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How the youth benefit from Medi-Cal’s expansion to include behavioral healthcare services

Children, teens, and young adults (under age 21) enrolled in the Medi-Cal program qualify for free services and support including check-ups, shots, health screenings, and treatment for physical, mental, and dental health problems.

Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships, California Department of Health Care Services, discusses the focus and strategy of Governor Newsom’s Master Plan on Kids’ Mental Health/EMS. / Courtesy Photo

California has expanded Medi-Cal coverage to include behavioral health needs, like mental health care and substance use disorder services. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid health care program which pays medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources. Forty percent of California’s youth are insured under it. They no longer need a formal diagnosis to access specialty mental health services. The state has simplified behavioral health documentation requirements.

“Half of our lifetime cases of diagnosable mental illnesses emerge for our young people by the age of 14. Seventy five percent of lifetime diagnosed mental illnesses begin by the age of 24,” said Autumn Boylan, deputy director, Office of Strategic Partnerships, California Department of Health Care Services, at the Ethnic News Media briefing on May.16.

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