Medi-Cal: behavioral health treatment workgroup.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details about background checks and specific dates which are mentioned but less detailed in the official source material.

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Treatment Workgroup

This law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to create a workgroup that will review and improve behavioral health treatment services for Medi-Cal recipients under age 21, including background checks for providers by July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

• Requires certain individuals providing BHT services under Medi-Cal to undergo background checks by July 1, 2027.
• Creates a workgroup made up of BHT providers, managed care plans, and consumers with autism to review the implementation of BHT services in Medi-Cal.
• Asks the workgroup to advise on clinical guidelines for BHT services, treatment plan requirements, and supervision of unlicensed professionals.
• Requires clear clinical guidance for providing BHT benefits by January 1, 2028.
• Needs a report to the legislature by January 1, 2029, about how BHT is used in Medi-Cal and changes made based on workgroup advice.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who provide behavioral health treatment services under Medi-Cal
• Consumers with autism receiving BHT through Medi-Cal
• The State Department of Health Care Services

Terms To Know

Medi-Cal

A government program that helps low-income people get health care services.

Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT)

Services to help with mental and emotional problems.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the background checks will be done.
• It is unclear what specific changes might come from the workgroup's advice.
• The exact details of the clinical guidance are not defined in the summary.

Official Summary Text

SB 874, as amended, Weber Pierson.
Medi-Cal: behavioral health treatment workgroup.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Under existing law, to the extent required by the federal government and effective no sooner than required by the federal government, behavioral health treatment (BHT) is a covered service under the Medi-Cal program for individuals under 21 years of age.
This bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2027, to ensure that certain individuals providing BHT services under Medi-Cal undergo background checks. The bill would require the department to convene a stakeholder workgroup made up of BHT providers, managed care plans, and consumers with autism,
among others, to review the implementation of BHT services in Medi-Cal and to advise the department
on
on, among other topics,
clinical guidelines for the provision of BHT services, treatment plan requirements, requirements for the provision of center-based services compared to services provided elsewhere, and supervision of unlicensed
and uncertified
professionals, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before
April
January
1, 2028, to release and maintain clear clinical guidance for the provision of the
BHT benefit, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2029, to report to the legislature on the utilization of the BHT benefit, a synopsis of changes made as a result of the stakeholder workgroup, and recommendations for actions necessary to ensure Medi-Cal reimbursement practices align with federal Medicaid program integrity requirements.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF