Recent findings from the University of California San Francisco indicate that 25% of elementary students wanted to talk to a counselor or therapist about mental health concerns last year – but only 60% reported getting help when they needed it. 

Even more concerningly, one out of every four elementary students reported they would not know what to do if they felt sad, stressed, lonely, or depressed. In secondary school, up to 14% of students seriously considered suicide in the last year, and one out of every four experienced social or emotional distress in the past month. 

All this to say that one thing is clear: California schools need access to reliable mental health support, now more than ever. 

That’s why the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) was created. This $4.7 billion statewide funding program is designed to ensure students have access to essential behavioral services at school. 

Healthy Campus proudly supports this initiative, but we’re also focused on making it more accessible to school districts. Let’s discuss how. 

Understanding the CYBHI 

The CYBHI is a crucial component of California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health. This comprehensive plan, funded by the State of California, takes a holistic approach to addressing the mental health and well-being of children and youth.

By fostering collaborations with various agencies and organizations, the CYBHI aims to overhaul the way California supports children, youth, and families. Its primary goal is to ensure that children and families can easily access the support they need for their emotional, mental, and behavioral health needs, in a timely and appropriate manner.

As part of this initiative, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) established the CYBHI Fee Schedule. This innovative program is designed to streamline and facilitate the reimbursement processes for school-linked behavioral health services. 

In short, it’s a funding mechanism that establishes minimum rates for these services and details which services will be covered and how districts will be reimbursed. 

Shifting Toward Identification and Prevention 

The implementation of the CYBHI Fee Schedule represents a monumental shift towards prioritizing early identification and prevention, addressing children’s mental health needs at the earliest stages. 

Early intervention can significantly improve long-term outcomes for children. Research has shown that many mental health issues develop during childhood, and if left untreated, they can persist into adulthood and lead to more severe problems. 

For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that approximately 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14.

Furthermore, addressing mental health concerns early can help prevent them from escalating into more severe conditions. The quick identification and treatment of mental health disorders in children can prevent academic difficulties, social isolation, substance abuse, and even suicide. 

Considering that an estimated 284,000 of youth in California cope with major depression, the CYBHI is a crucial step in making sure mental health concerns are addressed early, comprehensively, and carefully. 

The Challenges of the Fee Schedule 

Unfortunately, the Fee Schedule is not without its hurdles for districts. Its successful execution relies on effective systems that can…

• Navigate the complexities of care coordination across fragmented resources
• Integrate various software platforms
• Collaborate between departments processes that often work in silos
• Address regulatory issues with HIPAA, FERPA, and consent management
• Manage the insurance claims process 

Healthy Campus President, Thomas Shaffer, states, “This is an amazing opportunity – but the CYBHI Fee Schedule places a large administrative burden on schools, most of which lack the necessary software to handle it.” 

This isn’t a gap that can easily be solved by hiring more employees or contracting a billing and claims solution. Our team quickly realized it needs something bigger – a robust, enterprise-grade software platform that’s customized for Educational Agencies and Counties.

The Power of the Operations & Revenue Suite 

As we acknowledged the gap between schools and the CYBHI Fee Schedule, we decided to create a software that would unify resources in one ecosystem, automating the administrative burden placed on districts. 

We’re proud to announce the launch of our Operations & Revenue Suite (ORS), a SaaS (service as a software) product with a comprehensive design to streamline and centralize the complex administrative requirements of the CYBHI Fee Schedule implementation. 

Leveraging the power of AI, the ORS system tracks insurance payer policies and regulatory codes, ensuring service delivery across various resources is well coordinated, documented and fraud resistant. Its Resources and Scheduling Hub also puts district employees, community providers, and local and state resources in one place, closing the loop on care coordination.

Further features offered in our ORS system include…

• Charting and AI-enabled revenue cycle management to handle claims, appeals, and fund disbursement 
• Data analytics and reporting on services,resources, and their impact on items such as student attendance and department sustainability.
• Patient portal which handles consent management and medical records in a secure but convenient manner.

By integrating existing district software and the various CYBHI Fee Schedule processes through the ORS system, we are empowering school districts and County Offices to efficiently manage their health services and maximize revenue streams. This is particularly crucial in the current economic climate, where California faces significant budget cuts.

“The launch of our ORS software marks a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionize healthcare access for students,” said Shaffer. “We believe that by providing schools and counties with a streamlined and efficient platform, we can make a tangible difference in the lives and mental health of students across California.”

Learn More About the CYBHI or ORS  

As California continues its commitment to prioritizing youth behavioral health, Healthy Campus stands ready to support school districts and county offices. Our goal is to ensure every student in need has access to high-quality, safe mental health care. 

To learn more about CYBHI Readiness, request information today. We’ll set up a discovery call to discuss your campus’s needs and your next steps.