Mental Health Program Specialist - Behavioral Health Services Act (Open & Promotional)

County of San Mateo

San Mateo, CA

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Alliance/Partner Management, Behavioral Health, Billing, Community Providers, Community Support, Continuous Improvement, Cost Control, Data Analysis, Documentation Standards, Financial Analysis, Healthcare, Leadership, Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Operational Improvement, Organizational Skills, Patient Care, Policy Development, Procedure Development, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Public Health, Quality Assurance, Quality Management, Regulations, Reimbursement, Reporting Skills, Revenue Growth, Service Delivery, State Laws and Regulations, Strategic Planning, Sustainability
LOCATION
San Mateo, CA
POSTED
2 days ago



San Mateo County Health is seeking an experienced and dynamic professional to serve as Mental Health Program Specialist- Evidence-Based Practices & Revenue Optimization within the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) division, supporting implementation of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) and advancing system-wide transformation efforts.


This full-time, permanent position will play a key role in strengthening behavioral health infrastructure, ensuring regulatory alignment, optimizing Medi-Cal revenue systems, and advancing evidence-based practice implementation across BHRS.


Since 2006, BHRS has been committed to building a welcoming, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive system of care that addresses the full spectrum of client health needs, including physical, emotional, behavioral, and social well-being. Recent state legislation, regulatory changes, and local innovation efforts have reshaped the behavioral health landscape. The position will help ensure BHRS remains responsive, compliant, and forward-thinking in this evolving environment.


About the Role

  • Lead Medi-Cal billing and revenue cycle improvement initiatives.
  • Oversee initiatives focused on developing certification and billing infrastructure for contracted community-based providers.
  • Coordinate agency-wide requirements for implementation and fidelity monitoring of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs).
  • Support implementation of Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) and other EBP and Medi-Cal billing-related initiatives.
  • Advise leadership on relevant policy changes to support strategic planning and sustainable, high-quality service delivery.


This position will collaborate closely with clinical teams, administrative leadership, community-based organizations, managed care partners, and state agencies to advance integrated, equitable behavioral health care.


Why Join BHRS?


This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful, system-level transformation in public behavioral health. This role directly supports BHSA implementation, integrated care advancement, fiscal sustainability, and equitable access to high-quality services for diverse communities across San Mateo County.


If you are a strategic thinker who thrives at the intersection of policy, operations, data, and behavioral health innovation, we encourage you to apply.


The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

  • Knowledge of Medi-Cal billing, managed care contracting, and behavioral health patient care revenue systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze data and develop system-level recommendations for operational improvements.
  • Knowledge of BHSA, BH-CONNECT, California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), and other State initiatives impacting Medi-Cal reimbursement and documentation standards.
  • Experience with implementation, readiness assessment, and fidelity monitoring of evidence-based practices (EBPs).
  • Strong facilitation skills to convene multidisciplinary stakeholders, including leadership, clinical teams, and external partners.
  • Commitment to quality assurance, audit readiness, and continuous improvement in public behavioral health systems.


Duties may include but are not limited to: 

  • Serve as BHRS subject matter expert on Medi-Cal billing, reimbursement regulations, and revenue optimization strategies.
  • Lead patient care revenue maximization initiatives focused on improving billing accuracy and maximizing allowable Medi-Cal reimbursement.
  • Oversee initiatives focused on developing and implementing streamlined billing infrastructure for community-based organizations to optimize Medi-Caleligible services, peer supports, and community-defined evidence practices (CDEPs).
  • Facilitate an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Committee to support EBP selection, review, and policy and procedure development.
  • Work collaboratively with BHRS Program Managers and Quality Management team to ensure EBP implementation to fidelity in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
  • Review EBP revenue generation, utilization and other relevant data and make recommendations for adjustments as necessary to optimize billing, cost recovery, and compliance.
  • Prepare actionable reports, briefs, and presentations to inform executive leadership strategic planning and decision-making.


NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

About the Company

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County of San Mateo