Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), Office of Planning Licensing (OPL) All Plan Letter 24-023 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1936 – Maternal Mental Health Screenings
| Date: | March 5, 2025 |
| From: | Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan (“Health Plan”) |
| To: | Health Plan Providers and Practitioners |
| Type: | Regulatory |
| Subject: | Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), Office of Planning Licensing (OPL) All Plan Letter 24-023 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1936 – Maternal Mental Health Screenings |
| Business: | Medi-Cal Managed Care |
The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), Office of Planning Licensing (OPL) issued All Plan Letter (APL) 24-023, Newly Enacted Statutes Impacting Health Plans (2024 Legislative Session) on December 20, 2024. This APL outlines newly enacted statutory requirements for health care service plans regulated by the DMHC.
While several newly enacted statutory requirements have been outlined, the focus of this alert is specific to AB 1936 – Maternal Mental Health Screenings. This assembly bill is Codified in Health and Safety Code § 1367.625, which requires Managed Care Plans’ (MCPs) maternal mental health program to consist of at least:
- one maternal mental health screening to be conducted during pregnancy
- one additional screening to be conducted during the first six weeks of the postpartum period,
- an additional postpartum screening, if determined to be medically necessary and clinically appropriate in the judgment of the treating provider.
To learn more about the information outlined for MCPs regarding the Maternal Mental Health Program, or for full text of DMHC APL 24-023, please visit https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-023(OPL)-NewlyEnactedStatutesImpactingHealthPlans(2024LegislativeSession).pdf?ver=4OTRHq9T3Vx6CdZX2evbcg%3d%3d.
To learn more about Health Plan’s Maternal Mental Health Program, please visit https://www.hpsj.com/providers/behavioral-health-services/. There you will find information regarding clinical practice guidelines and resources learning, recommended tools as well as billing and follow-up plan instructions.
As a reminder, all members whose screening results indicate a positive identification of potential depression or other mental health conditions may be referred to mental health services. Members may refer directly to a provider found at https://www.hpsj.com/find-a-provider/ or call our Mental Health Customer Service line: 1-888-581-PLAN (7526).
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 and our services is always available on our website www.hpsj-mvhp.org
