California's 2023/24 Budget Enacted: Promising Developments for Behavioral Health Initiatives
We are thrilled to share the latest updates on California's enacted budget for 2023/24, solidifying critical investments and developments from the May Revision. On June 27, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom formally enacted the budget, taking significant strides in addressing crucial state issues, especially in behavioral health.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Fee Schedule Third Party Administrator (TPA)
The enacted budget shows a momentous commitment to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), enhancing mental health services for students at school sites. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is mandated to establish a statewide all-payer fee schedule, ensuring easier access to vital mental health and substance use disorder services for students aged 25 and younger.
An exciting development is the allocation of $10 million from the Mental Health Services Fund (MHSF) in FY 2023/24 to create a centralized infrastructure for provider management. This streamlined system will simplify billing, claiming, and quality oversight, benefiting school-based and school-linked Providers under the CYBHI fee schedule.
Moreover, the budget includes $40 million ($20 million Mental Health Services Fund; $20 million federal funds) to further modernize the behavioral health system. This continued support allows Governor Newsom's initiative to modernize the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and enhance statewide accountability, transparency, and access to behavioral health services.
A Vision for the Future
As we celebrate this budget's enactment, Paradigm remains dedicated to supporting public K-12 schools in navigating California's evolving behavioral health landscape. We stand ready to empower you with insights and tools to make the most of these groundbreaking initiatives.
Building a robust behavioral health continuum that prioritizes the well-being of all Californians, particularly children and youth, is a mission we passionately support!
