Trauma Screenings and Trauma-Informed Care Provider Trainings
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in partnership with the California Office of the Surgeon General, created a first-in-the-nation statewide effort to screen patients for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that lead to trauma and the increased likelihood of ACEs-Associated-Health Conditions due to toxic stress. The bold goal of this initiative is to reduce ACEs and toxic stress by half in one generation.
All providers are encouraged to receive training to screen patients for ACEs. By screening for ACEs, providers can better determine the likelihood a patient is at increased health risk due to a toxic stress response, which can inform patient treatment and encourage the use of trauma-informed care. Detecting ACEs early and connecting patients to interventions, resources, and other supports can improve the health and well-being of individuals and families.
Beginning on January 1, 2020, DHCS will pay Medi-Cal providers $29 per trauma screening for children and adults with Medi-Cal coverage. Providers must self-attest that the training has been completed to be eligible to receive Medi-Cal payment for conducting ACEs screenings.
Provider Training
The ACEs Aware initiative offers Medi-Cal providers training, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for ACEs.
Training to screen for ACEs is available at the
ACEs Aware website. The two-hour online curriculum is easy to access for a wide range of health care professionals and offers Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits.
Screening Tools
Screening for ACEs helps primary care clinicians assess risk for toxic stress and guide effective responses. To receive Medi-Cal payment for conducting ACE screenings, clinical team members in California must use approved screening tools for children, adolescents, and adults. Visit the ACEs Aware Screening Tools web page to access the tools (available in multiple languages).
Webinar Presentations:
Website
Visit the
ACEs Aware website to find out more.
Resources
Contact Us
For any questions or concerns, please contact
Questions@ACEsAware.org.
