Medicaid Program

A significant percentage of consumers who utilize California's county mental health services are enrolled in the federal Medicaid program. Medicaid is administered by states (called Medi-Cal in California), and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services (within federal regulatory paramaters and guidelines.)

The state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the "single state agency" designated by the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to administer the Medi-Cal specialty mental health managed care program, which in turn contracts with county mental health authorities to manage and provide mental health services to eligible beneficiaries.

• State Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Program
• Federal Advocacy Documents

Background Information

• CMHDA Background Paper (March 2008) (PDF 145 KB)
• Medi-Cal Waivers: California Healthcare Foundation (PDF 275 KB)

Issues and Priorities

• General Information - Medicaid Waiver and Demonstration Project
• Evaluation Reports - Medicaid Waiver and Demonstration Project
• State Medicaid Plans and Plan Amendments
• CMS Letters to State Medicaid Directors
• Deficit Reduction Act of 2005: Proof of Citizenship
• Deficit Reduction Act of 2005: Medicaid Citizenship Final Rule

Other Advocacy Organizations Monitoring CMS Medicaid Regulations

• The National Association of County Behavioral Health Directors
• Mental Health America

Agencies

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

For More Information

• Don Kingdon, PhD – Deputy Director & Small Counties Liaison
  Contact for Medi-Cal and other regulatory issues
  dkingdon@cmhda.org
• Erin Riggs, MSW – Associate Director, Legislation & Public Policy
  Contact for state legislation and public policy issues
  eriggs@cmhda.org