SEARCHSLUSD is proud to offer essential behavioral health services to support our students’ well-being.
We are now participating in a statewide program called the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), which helps us secure sustainable funding so can continue offering these critical services—at no cost to families.
As part of this program, we are collecting students’ insurance information. This allows us to bill for services directly, without any additional cost to families or their insurance plan.
How does this work?
CYBHI has created a reimbursement system called the “Fee Schedule,” which allows school districts to receive payments for behavioral health services already being provided on campus—such as screenings, assessments, and ongoing mental health support. These reimbursements are paid directly from students’ insurance providers (including Medi-Cal Managed Care, Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service, most commercial plans, and disability insurers), ensuring that there are no additional out-of-pocket expenses for families.
Important Points for Families
- No Cost for Families – Even if You Do Not Provide Insurance Information:
All students will continue to receive free, high-quality behavioral health services at school, regardless of whether their parent or guardian provides health insurance or Medi-Cal information. However, if this information is not shared, the district will not be able to receive reimbursement from insurance providers. While this does not affect a student’s access to services, it may impact SLUSD’s ability to sustain or expand these services in the future.
- Privacy and Data Protection:
Any health insurance information you provide is kept strictly confidential and used only to verify coverage and process reimbursement for services. This information is protected under federal laws—including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)—as well as all applicable state laws. We do not share your personal information with anyone outside of what is necessary to process claims or as required by law.
- Impact on Services and Special Education:
The CYBHI Fee Schedule does not change how your child receives mental or behavioral health services. If your child currently receives services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), those supports will continue as usual. The Fee Schedule simply provides a way for schools to receive funding for services they are already offering on campus.
- Minor Consent:
In California, students ages 12 and older can consent to certain mental health services on their own.
This allows them to access support when they need it—even if parental consent isn’t required for specific types of care. It ensures timely help is available in situations where waiting for consent could delay important services. - Billing and Special Health Plans:
Families will not be charged any co-pays, deductibles, or other fees for services provided through CYBHI. Most health insurance plans are covered, including Medi-Cal. In some cases, such as with high-deductible or Medi-Cal share-of-cost plans, additional verification may be needed, but there will still be no cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: The Fee Schedule provides a funding mechanism that enables your child’s school to be reimbursed for delivering mental and behavioral health services. Essentially, schools submit claims for services—such as screenings, assessments, and counseling—and the school’s billing department is paid directly by the insurance companies. This ensures that these valuable services continue without any cost to you.
A: No. The program does not change the type or quality of services available to your child. It only changes how the school obtains reimbursement for services they are already providing. Additionally, if your child has an IEP for special education services, those services remain unchanged.
A: Your child will still receive all mental and behavioral health services provided at school at no cost to you. However, if insurance information is not provided, the school won’t be able to claim reimbursement from the health insurer. This means the school might lose an important source of funding, though it will not affect your child’s access to services.
A: All health insurance data is kept confidential and is used strictly for verifying coverage and processing school reimbursement claims. This information is protected under FERPA and HIPAA, ensuring that your private details are not shared with any outside entities except as necessary for reimbursement purposes or as required by law.
A: Yes. For services like individual or group counseling, you (or the legal guardian) will be asked to sign a consent form when providing your child’s insurance information. In cases where your child is 12 or older, they may have the right to consent to certain services independently, as permitted by California law.
A: No, using the CYBHI Fee Schedule will not change your child’s insurance coverage, premiums, or deductibles. State law prohibits insurance companies from passing any of the costs for these services onto families.
Contact Us
For questions related to medical billing or providing your child’s health insurance information, please email healthbilling@slusd.us. You may also reach out to your child’s school administrator for additional support.
For more information about the CYBHI Fee Schedule Program, visit the DHCS CYBHI Fee Schedule website or email DHCS.SBS@dhcs.ca.gov.