CYBHI Mental Health Fee Reimbursements
Washington Unified school district is now part of a program that ensures that schools can provide resources and care to students who need mental health support.
Washington Unified school district is now part of a program that ensures that schools can provide resources and care to students who need mental health support.![]()
Washington Unified school district is now part of a program that ensures that schools can provide resources and care to students who need mental health support.
This statewide initiative ensures schools can better provide resources and care to your child should they need support.
Called the "California Child and Youth Behavioral Initiative," the program allows school districts to be reimbursed for socio-emotional mental health services they provide to students. The reimbursements come from families' health insurance providers, including Medi-Cal and private insurance, to support socio-emotional and mental health services for students.
Called the "California Child and Youth Behavioral Initiative," the program allows school districts to be reimbursed for socio-emotional mental health services they provide to students. The reimbursements come from families' health insurance providers, including Medi-Cal and private insurance, to support socio-emotional and mental health services for students.
In the fall of 2026-2027, we will be asking parents to provide their health insurance or Medi-Cal. The request will be a part of the annual Data Confirmation Process.
details on cybhi
details on cybhi![]()
details on cybhi
Background
- Since the pandemic, students' needs for mental and emotional health support have increased sharply.
- During the pandemic, both the state and federal governments provided temporary funding to meet this increased need, and WUSD used that funding to implement innovative programs for students in grades TK-12.
- Because that funding was temporary (also known as a "one-time funding), it will be ending soon. Many school districts are looking for ways to maintain their mental health services in the face of the dramatic cuts in funding that are on the horizon
How the Fee Schedule Works
How the Fee Schedule Works![]()
How the Fee Schedule Works
The new program will enable us to continue providing mental and emotional health services to your children. Here’s how it will work:
- WUSD will ask for your student's health insurance information so that we can submit reimbursement requests for the services we provide. We will keep this information secure and confidential, as required by state and federal laws.
- The request for health insurance information will be a regular part of the Data Confirmation process at the start of each school year.
- After providing mental or emotional services or supports to your child, we will submit a reimbursement request.
- This reimbursement will come to the district directly from the insurance companies, at no cost to parents/guardians. (Remember, state law prohibits passing the costs on to families.)
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative![]()
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
Launched in 2021, the "Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative" (CYBHI) requires health insurers to reimburse school districts for certain mental and emotional supports they provide for students under the age of 26, including:
- Social-emotional lessons in the classroom
- Behavioral health screenings
- Teen Mental Health First Aid for all 10th graders
- Substance use screening and counseling
- Individual and group counseling for topics such as friendship/social skills, executive functioning, anxiety, grief, etc.
This program is a first-of-its-kind effort to make it easier for students and families to get the outpatient mental health care that they need and for districts to get the funding they need to continue to provide these mental health services.
The CYBHI program prohibits health plans and insurers from passing any of the costs of these services to families. It provides other protections for families, as well. For instance, our reimbursement request will not affect your insurance coverage (i.e., you will not pay co-pays, higher premiums, or deductibles). And receiving services at school will not reduce or impact students’ or their families' ability to obtain care outside of school.
As part of the CYBHI, the "Fee Schedule" sets the reimbursement rate for different types of school-related mental health services.
Will the CYBHI fee schedule change the services my student receives?
Will the CYBHI fee schedule change the services my student receives?![]()
Will the CYBHI fee schedule change the services my student receives?
No, the CYBHI Fee Schedule will not change the type of behavioral health services your child receives. Instead, it changes the way that school districts pay for the provision of behavioral health services.
Services that are eligible for reimbursement include behavioral health screenings, assessments, and ongoing mental health supports. Students can continue to receive other types of services even if they are not eligible for reimbursement.
Will the Fee Schedule change the special education services my child receives?
Will the Fee Schedule change the special education services my child receives?![]()
Will the Fee Schedule change the special education services my child receives?
No. Your student will continue to receive the services specified in their IEP. The Fee Schedule only affects the funding for mental and socio-emotional services for students.
Why do I need to provide health information?
Why do I need to provide health information?![]()
Why do I need to provide health information?
Under the CYBHI Fee Schedule, districts can be reimbursed for eligible mental health and socio-emotional services it provides to students. The information that you share with us will allow us to verify your coverage and submit a request for reimbursement.
Will you ask my permission before providing services to my child?
Will you ask my permission before providing services to my child?![]()
Will you ask my permission before providing services to my child?
Some services -- such as socio-emotional education -- may take place during class time. Those lessons do not require parent permission.
We will ask for your consent before providing more specific mental health services. Please note, however, that minors aged 12 and above can consent to certain services without their parents' permission.
Can I choose which services my child receives?
Can I choose which services my child receives?![]()
Can I choose which services my child receives?
Some services -- such as socio-emotional education -- may take place during class time. Those lessons do not require parent permission.
Individual and group counseling do require your consent, and we will contact you about this before providing these services to your child.
Please note, however, that minors aged 12 and above can consent to certain services without their parents' permission.
Are you collecting insurance information from all families?
Are you collecting insurance information from all families?![]()
Are you collecting insurance information from all families?
Yes. Districts participating in the CYBHI program are required to collect health insurance (or Medi-Cal information) from all families -- whether they receive services or not.
I don't want to participate in this program. How do I opt out?
I don't want to participate in this program. How do I opt out?![]()
I don't want to participate in this program. How do I opt out?
State law requires families to provide their insurance or MediCal information.
However, not all students need mental health services or supports, and the school will ask for your consent before providing individual or group counseling to your child.
Will the CYBHI Fee Schedule Affect Our Health Insurance?
Will the CYBHI Fee Schedule Affect Our Health Insurance?![]()
Will the CYBHI Fee Schedule Affect Our Health Insurance?
The CYBHI Fee Schedule will not affect your health insurance.
California Welfare & Institutions Code section 5961.4 and California Health & Safety Code Section 1374.722 (b)(6) prohibit insurance companies from requiring co-payments for CYBHI services or changing a family's insurance based on its use of them.
My family does not have health insurance. Can my child still receive services?
My family does not have health insurance. Can my child still receive services?![]()
My family does not have health insurance. Can my child still receive services?
Yes, your child can receive mental health services at our sites even if your family does not have health insurance.
During Data Confirmation in the fall, please indicate that you don't have health insurance on the CYBHI form. (There is an option for that.) That will help us keep track of our billing.
Why am I being asked to provide consent for my high-school aged youth to access counseling services if the age of consent in California is 12?
Why am I being asked to provide consent for my high-school aged youth to access counseling services if the age of consent in California is 12?![]()
Why am I being asked to provide consent for my high-school aged youth to access counseling services if the age of consent in California is 12?
While the age of consent for access to reproductive and mental health counseling is 12 years old, we ask for parental consent for all students in Data Confirmation. That's because most students do not know what their health insurance information is, and we need this in order to bill the CYBHI Fee Schedule.
We believe in transparency in the services that we provide to students; therefore, we request consent from all of our parents/guardians – even for those students over 12 years of age.
