MedicaidAdministrativeHigh impact
03-27-2026 Non-Specialty Mental Health Services Responsibilities APL 26-002 IE LA SAC SD
Molina Healthcare·CA · Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Practice +2 more·Provider Bulletin
Effective date
Apr 1, 2026
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
Molina Healthcare of California updated responsibilities for Non-Specialty Mental Health Services (NSMHS) for Medi-Cal members, requiring providers to conduct mental health screenings without delays, use only DHCS-approved youth trauma screening tools starting April 1, 2026, and coordinate referrals to County Mental Health Plans when specialty services are needed. The policy emphasizes no prior authorization for initial mental health assessments and ensures mental health parity compliance.
Action Required
By April 1, 2026: Billing team must ensure no prior authorization is requested for initial mental health assessments for Medi-Cal members. Providers must begin using only DHCS-approved youth trauma screening tools for members under age 21. Clinical staff should coordinate with Molina's Behavioral Health team at MHC_BH_Solutions@Molinahealthcare.com or fax (505) 924-8236 for County MHP referrals. Update workflows to avoid delaying NSMHS due to absence of diagnosis, especially for members under 21 per EPSDT requirements.