Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI)

Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Flyer (English)

Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Flyer (Spanish)

Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Flyer (Vietnamese)

For accessibility purposes, you may view the flyer as plain text below.

CYBHI Fee Schedule Program

Free Behavioral Health Services for Students – Help Your School Access Funding!

Sign a consent form and provide your child’s health insurance information today.

California public schools are offering FREE mental health services and supports to students and families. Help us spread the word!

What does this mean: Health plans are now required to reimburse your child’s public school for providing certain mental health and emotional well-being supports. No copays or deductibles. But we need YOU to tell your school to sign up for the program!

How does it work?

The State of California partners with schools and health plans to make sure that students can get mental health and emotional wellbeing support in schools across the state. Schools already offer an array of mental health services to meet the needs of students; however, securing funding for these services can be a challenge.

Under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Fee Schedule program, California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools (including K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities) for covered mental health services provided to students under the age of 26.

State law prohibits health plans and insurers from passing any of the cost of these services on to families. This means that the health plans and insurers will pay for mental health services provided to your child in a school-linked setting and there WILL NOT be any out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., co-payments, deductibles) for you and your family.

How can you help?

In order to obtain this funding from the health plans and insurers, including the Medi-Cal program, your child’s school district must submit a claim for reimbursement to the health plan or insurer. Your child’s school may ask you for your health insurance information and/or may ask you to sign a consent form so they can bill the health plan.

If your child is under 18, please sign the consent form and provide a copy of your child’s insurance card and/or the name of your child’s health insurance company, your child’s policy number, and the name of the parent or guardian that carries the health insurance coverage.

Agreeing to provide this information to your child’s school WILL NOT result in any costs for services being passed onto you or your family. These services are completely free and receiving these services in school WILL NOT affect your child’s coverage under the health plan or insurer.

Will the information be kept confidential?

Yes, the information that you provide to your child’s school, including health insurance information, is completely confidential. You and your child are entitled to privacy, confidentiality, and protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law that provides the privacy and security of health information.

Your child’s health insurance information will not be shared with any outside entities, except as necessary to enable you or your child’s school district, college, or university to receive reimbursement for mental health services provided to your child and/or family, or as otherwise permitted under state and federal law (e.g., reporting to the California Department of Health Care Services).

What happens if I don’t want to provide this information?

Your child may still receive no-cost mental health services at school. However, if you decide not to provide your child’s health insurance information, your school cannot access this critical source of funding for schools.

If your child is eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they are entitled to receive mental health services and supports pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Your decision to provide (or not provide) your child’s health insurance information WILL NOT affect your child’s eligibility for these services.

What else do I need to know?

If you have additional questions about providing your child's health insurance information to your child's school, please contact the school administrator at your child's school site or school district. If you want to learn more about the CYBHI Fee Schedule program, please contact the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) at DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov.

Every student deserves access to the support they need.

Let's work together to improve the wellness of children and youth in California.

For More Information:

CYBHI Fee Schedule program website:

www.dhcs.ca.gov/ CYBHI/Pages/FeeSchedule.aspx

Reach out to DHCS via email: DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov

Need health insurance coverage? You may be eligible for the Medi-Cal program. Get covered today.

 

Consent to Bill and Release (English)

Consent to Bill and Release (Spanish)

Consent to Bill and Release (Vietnamese)

The State of California partners with schools and health plans to make sure that students receive mental health and emotional well-being support in schools. Schools already offer an array of mental health services to meet student needs; however, securing funding for these services can be a challenge. Under the CYBHI Fee Schedule program, California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools for covered mental health services provided to students under the age of 26. 

The services referred to under this program and offered by our schools are: Screenings and Assessments, Mental Wellness Services (individual, group, and family therapy), Behavioral Health Services (assessments and interventions), Crisis Intervention Services (emergency mental health care), Case Management and Service Coordination, and Substance Use Services.

No, your family WILL NOT be charged any costs or co-payments for services provided by the school. Your health insurance benefits WILL NOT be impacted or affected.

The state of California is requiring all districts that are participating in the CYBHI program to collect health insurance information, including Medi-Cal information, from all families, whether they receive services or not. Additionally, having insurance on file allows the district and families to be prepared in the event of an emergency. The district needs this information to comply with the statewide law to reimburse the district for services provided to students who may need socio-emotional or mental health support.

If your family does not have health insurance, please indicate so during WSD’s online enrollment process in the fall. There will be an option to indicate that you do not have health insurance coverage. If you wish for your child to receive services through the CYBHI program at our school sites, they can still do so without health insurance coverage. 

The school district has partnered with a third party (TadHealth), who will work directly with insurance and medical claims, and handle the administration of the billing as guided by law within the CYBHI initiative. You WILL NOT personally be charged any costs or co-payments.

No, under the CYBHI program, explanations of benefits will be suppressed. You WILL NOT be charged any costs or co-payments should services be provided. 

CYBHI services are optional, and your child does not have to participate in the program or services. CYBHI billable services include, but are not limited to, individual counseling, group counseling, and brief check-ins. If individual services are recommended, your child’s school will require parents' consent for services that will provide information on the services provided. 

No, your child will only be checked in if there is a need for socio-emotional support, and we will request general consent during registration for these check-ins.

Your information will only be used for the purposes outlined in this process and will remain confidential in compliance with all applicable laws. 

We are here to help. Please feel free to contact your School Mental Health Professional or Principal with any questions or concerns about this process and/or the CYBHI initiative. You may also reach out to WSD Student Services for more information. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to provide the best possible care for all students.

For more information, visit the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) website or contact WSD for program details.

Schools participating in CYBHI may receive additional funding for on-site mental health staff, expanded wellness centers, and improved crisis response capabilities. The program aims to make mental health services more accessible and reduce stigma around seeking help.