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Community-Based Mobile Crisis Response Services
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Establishes statewide (county-opt-in) authority and requirements for providing community-based mobile crisis response services to eligible Medi‑Cal beneficiaries experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis; governs department authority, county participation, provider requirements, and funding rules.
Establishes authority for the department to seek federal approval and implement community-based mobile crisis response services for eligible Medi‑Cal beneficiaries.
Authorizes county opt-in for program participation and requires participating counties to provide the nonfederal share of costs via intergovernmental transfers.
Limits implementation to periods when federal approvals and federal financial participation are available and specifies implementation timing and sunset/operative dates.
Defines 'community-based mobile crisis response services' and references existing definition for 'Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system.'
Authorizes the department to enter into exempt contracts for implementation and training, with a specified inoperative date for that subdivision.
Coverage criteria for community-based mobile crisis response services
inv-01: Conditional coverage for community-based mobile crisis response services
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
All listed conditions must be satisfied for coverage to apply; county participation and federal approval are prerequisites.
This section makes clear that counties are not required to provide community-based mobile crisis response services. Participation is voluntary: a county must opt in to offer the services. Counties that choose to participate must fund the required nonfederal share of costs through intergovernmental transfers and certify that those local funds qualify for federal financial participation. The statute also prohibits the use of General Fund moneys to satisfy the nonfederal share.
Availability of community-based mobile crisis response services is gated on federal approval. The department must obtain all necessary federal approvals and federal financial participation must be available before services may be provided. Because the statute’s coverage depends on county opt-in and federal approval, the law does not enumerate clinical “not medically necessary” exclusions; instead, service availability is contingent on administrative and funding conditions established by the department and federal authorities.
Provider requirements, county participation, and utilization controls
Follow department-established requirements and utilization controls
The department will establish requirements for receipt of community-based mobile crisis response services and for authorized providers, which may include utilization controls; providers must follow those department-established requirements once federal approvals are obtained and guidance is issued.
- Includes development of utilization controls and requirements for authorized providers.
- Department will oversee and enforce the requirements and guidelines it develops.
Monitor and comply with department guidance and communications
The department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, in whole or in part, by plan or county letters, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or other similar instructions without further regulatory action; providers must monitor and comply with such guidance when issued.
- Department will consult with stakeholders to the extent practicable when issuing guidance.
- Guidance may include plan or county letters, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions.
Ensure county certifies nonfederal funds for federal participation
Each participating county must certify that the local funds it uses to fund the nonfederal share of expenditures qualify for federal financial participation in the form and manner required by the department.
- County certification is required for local funds used to fund the nonfederal share.
- Nonfederal share must be funded via intergovernmental transfers in accordance with 42 C.F.R. §433.51.
Do not provide mobile crisis services in counties that have not opted in
Community-based mobile crisis response services are not available through a county’s Medi‑Cal behavioral health delivery system unless that county opts in and provides the required nonfederal share; providers in nonparticipating counties cannot be authorized to deliver these services.
- This section does not require a county to provide services; participation is voluntary.
- Services are available exclusively through Medi‑Cal behavioral health delivery systems in counties that agree to participate.
Background and intent
The statute’s intent is to establish a framework for delivering community-based mobile crisis response services—rapid response, individual assessment, and community-based stabilization—to Medi‑Cal beneficiaries experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis. Implementation is limited to counties that agree to participate and to periods when the department has obtained the required federal approvals and federal financial participation is available. The department is charged with developing the operational requirements, certifying authorized providers, and overseeing compliance once federal approval is secured.
Definitions
Level-of-care / service eligibility logic
Permitted treatment modalities and service elements
inv-12: Mobile crisis intervention / community stabilization
Exact clinical components and operational definitions will be provided following federal approval and by department guidance.
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