Activism

Empowering Young Minds: Medi-Cal’s Enhanced Mental Health Services for Bay Area Youth

Black children and children of color make up nearly 75% of children on Medi-Cal, yet they face significant barriers to accessing mental health services. Despite an overall decline in the suicide rate in California, youth — particularly Black, Latino, and female Californians — have seen disproportionate increases in suicide rates. According to data from 2022, about 4.3% of low-income teens on Medi-Cal have undergone depression screenings and received follow-up treatment. Among Indigenous youth, the screening rate is a little more than half that (2.3%). However, more screenings are probably occurring that are not being reported due to data capture issues.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 6, 2024

Oakland Post

Shutterstock

Advertorial

Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, covers one in three Californians, including more than 50% of the state’s youth. In California, nearly 300,000 youth are coping with depression, and 66 percent of them do not get the help they need, according to Gov. Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health.

To improve access to Medi-Cal mental health services, DHCS implemented a “No Wrong Door” approach to seeking care. In other words, any Medi-Cal member can receive timely access to covered mental health services regardless of where they first seek care, whether at a county mental health office or their Medi-Cal health plan.

Medi-Cal Covered Mental Health Services

Medi-Cal covers a wide range of services to support the emotional, psychological, and social needs of members. Medi-Cal can cover such services as:

Individual, group, and family therapy

Crisis counseling

Case management

Medication for mental health conditions

Depression and anxiety screenings

Drug and alcohol treatment services
Other treatments for significant or complex mental health as necessary

Paula Wilhelm, Deputy Director for Behavioral Health at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), emphasized the state’s commitment to transforming behavioral health services, which covers both mental health and substance use disorder treatment, under Medi-Cal.

“Mental health is just as important as physical health, and all of our health outcomes are intertwined,” Wilhelm said. “DHCS is partnering with health plans and care providers to transform the way behavioral health services are delivered to Medi-Cal members.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is a monumental investment in strengthening mental health services for young Californians. This initiative focuses on prevention, wellness, screening, assessment, outpatient, and community-based treatment.

Mental Health Virtual Services Apps

In January 2024, DHCS, in collaboration with Kooth and Brightline, launched two mental health virtual services platforms, which you can download as android and apple apps, BrightLife Kids for children aged 0-12 and Soluna for teenagers and young adults aged 13-25.

These platforms connect individuals to free coaching and provide educational content, assessment tools, care navigation services, peer communities, and crisis and safety protocols to all California youth and their families, regardless of insurance coverage.

These services aim to complement existing mental health services by offering additional care options and resources for parents, caregivers, children, youth, and young adults in California. If you experience long wait times to see a mental health counselor, check out these apps to connect to individual or group coaching.

Get Started Today

If you or your child need mental health services, contact your Medi-Cal health plan, which will assess your needs and refer you to get help.

In Alameda County, Medi-Cal members can contact:

Alameda Alliance for Health: 510-747-4567
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Contra Costa County, Medi-Cal members can contact:

Contra Costa Health Plan: 877-661-6230
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Marin County, Medi-Cal members can contact:

Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Solano County, Medi-Cal member can contact:

Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Oakland Post: Week of September 4 – 10, 2024

Don't Miss

Oakland Post: Week of August 28 – September 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of September 25 – October 1, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 25 – October 1, 2024

Published

3 days ago

September 27, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of September 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 week ago

September 21, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Access Better Health with Medically Tailored Meals – Transforming Health Through Nutrition for Medi-Cal Patients

Medically Tailored Meals are one of 14 new services offered through Medi-Cal that provide members with access to new and improved services to get well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor’s office or hospital.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Stock Photo

Advertorial

Launched in 2018, the Medically Tailored Meals pilot program was designed to help Medi-Cal patients with congestive heart failure by reducing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits by providing tailored meals meeting specific dietary needs.

The program’s success in improving health outcomes and reducing costly emergency room visits encouraged the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to expand the Medically Tailored Meals program to all 58 counties through Medi-Cal transformation and a new set of services called Community Supports.

Medically Tailored Meals: Overview

Malnutrition and poor nutrition can lead to severe health outcomes, especially among Medi-Cal patients with chronic health conditions. Medically Tailored Meals aim to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance patient satisfaction by providing essential nutrition.

Key Features:

Post-Discharge Delivery: Meals are delivered to patients’ homes immediately following discharge from a hospital or nursing home.
Customized Nutrition: Meals are tailored to meet the dietary needs of those with chronic diseases, designed by registered dietitians (RD) or certified nutrition professionals based on evidence-based guidelines.
Comprehensive Services: Includes medically tailored groceries, healthy food vouchers, and food pharmacies.
Educational Support: Behavioral, cooking, and nutrition education is included when paired with direct food assistance.

Key Benefits:

Address Food Insecurity: Mitigates poor health outcomes linked to food insecurity.
Support Complex Care Needs: Tailored to individuals with chronic conditions.
Improve Health Outcomes: Studies show improvements in diabetes control, fall prevention, and medication adherence.

Patient Testimonial:

“My diabetes has gotten better with the meals. I’ve kept my weight down, and I feel much better now than I have in a long time. I’m one of the people this program is meant for.” — Brett

Eligibility:

Eligible Populations: Eligible Medi-Cal members include those with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic lung disorders, HIV, cancer, gestational diabetes, and chronic mental or behavioral health disorders. Also, those being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility or at high risk of hospitalization or nursing facility placement are also eligible.

Service Limitations: Up to two meals per day for up to 12 weeks, extendable if medically necessary. Meals eligible for reimbursement by alternate programs are not covered.

Cost Savings and Improved Health Outcomes:

Health Outcomes: Research indicates a 22% to 58% decrease in emergency department visits and a 27% to 63% decrease in inpatient admissions among Medically Tailored Meals recipients, translating to significant health care cost savings.

Project Open Hand: A Success Story

Project Open Hand has been a leader in providing Medically Tailored Meals, significantly impacting the lives of Bay Area Medi-Cal patients with chronic illnesses. Since its inception, Project Open Hand has delivered nutritious meals to individuals with diabetes, HIV, and other serious health conditions, demonstrating remarkable health improvements and cost savings.

Key Achievements:

Improved Health Outcomes: Project Open Hand’s research found a 50% increase in medication adherence among recipients of Medically Tailored Meals.
Reduced Hospitalizations: Their program showed a 63% reduction in hospitalizations for patients with diabetes and HIV.
Enhanced Quality of Life: Patients reported better health and increased energy levels.

Project Open Hand ensures that each meal is prepared using fresh, wholesome ingredients tailored to meet the specific dietary needs of its clients. By partnering with Medi-Cal managed care plans, Project Open Hand continues to provide life-saving nutrition to those who need it most.

Join Us in Our Mission

You can experience the profound impact of Medically Tailored Meals by joining the Medi-Cal Community Supports services initiative. Your involvement can make a difference in promoting your health through nutrition.

Learn More

For more information about Medically Tailored Meals and how to get involved, call the state’s Medi-Cal Health Care options at 800-430-4263 or contact your local managed care plan.

In Alameda County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

Alameda Alliance for Health: 510-747-4567
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
In Contra Costa County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:
* Contra Costa Health Plan: 877-661-6230
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Marin County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Solano County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

* Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

Your health and well-being are your health care provider’s top priority. Medically Tailored Meals are designed to enhance quality of life by advancing health care through the power of nutrition. Experience the benefits today and take the first step toward a healthier you.