estimation Process Report dated February 2007

Bureau of State Audits
  1. High Risk Update - State Overtime Costs: A Variety of Factors Resulted in Significant Overtime Costs at the Departments of Mental Health and Developmental Services Report dated October 2009
  2. Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services Report dated March 26, 2009 Note: The above Corrective Action Plan will be updated after the follow-up report is issued which should be prior to the end of the month.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  1. Review of California Department of Mental Health Over-Billing in the Short Doyle Medi-Cal Program for State Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Report dated December 2008
  2. Review of California Incentive Payments to Negotiated Rate Providers Participating in the Short Doyle Medi-Cal Program Report dated September 2008

    3. Note: The above Corrective Action Plans will be updated prior to the end of the month.

INTERNAL AUDITS

DMH Office of Internal Audits
  1. Financial Integrity and State Manager’s Accountability Act Report dated December 2009

ADVISORY GROUPS