BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1299
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Date of Hearing: May 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1299 (Ridley-Thomas) - As Amended April 21, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill would shift responsibility for the provision of
medically necessary mental health services for foster youth
placed out-of-county, from the county of original jurisdiction
to the foster youth's county of residence, in order to increase
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access to mental health services for youth.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Annual increased costs in the medical Early Periodic Screening
Treatment and Diagnosis Program (EPSDT) in the low millions
(approx 50% GF), possibly more to the extent this bill increases
access to mental health services for youth who face treatment
and service barriers when placed out-of-county.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill moves responsibility for the provision of
mental health services for foster youth from the
county-of-origin to the host county. The author indicates
current law arrangements result in treatment delays and
denials when a child is placed out-of-county and the host
county must recover mental health funding from the county from
which the child was removed.
2)Background. There are indications that out-of-county foster
youth may have higher needs and less access to mental health
care. A 2011 report issued by the California Child Welfare
Council found that out-of-county foster youth were more likely
to have been diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder,
yet were 10% to 15% less likely to have received any mental
health services compared to their in-county peers. And among
those that did receive services, in-county foster youth fared
better, receiving more care and more intensive treatment. As
of July 2014, nearly 20% of foster children (13,000) were
considered out-of-county.
The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
Program (EPSDT), is a federally-mandated benefit under
Medi-Cal. States must provide medically necessary services to
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specified children. If a physician screening determines a
child needs additional treatment, Medi-Cal must provide the
services according the federal mandate. EPSDT is the source
of funding for a majority of mental health treatment for
children in foster care. Mental health services provided to
foster youth include outpatient services, medication support,
behavioral therapy, and 24-hour care.
3)Prior Legislation.
a) AB 1808 (Galgiani) of 2009 was substantially similar to
this bill. AB 1808 was held on this Committee's Suspense
File.
b) SB 785 (Steinberg), Chapter 469, Statutes of 2007,
required the California Department of Mental Health to
create standardized contracts, forms, and procedures to
facilitate the receipt of medically necessary specialty
mental health services to foster youth in out-of-county
placements.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1299
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