Section 5961.3.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 5961.3.
in effect(a)
As a component of the initiative, the State Department of Health Care Services shall make incentive payments to qualifying Medi-Cal managed care plans that meet predefined goals and metrics developed pursuant to subdivision (b) associated with targeted interventions that increase access to preventive, early intervention and behavioral health services by school-affiliated behavioral health providers for K-12 children in schools.
(b)
The department, in consultation with the State Department of Education, Medi-Cal managed care plans, county behavioral health departments, local educational agencies, and other affected stakeholders, shall develop the interventions, goals, and metrics used to determine a Medi-Cal managed care plan’s
eligibility to receive the incentive payments described in this section. Higher incentive payments may be made for activities that increase Medi-Cal reimbursable services provided to children and youth, to reduce health equity gaps, and for services provided to children and youth living in transition, are homeless, or are involved in the child welfare system. Interventions, goals, and metrics include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)
Local planning efforts to review existing plans and documents that articulate children and youth needs in the area; compile data; map existing behavioral health providers and resources; identify gaps, disparities, and inequities; and convene stakeholders and develop a framework for a robust and coordinated system of social, emotional, and behavioral health supports for children and youth.
(2)
Providing technical assistance to increase
coordination and partnerships between schools and health care plans to build an integrated continuum of behavioral health services using contracts, a memorandum of understanding, or other agreements.
(3)
Developing or piloting behavioral health wellness programs to expand greater prevention and early intervention practices in school settings, such as Mental Health First Aid and Social and Emotional Learning.
(4)
Expanding the workforce by using community health workers or peers to expand the surveillance and early intervention of behavioral health issues in school-age children 0 to 25 years of age, inclusive.
(5)
Increasing telehealth in schools and ensure students have access to technological equipment.
(6)
Implementing school-based suicide prevention
strategies.
(7)
Improving performance and outcomes-based accountability for behavioral health access and quality measures through local student behavioral health dashboards or public reporting.
(8)
Increasing access to substance use disorder prevention, early intervention, and treatment.
(c)
(1)
For each Medi-Cal managed care rating period, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 14105.945, that the department implements this section, the department shall determine the amount of incentive payment earned by each qualifying Medi-Cal managed care plan.
(2)
Any incentive payments that are eligible for federal financial participation pursuant to subdivision (e) shall be made in accordance with the requirements for
incentive arrangements in Section 438.6(b)(2) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations and any associated federal guidance.
(d)
Incentive payments made pursuant to this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant existing payments to Medi-Cal managed care plans. In addition to developing new collaborative initiatives, incentive payments shall be used to build on existing school-based partnerships between schools and applicable Medi-Cal plans, including Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery systems.
(e)
The department shall seek any necessary federal approvals to claim federal financial participation for the incentive payments to qualifying Medi-Cal managed care plans described in this section. If federal approval is obtained for one or more Medi-Cal managed care rating periods, the department shall implement this section only to the extent that federal financial
participation is available in that applicable rating period. If federal approval is not obtained for one or more Medi-Cal managed care rating periods, the department may make incentive payments to qualifying Medi-Cal managed care plans as described in this section on a state-only funding basis during the applicable rating period, but only to the extent sufficient funds are appropriated to the department for this purpose and the department determines that federal financial participation for the Medi-Cal program is not otherwise jeopardized as a result.
(f)
(1)
The department may modify any requirement specified in this section to the extent that it deems the modification necessary to meet the requirements of federal law or regulations, to obtain or maintain federal approval, or to ensure that federal financial participation is available or not otherwise jeopardized. The department shall not propose any modification pursuant
to this subdivision until the Department of Finance has reviewed and approved a fiscal impact statement.
(2)
If the department, after consulting with the State Department of Education, Medi-Cal managed care plans, county behavioral health departments, local educational agencies, and other affected stakeholder entities, determines that the potential modification would be consistent with the goals of this section, the modification may be made in consultation with the Department of Finance and the department shall execute a declaration stating that this determination has been made. The department shall post the declaration on its internet website.
(3)
The department shall notify entities consulted in paragraph (2), the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Budget and Fiscal Review, and Health, and the Assembly Committees on Appropriations,
Budget, and Health, within 10 business days of that modification or adjustment.
(4)
The department shall work with the affected entities and the Legislature to make the necessary statutory changes.
(g)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)
“Comprehensive risk contract” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 438.2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2)
“Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, charter school, the California Schools for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind.
(3)
“Medi-Cal managed care plan” means an individual, organization, or entity that enters into a comprehensive risk
contract with the department to provide covered full-scope health care services to enrolled Medi-Cal beneficiaries pursuant to any provision of Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9.
(4)
“Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system” has the meaning described in subdivision (i) of Section 14184.101.
References
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14105.945.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 438.6.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 438.2.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14000.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14200.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14184.101.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026