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[ORGANIZATION LETTERHEAD]July X, 2019The Honorable Anthony J. PortantinoChair, Senate Appropriations CommitteeCalifornia State Capitol, Room 3086Sacramento, CA 95814RE: AB 898 (Wicks): Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment services: Behavioral Health - SUPPORTDear Senator Portantino:[Organization name] is proud to support AB 898 (Wicks) and to be a part of the growing coalition of Californians calling upon the state to improve our state’s children’s behavioral health system. Research demonstrates that poverty, early childhood adversity, and social isolation contribute to short- and long-term behavioral health consequences throughout the life course. Given that 50% of all chronic mental health problems begin by age 14 and 75% by age 25, childhood and adolescence is a critical time for identifying and addressing behavioral health needs. Fortunately, under Medi-Cal, the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit entitles low-income children to receive developmental and other screenings as well as health and mental health services to address any conditions impeding their healthy development. Estimates suggest that 22% of low-income children have a behavioral health disorder. These estimates do not include children whose behavioral health needs don’t meet strict diagnostic criteria, which may be more common among certain populations of low-income children. Despite the fact that 60% of California children are enrolled in Medicaid, less than 5% of eligible youth in California receive a single mental health service under the EPSDT benefit, and fewer than 3% receive ongoing clinical treatment. These dismal access rates demand prompt attention. Further, California is leaving billions of federal Medicaid dollars on the table by failing to fully claim against state expenditures. The state ranks 48th in the nation in per-beneficiary spending under Medicaid, despite having one of the highest tax bases of any state in the nation. New Medicaid revenue could be used to fund essential behavioral health services for youth. We must invest in the well-being of California’s children. AB 898 represents an important step forward in maximizing federal revenue and addressing existing financing and administrative burdens that contribute to a fragmented children’s behavioral health system that fails to deliver the services and supports that children and families need. This bill directs the Health and Human Services Agency to convene stakeholders engaged in child-serving systems to develop findings and recommendations to improve the performance of the system. This Children’s Behavioral Health Action Team would be tasked with developing strategies to 1) leverage federal, state, and local funding for EPSDT; 2) address gaps in access to behavioral health supports for children; and 3) identify alternative contracting and payment arrangements that improve access to coordinated and integrated care for children and youth. Most importantly, the Action Team would develop an implementation plan that outlines a roadmap for the state to maximize and optimize its investment in children’s health and well-being.The Children’s Behavioral Health Action Team would mandate the critical cross-sector collaboration that California’s children need. California’s historically fragmented approach to addressing children’s behavioral health has left individual agencies to meet these needs independently – neglecting the fact that a child’s needs cut across the health, education, social service and juvenile justice systems. The Action Team can close the gap in communication between stakeholders in child-serving systems and create coordinated systems-level change. The time has come for California to place a higher priority on children’s behavioral health and ensure children and families receive the services and supports they need to grow and thrive. For a small investment of state time and resources we can design a unified, data-driven, and fiscally sophisticated approach to ensuring that Medi-Cal eligible children actually receive the services that they are entitled to by law.For these reasons, we urge your support for AB 898.Sincerely,[Name][Organization/Title]CC: Honorable Buffy Wicks, California State AssemblyShannon McKinley, Office of Assemblymember Buffy Wicks Honorable Members, Senate Appropriations CommitteeSamantha Lui, Principal Consultant Senate Appropriations CommitteeAlex Briscoe, Principal, California Children’s Trust ................
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