California Code of Regulations
Title 9 - Rehabilitative and Developmental Services
Division 1 - Department of Mental Health
Chapter 11 - Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
Article 4 - Standards
Section 1810.410 - Cultural and Linguistic Requirements

Universal Citation: 9 CA Code of Regs 1810.410

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 52, December 27, 2024

(a) Definitions:

(1) "Key points of contact" means common points of access to specialty mental health services from the MHP, including but not limited to the MHP's beneficiary problem resolution process, county owned or operated or contract hospitals, and any other central access locations established by the MHP.

(2) "Primary language" means that language, including sign language, which must be used by the beneficiary to communicate effectively and which is so identified by the beneficiary.

(3) "Threshold Language" means a language that has been identified as the primary language, as indicated on the MEDS, of 3,000 beneficiaries or five percent of the beneficiary population, whichever is lower, in an identified geographic area.

(b) Each MHP shall comply with the cultural competence and linguistic requirements included in this Section, the terms of the contract between the MHP and the Department, and the MHP's Cultural Competence Plan established pursuant to Subsection (c). The terms of the contract between the MHP and the Department may provide additional requirements for the Cultural Competence Plan, including a description of the acceptable data sources and requirements for arraying data for the components of the Cultural Competence Plan.

(c) Each MHP shall develop and implement a Cultural Competence Plan that includes the following components:

(1) Objectives and strategies for improving the MHP's cultural competence based on the assessments required in Subsection (c)(2) and the MHP's performance on the standards in Subsection (d).

(2) A population assessment and an organizational and service provider assessment focusing on issues of cultural competence and linguistic capability.

(3) A listing of specialty mental health services and other MHP services available for beneficiaries in their primary language by location of the services, pursuant to Section 1810.360 (f)(1).

(4) A plan for cultural competency training for the administrative and management staff of the MHP, the persons providing specialty mental health services employed by or contracting with the MHP or with contractors of the MHP, and the persons employed by or contracting with the MHP or with contractors of the MHP to provide interpreter or other support services to beneficiaries.

(d) The Department shall establish timelines for the submission and review of the Cultural Competence Plan described in Subsection (b) either as a component of the Implementation Plan process described in Section 1810.310 or as a term of the contract between the MHP and the Department. The MHP shall submit the Cultural Competence Plan to the Department for review and approval in accordance with these timelines. The MHP shall update the Cultural Competence Plan and submit these updates to the Department for review and approval annually.

(e) Each MHP shall have:

(1) A statewide, toll-free telephone number as required by Section 1810.405(d).

(2) Oral interpreter services in threshold languages at key points of contact available to assist beneficiaries whose primary language is a threshold language to access the specialty mental health services or related services available through that key point of contact. The threshold languages shall be determined on a countywide basis. MHPs may limit the key points of contact at which interpreter services in a threshold language are available to a specific geographic area within the county when:
(A) The MHP has determined, for a language that is a threshold language on a countywide basis, that there are geographic areas of the county where that language is a threshold language, and other areas where it is not; and

(B) The MHP provides referrals for beneficiaries who prefer to receive services in that threshold language, but who initially access services outside the specified geographic area, to a key point of contact that does have interpreter services in that threshold language.

(3) Policies and procedures to assist beneficiaries who need oral interpreter services in languages other than threshold languages to access the specialty mental health services or related services available through that key point of contact.

(4) General program literature used by the MHP to assist beneficiaries in accessing services including, but not limited to, the beneficiary brochure required by Section 1810.360(c), materials explaining the beneficiary problem resolution and fair hearing processes required by Section 1850.205(c)(1), and mental health education materials used by the MHP, in threshold languages, based on the threshold languages in the county as a whole.

1. New section filed 10-31-97 as an emergency; operative 11-1-97 (Register 97, No. 44). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 3-2-98 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New section refiled 3-2-98 as an emergency; operative 3-2-98 (Register 98, No. 10). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-30-98 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. New section refiled 6-17-98 as an emergency; operative 6-30-98 (Register 98, No. 25). Pursuant to Chapter 324 (Statutes of 1998) Item 4440-103-0001(4), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-1-99 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
4. Editorial correction of HISTORY 3 (Register 98, No. 39).
5. Editorial correction extending Certificate of Compliance date to 7-1-2001 pursuant to Chapter 50 (Statutes of 1999) Item 4440-103-0001(4) (Register 99, No. 33). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, emergency regulations adopted pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 14680 to implement the second phase of mental health managed care as provided in this part shall remain in effect until permanent regulations are adopted, or June 30, 2006, whichever occurs first.
6. Editorial correction of HISTORY 5 (Register 2000, No. 42).
7. Editorial correction of HISTORY 5 and repealer and new section filed 5-19-2006; operative 6-18-2006 (Register 2006, No. 20).

Note: Authority cited: Section 14680, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 5777, 5778 and 14684, Welfare and Institutions Code.

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