Today's Law As Amended


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AB-492 Medi-Cal: reproductive and behavioral health integration pilot programs.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Article 5.52 (commencing with Section 14184.811) is added to Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

Article  5.52. Reproductive and Behavioral Health Integration Pilot Programs
14184.811.
 For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Department” means the State Department of Health Care Services, unless otherwise specified.
(b) “Qualified provider” means a Medi-Cal provider that meets both of the following conditions:
(1) Is enrolled in the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Program, as described in subdivision (aa) of Section 14132.
(2) Provides abortion- and contraception-related services.
14184.812.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2024, subject to an appropriation made by the Legislature for the purpose of this section, the department shall make grants, incentive payments, or other financial support available to Medi-Cal managed care plans to develop and implement reproductive and behavioral health integration pilot programs in partnership with identified qualified providers, in order to improve access to behavioral health services for beneficiaries with mild-to-moderate behavioral health conditions.
(b) To be eligible for grants, incentive payments, or other financial support, as described in subdivision (a), a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall identify both of the following:
(1) The qualified provider or providers that will provide services as part of the pilot program.
(2) The specific services that will be provided through the pilot program, which may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(A) Individual or group behavioral health evaluation and treatment, including counseling, psychotherapy, family therapy, and dyadic services.
(B) Psychological testing, when clinically indicated to evaluate a behavioral health condition.
(C) Outpatient services for purposes of monitoring drug therapy.
(D) Psychiatric consultation.
(E) Outpatient laboratory, drugs, supplies, and supplements.
(F) Screening for behavioral health concerns, including perinatal and postpartum conditions.
(G) Patient navigation, including to identify and access specialty mental health services.
14184.813.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2024, subject to an appropriation made by the Legislature for the purpose of this section, the department shall make grants or other financial support available to qualified providers for reproductive and behavioral health integration pilot programs, in order to support development and expansion of services, infrastructure, and capacity for the integration of behavioral health services for beneficiaries with mild-to-moderate behavioral health conditions.
(b) To be eligible for grants or other financial support, as described in subdivision (a), a qualified provider shall identify both of the following:
(1) The patient population that will be served or the gap in access to care that will be addressed through the pilot program.
(2) The types of services that will be provided or for which infrastructure or capacity will be expanded through the pilot program. Services may include, but are not limited to, any of the services listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14184.812.
14184.814.
 (a) The department shall convene a working group to do all of the following:
(1) Develop criteria for evaluating applications and awarding grants, incentive payments, or other financial support available pursuant to Sections 14184.812 and 14184.813.
(2) Conduct an evaluation of the pilot programs funded pursuant to Sections 14184.812 and 14184.813.
(3) Submit a report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, that summarizes the pilot programs funded pursuant to Sections 14184.812 and 14184.813, and the outcomes of each pilot program, and that identifies best practices for integrating behavioral health services in reproductive health care settings.
(b) The working group convened pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include representatives of all of the following:
(1) The department.
(2) The Department of Managed Health Care.
(3) The Department of Health Care Access and Information.
(4) The California Health and Human Services Agency.
(5) Qualified providers.
(6) Consumer advocates.
(7) Other stakeholders that the department deems appropriate.