Provider Alerts

This is being sent this year, as a reminder, on how you can apply the information to your practice or facility operations, where appropriate.

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) issued All Plan Letter 22-028
(APL 22-028): https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/Documents/MMCDAPLsandPolicyLetters/APL2022/APL22-028.pdf, “Medi-cal Managed Care Health Plan Responsibilities for Non-Specialty Mental Health Services” on December 27, 2022. Please see the APL itself for the complete guidance.

This policy was created to introduce standardized youth and adult screening tools to guide referrals to either the Managed Care Plan (MCP) or Mental Health Plan (MHP). The transition of care tool supports the transitions and coordination of care between the MCP and MHP for members of all ages.

Key Information

• Effective January 1, 2023, MCPs and MHPs are to use the standardized youth and adult screening and transition of care tools.
• The screening tools are used for members who are not currently receiving mental health services when they contact the MCP or MHP seeking mental health services.
• MCPs are not required to conduct a screening when the members are currently receiving mental health services or contact mental health providers directly for services.
• The Transition of Care Tool for Medi-Cal Mental Health ensures that Members who are receiving mental health services from one delivery system receive timely and coordinated care when their existing services need to be transitioned to the other delivery system, or when services need to be added to their existing mental health treatment form the other delivery system.
• These tools do not replace:

1. MCP policies and procedures that address urgent or emergency care needs, including protocols for emergencies or urgent and emergent crisis referrals
2. MCP protocols that address clinically appropriate, timely, and equitable access to care,
3. MCP Clinical assessments, level of care determinations and service
   recommendations
4. MCP requirements to provide Early Periodic Screening Diagnostic and
   Treatment (EPSDT) services

• The completion of the screening tool is not considered an assessment.

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If you have any further questions, please contact your Provider Services Representative, or call our Customer Service Department at 1-888-936-PLAN (7526). You may also visit https://www.hpsj.com/alerts/ for online access to the documents shared. The most recent information about Health Plan of San Joaquin and our services is always available on our website https://www.hpsj.com/