California Comeback Plan
On May 14, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the May Revision of his State Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget proposal. The May Revision supports vital services that reinforce the state’s commitment to preserve and improve the overall health and well-being of all Californians, while operating within a responsible budgetary structure.
The May Revision includes a number of proposals designed to advance and augment the impact of ACEs Aware, as well as proposals relevant to supporting the goals and objectives of the initiative. Additional information is available in the May Revision 2021-2022 Budget Summary.
Transforming the Behavioral Health System for Children and Youth (pages 78-79)
The May Revision includes significant investment in children and youth behavioral health by providing enhanced services to children and youth from birth to age 25. The new benefits will be available statewide (in both commercial plans and Medi-Cal), evidence-based, culturally competent, and equity focused. Services will address a broad and complex range of issues affecting mental and emotional well-being, including alcohol and other substance use, stress, trauma, grief, anxiety, and psychological disorders.
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative includes resources for the Department of Health Care Services to procure a business services vendor to implement an all-payer virtual platform to be integrated with screening, app-based support services, and direct behavioral health services that will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The initiative also includes grants to qualified entities to increase behavioral health services at or affiliated with schools; supports development and expansion of age-appropriate, evidence-based programs offered through the CalHOPE Student Support Program; provides dedicated funds from the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program targeted to supporting individuals age 25 and younger; and provides coverage of Medi-Cal dyadic service benefits.
Support will be provided for young people facing challenges at home or who are having difficulty forging positive and supportive adult relationships.
Trauma-Informed Training for Educators (pages 79-80)
The initiative includes resources for a public awareness campaign on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress, and to develop a curriculum of trauma‑informed training specific to the education sector. The initiative also includes resources for the California Department of Public Health to raise the behavioral health literacy of all Californians and work to prevent mental health and substance use challenges.
ACE Research Grants (page 80)
The May Revision includes $12.4 million for the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine to award seven demonstration projects focused on advancing research on, and building scalable approaches to, treating and preventing ACEs. Funding will further the Administration’s efforts to better understand and treat ACEs by strengthening workforce training efforts, building a statewide stress surveillance network, and broadening the network of clinicians that are equipped to treat and prevent toxic stress resulting from ACEs.
Proposition 56 Suspensions (page 86)
The funding for supplemental payments of $29 to Medi-Cal providers that conduct ACE screenings during a visit, as well as the funding for the ACEs Aware provider training, is supported by Proposition 56. Proposition 56 funds were previously scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2021. The May Revision proposes to eliminate suspensions for Proposition 56 supplemental payment increases.
Medi-Cal Benefits Expansions (pages 84-86)
Community Health Workers will be added to the class of health workers who are able to provide services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, effective January 1, 2022.
Medi-Cal Eligibility Extension for New Mothers
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows states to receive federal funding if they extend Medi-Cal eligibility from 60 days to 12 months for most postpartum individuals, effective April 1, 2022, for up to five years. The May Revision includes funding annually through 2027-28 to implement the extension.
The May Revision also adds doula services as a covered benefit in the Medi-Cal program, effective January 1, 2022.
Health Information Exchange Leadership (page 101)
The May Revision includes $2.5 million in one-time General Fund for the Health and Human Services Agency to lead efforts and stakeholder engagement in building out information exchange for health and social services programs.
Workforce Investments (multiple)
The May Revision includes workforce development investments, including for behavioral health providers.