California Code of Regulations
Title 28 - Managed Health Care
Division 1 - The Department of Managed Health Care
Chapter 2 - Health Care Service Plans
Article 8 - Self-Policing Procedures
Section 1300.74.72 - Mental Health Parity

Universal Citation: 28 CA Code of Regs 1300.74.72

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024

(a) The mental health services required for the diagnosis, and treatment of conditions set forth in Health and Safety Code section 1374.72 shall include, when medically necessary, all health care services required under the Act including, but not limited to, basic health care services within the meaning of Health and Safety Code sections 1345(b) and 1367(i), and section 1300.67 of Title 28. These basic health care services shall, at a minimum, include crisis intervention and stabilization, psychiatric inpatient hospital services, including voluntary psychiatric inpatient services, and services from licensed mental health providers including, but not limited to, psychiatrists and psychologists.

(b) A plan shall provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of conditions set forth in Health and Safety Code section 1374.72 through health care providers within the meaning of Health and Safety Code section 1345(i) who are:

(1) acting within the scope of their licensure, and

(2) acting within their scope of competence, established by education, training and experience, to diagnose, and treat conditions set forth in Health and Safety Code section 1374.72.

(c) A diagnosis within the meaning of Health and Safety Code section 1374.72 shall be made in accordance with professionally recognized diagnostic criteria including, but not limited to, the diagnostic criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders -- IV -- Text Revision (June 2000).

(d) A preliminary or initial diagnosis made by a primary care physician, mental health provider or pediatrician meeting the requirements of subsection (b) above, that an enrollee has one or more of the conditions set forth in Health and Safety Code section 1374.72, shall constitute the diagnosis for the length of time necessary to make a final diagnosis, whether or not the final diagnosis confirms the preliminary or initial diagnosis.

(e) "Pervasive Developmental Disorders" shall include Autistic Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (including Atypical Autism), in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders -- IV -- Text Revision (June 2000).

(f) A plan's referral system shall provide enrollees timely access and ready referral, in a manner consistent with good professional practice, to mental health services for the purpose of diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of conditions set forth in Health and Safety Code section 1374.72 and for related health care services as appropriate upon referral from a primary care physician, mental health provider or pediatrician meeting the requirements of subsection (b) above.

(g) If a plan contracts with a specialized health care service plan for the purpose of providing Health and Safety Code section 1374.72 services, the following requirements shall apply:

(1) the specialized health care service plan shall maintain a telephone number that an enrollee may call during normal business hours to obtain information about benefits, providers, coverage and any other relevant information concerning an enrollee's mental health services;

(2) if the plan issues identification cards to enrollees, the identification cards shall include the telephone number required to be maintained above and a brief statement indicating that enrollees may call the telephone number for assistance about mental health services and coverage;

(3) the plan shall monitor the continuity and coordination of care that enrollees receive, and take action, when necessary, to assure continuity and coordination of care, in a manner consistent with professionally recognized evidence-based standards of practice, across the health care network;

(4) the plan shall monitor, as often as necessary, but not less frequently than once every year, the collaboration between medical and mental health providers including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) exchange of information,

(B) appropriate diagnosis, treatment and referral, and

(C) access to treatment and follow-up for enrollees with co-existing medical and mental health disorders;

(5) the plan shall retain full responsibility for assuring continuity and coordination of care, in accordance with the requirements of this subsection, notwithstanding that, by contract, it has obligated a specialized health care service plan to perform some or all of these activities.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to mandate coverage of services that are not medically necessary or preclude a plan from performing utilization review in accordance with the Act.

(i) A plan shall include in its Evidence of Coverage or Combined Evidence of Coverage and Disclosure Form a list of mental conditions required to be covered pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1374.72.

1. New section filed 9-23-2003; operative 10-23-2003 (Register 2003, No. 39).

Note: Authority cited: Section 1344, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1345, 1367 and 1374.72, Health and Safety Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.