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California Health & Wellness is no longer a Medi-Cal plan starting January 1, 2024. Regardless of the county you live in, your Medi-Cal service and benefits will not be impacted by the health plan changes since you will be assigned to a new health plan. The county you live in determines your new health plan. Learn more
California Health & Wellness is no longer a Medi-Cal plan starting January 1, 2024. Regardless of the county you live in, your Medi-Cal service and benefits will not be impacted by the health plan changes since you will be assigned to a new health plan. The county you live in determines your new health plan. Learn more

20-544 Behavioral Health Screening Referrals

Date: 07/28/20

Use screening tools to help you decide when patients need to see an MHN provider

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are encouraged to screen members for depression and other behavioral health conditions. The screening tools below can help you identify conditions earlier and determine when to refer California Health & Wellness Plan (CHWP) members for behavioral health (BH) services to CHWP’s behavioral health administrator, MHN.

BH condition

Screenings

Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) is widely used. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Screeners page is available for more information.

Depression

Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) is most common and can be used for adolescents and adults. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Screeners page is available for more information.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD Screen for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) (PC-PTSD-5) is a five-step screen designed for use in primary care or other medical settings. Learn more about Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) from U.S Department of Veterans Affaris.

Substance use

View the National Institue on Drug Abuse website for a list of evidence-based screening tools and assessment resources. 

Suicide

View the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit on the National Institute of Mental Health website.

MHN remains available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

CHWP members can contact MHN for referrals to behavioral health counselors, local resources or telephonic consultations to help them cope with stress, grief, loss, or other trauma. Members may contact MHN 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling the member services telephone number listed on their identification card (ID).

Referrals to MHN

Members do not need to contact their PCP, medical group/IPA or attending physician to request a referral for MHN services. Providers may also contact MHN for assistance with these services and referrals for behavioral health. Also, document the member has signed and authorized you to share confidential information with MHN as required by law.

You may also ask MHN to send a copy of the Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information for the member to complete and send a copy back to MHN. Be sure to keep the signed form in the member’s medical records.

The network includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse specialists, and marriage and family therapists.

For Medi-Cal members, MHN manages:

  • Outpatient treatment for mild-to-moderate behavioral health services
  • Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) for members under the age of 21.

Prior authorization is not required for initial assessment for outpatient behavioral health services.

Routine BH services

For routine BH service requests, MHN notes the member’s needs, geographic area, benefit plan and scheduling requirements to identify a practitioner that meets the clinical needs of the member. Member preferences, such as gender and cultural experience, are considered when possible.

MHN meets the regulatory standards for BH services, which are available within:

  • 48 hours for urgent situations.
  • 10 business days for routine services with a non-physician mental health provider.
  • 15 business days for routine services with a psychiatrist.

Contact MHN for questions

PCPs and their office staff may call MHN customer service to speak with a licensed care manager (CM). MHN CMs can assist PCPs by discussing the behavioral health needs of their patients. MHN customer service staff are able to answer questions about MHN’s network and programs, the referral process, member eligibility and benefits. A signed Disclosure of Protected Health Information form is required for MHN to discuss member-specific eligibility, benefits or history of care.

Contact MHN at 1-888-935-5966 or email MHN.ProviderServices@healthnet.com for BH services.

Online resources

Find BH providers for your member.

  • Search for a BH provider in the MHN Provider Directory without calling MHN.
    • Go to the MHN website. Select For Members > Find a Provider> Choose the California Health & Wellness Plan option for your member.

Check resources on the California Health & Wellness provider portal:

  • Select For Providers > Quality Improvement (QI) Program to view provider tip sheets and other BH tools and resources.
  • Select For Providers > Provider Resources > Manuals, Forms and Resources to access the provider manual or the Care Management Referral Form.

Additional Information

If you have questions regarding the information contained in this update, contact CHWP at 1-877-658-0305.