Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Medi-Cal Dyadic Services
The following FAQs provide additional guidance and clarification to Medi-Cal members regarding the dyadic services benefit. As the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) receives additional questions, this FAQ will be updated.
General Information
1. What are dyadic services?
Dyadic services are a form of behavioral health service provided to both children under 21 years old and their parents or caregivers for the direct benefit of the child. Dyadic services include assessments, screenings, counseling and brief intervention services.
2. What does “dyadic services” mean?
“Dyadic services” are a family and caregiver focused model of care to address developmental and behavioral health conditions of children It includes services provided to parents/caregivers. (A “dyad" relates to the interaction between two people.) For Medi-Cal dyadic services, a dyad includes a child under 21 years old and their parent(s) or caregiver(s).
3. What services are available as part of dyadic services?
- Dyadic Behavioral Health (DBH) Well-Child Visits are provided for the child and parents or caregivers at medical visits. Through the DBH well-child visits, a child and parents or caregivers can be screened for behavioral health problems, interpersonal safety, tobacco and substance misuse, adverse childhood experiences, and social drivers of health, such as food insecurity and housing instability, as well as provided referrals for appropriate follow-up care.
- Dyadic Comprehensive Community Support Services help the child and their parents or caregivers gain access to needed medical, social, educational, and other health-related services.
- Dyadic Psychoeducational Services are planned, structured interventions that involve presenting or demonstrating information with the goal of preventing the development or worsening of behavioral health conditions and achieving optimal mental health and long-term resilience.
- Dyadic Family Training and Counseling for Child Development provide training and counseling related to a child’s behavioral issues, developmentally appropriate parenting strategies, parent/child interactions, and other related issues.
- Dyadic Caregiver Services – which include specific assessment, screening, counseling and brief intervention services provided to the parent or caregiver for the benefit of the child.
4. How do we access dyadic care?
A primary care provider or behavioral health provider would screen a child as part of a well-child visit or any other office visit to determine if they would benefit from dyadic services Providers may also screen the parent/caregiver.
5. Who can provide dyadic services?
Dyadic Services may be provided by primary care providers or behavioral providers. This can include physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and other qualified licensed and associate providers.
6. Can a community health worker (CHW) provide dyadic services?
While CHWs may not provide dyadic services, appropriately trained nonclinical staff, including CHWs who are supervised by a licensed provider of dyadic services, may screen Medi-Cal members for issues related to social drivers of health and perform other nonclinical support tasks as part of a dyadic visit.
7. I am not enrolled in Medi-Cal but my child is. Are we eligible for the dyadic service benefit?
Yes. A parent or caregiver may receive dyadic services for the direct benefit of a child who is enrolled in Medi-Cal. The parent(s) or caregiver(s) does not need to be enrolled in Medi-Cal as long as the care is for the direct benefit of the Medi-Cal child.
8. Where do I go to get dyadic services?
Managed care plans (MCPs) may offer the Dyadic Services benefit through telehealth or in-person with locations in any setting including, but not limited to, pediatric primary care settings, doctor’s offices or clinics, inpatient or outpatient settings in hospitals, the Member’s home, school-based sites, or community settings. There are no service location limitations.
9. Where can I get more information about the dyadic benefit?
