The Ventura County Behavioral Health Department offers a wide range of behavioral health services to ensure that our residents of Ventura County have access to help when they need it. Learn more about our services and resources and ways in which we can best help you meet your needs.

We provide specialty mental health services for people who live in Ventura County and are eligible for Medi-Cal. This handbook explains your benefits and how to get care.

If you speak a language other than English, free oral interpreter services are available to you. You may request this handbook and other materials at no cost to you in other languages or auxiliary formats, such as Braille, 18-point font large print, or audio. This handbook and other materials are available in English and Spanish. If you would like this handbook or other written materials in a language other than English or Spanish, or to get interpreter, linguistic, and cultural help, you may call the Ventura County Mental Health Plan 24-hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-998-2243. The call is toll free.

• Ventura County Mental Health Plan Beneficiary Handbook
• Ventura County Mental Health Plan Beneficiary Handbook - Large Font
• Ventura County Mental Health Plan Beneficiary Handbook - Audio

It is important that you understand how the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) plan works so you can get the care you need. This handbook explains how to receive substance use treatment services, what benefits you have access to and your rights and responsibilities as a member of your county DMC-ODS plan.

• Ventura County Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Member Handbook
• Ventura County Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Member Handbook – Large Font
• Ventura County Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Member Handbook - Audio

• Ventura County Substance Use Treatment Services - Provider Directory, June 2020
• Medi-Cal Provider Directory, Ventura County Mental Health Plan, June 2020

If you are unhappy with any issue related to the specialty mental health or substance use treatment services that you are receiving, you may call our Quality Management Department at 1-888-567-2122 and we will try to resolve your concerns. Please see the forms below and either submit your Grievance Form or give us a call.

• Notice of Problem Resolution Processes
• Grievance Form
• Appeal/Expedited Form
• Language Assistance Taglines - MHP
• Language Assistance Taglines - DMC-ODS
• Non-Discrimination Notice

The Ventura County Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program is focused on the mission, goals, and commitment of the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department. The Quality Improvement Program is responsible for the coordination, planning, oversight, and communication of quality improvement principles, projects, analyses, and findings to achieve the Department’s mission. The principles of wellness, recovery, resiliency and cultural competency serve to direct all Quality Improvement activities and projects.

Our Quality Improvement Research and Evaluation team evaluates services that are provided by the Ventura County Mental Health and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) plans. Our goal is to ensure our agency provides high level care and timely access to specialty Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment services.

• FY 2018-2019 Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Plan Evaluation
• FY 2019-2020 Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Work Plan
• 2018 Quality Management Action Committee Overview

External Quality Review Reports

An External Quality Review (EQR) is the analysis and evaluation by an External Quality Review Organization (EQRO) of aggregated information on quality, timeliness, and access to the health care services that a managed care plan, or its contractors, furnish to Medicaid beneficiaries. “Quality of Care External Quality Review.” Medicaid.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The External Quality Review reports below present the most recent fiscal year EQR findings for Ventura County Mental Health and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System programs.

• Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health External Quality Review Report (pdf)
• Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System External Quality Review Report (pdf)

2020 Mental Health Implementation Plan for Medi-Cal Speciality Mental Health Services

As the Mental Health Plan responsible for provision of Speciality Mental Health Services (SMHS) for eligible Ventura County Medi-Cal beneficiaries, VCBH is required to maintain a current Implementation Plan describing services provided and protocols implemented to ensure compliance with State and Federal rules and regulations ( CCR, tit. 9, §§ 1810.310).

• 2020 Mental Health Implementation Plan for Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (pdf)