In a recent move by California health care officials, the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Department of Healthcare Services both confirmed California will be reimbursing counties that overspend their allocations for Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) mental health services through the use of 2011 realignment growth funds, which are funds accrued from the Behavioral Health Subaccount.
The news was first reported through an email from Young Minds Advocacy (YMA), which stated that Patrick Gardner, President of YMA, and others each received the news from a call with health care officials who confirmed the decision for reimbursement.
The email specified that eight counties would be reimbursed for their expenditures in EPSDT mental health services of upwards of $8 million from the Behavioral Health Subaccount growth fund. These counties include: Del Norte, Glenn, Imperial, Inyo, Mondoc, Mono, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara.
According to Gardner, only counties that overspend their allocation from the fiscal year of 2011-2012 will be reimbursed this time around, but this commitment to reimbursements by the state serves as a promise to counties that reimbursements will happen over the next couple of years.
“This does cover just the first year of realignment, but it’s important to note that the state is now not only saying that they’ll reimburse, but they’re actually doing it,” Gardner said.