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Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule Program 

Announcements

Updated First Date of Service Guidance

An updated First Date of Service (FDOS) policy for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and public Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) participating in the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Fee Schedule program was released on June 18, 2026, as outlined in CYBHI Policy and Procedure Letter (PPL) 26-001. The new FDOS policy is effective immediately and is designed to support accurate claims billing and ensure compliance with CYBHI Fee Schedule program requirements. Please review CYBHI PPL 26-001 for further details.

Overview of the CYBHI Fee Schedule program

As part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), the California Department of Health Care Services launched the CYBHI Fee Schedule program, a first-of-its kind effort to make it easier for students and families to get outpatient mental health and substance use disorder support when, where, and how they need it. This program creates a sustainable reimbursement pathway for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and public institutions of higher education (IHEs) to receive funding for services rendered at a school or school-linked site. The program sets the reimbursement rate for a certain set of outpatient, school-linked services rendered to children and youth who are:

  • Under the age of 26, 
  • Enrolled in public TK-12 schools or institutions of higher education (e.g., California Community Colleges), and 
  • Covered by Medi-Cal managed care plans, Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service, health care service plans, and disability insurers.

Children, youth, and families will not pay out-of-pocket expenses and there will not be any impact to their existing insurance plan nor deductibles. 

Let’s work together to improve the behavioral health of children, youth, and families in California by expanding their access to youth-centered, equitable, and prevention-orientated services.

Monthly Breakdown of CYBHI Claims Submissions

  • 199 LEAs/IHEs (including 13 school-linked providers) have submitted claims.
  • $12.76 million in unique clean claims (includes all in-process and approved claims) have been submitted to the TPA for reimbursement.
  • 232,092 claims have been reimbursed, totaling $11.37 million in new revenue for LEAs and IHEs.
  • 48,821 unique students have received services submitted for reimbursement.
  • 41 Managed Care Plans/Insurers are represented in the claims data.

Impact by the numbers

  • ⁓700 Local Educational Agencies and public Institutions of Higher Education enrolled in the CYBHI Fee Schedule program
  • ⁓3.6M students enrolled across participating schoolsites
  • 98% of counties in California represented by current participants

Current List of Participating LEAs and IHEs

CYBHI Fee Schedule Program Overview Video

Resources

Please visit the CYBHI Fee Schedule Resource Library to find essential guidance and materials to support CYBHI Fee Schedule program implementation. The library includes provider resources for LEAs/IHEs and community-based school-linked providers, onboarding modules, parent and caregiver engagement materials, and program policies.

Questions and Email Distribution 

If you have any questions about the Statewide Multi-Payer School-Linked Fee Schedule, or if you would like to be added to the distribution list for newsletters and other related communications, please contact DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov.