Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment services: behavioral health.

Existing law provides for the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Developmental Services, and the Department of Managed Health Care. Under existing law, various state and local agencies are responsible for providing or arranging for the provisions of behavioral health services to adults and children in the state. 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, including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services, which encompass screening services, vision services, and other necessary services to correct or ameliorate defects and physical and mental illnesses and conditions discovered by the screening services, whether or not the services are covered under the state plan, for any individual under 21 years of age. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency, under the oversight of the Secretary of California Health and Human Services or their designee, to convene, by March 30, 2020, and monthly thereafter, the Children's Behavioral Health Action Team, which would consist of no fewer than 30 individuals, including the Director of Health Care Services, Director of Social Services, the Director of Managed Health Care, and representatives from community-based behavioral health agencies, to maximize the Medi-Cal program's investment in the social, emotional, and developmental health and well-being of children in California who receive health care through the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the Action Team to develop and report specified findings and recommendations, including identifying opportunities for the state to better ensure that Medi-Cal eligible children receive behavioral health services, to prepare a final implementation plan, to distribute the reports and plan to specified entities, including the Legislature and the public, and to disband upon the submission of the plan.