The Orange County Department of Education briefed the board Aug. 6 on the California Youth and Behavioral Health Initiative, a statewide $4.7 billion program that expands school-based mental health services and creates a fee schedule to reimburse local educational agencies.
Mayu Iwatani, senior administrator of mental health and wellness, told trustees the fee schedule lets schools bill Medi‑Cal and private insurers for services delivered on campus, and that the Department of Health Care Services has allocated one‑time capacity grants to counties. OCDE received funds and distributed 80% directly to 45 participating local educational agencies (29 districts, 16 charters and access programs); the remaining 20% will remain with OCDE to pay for coordination, professional development and technical assistance.
Iwatani said the fee schedule expands categories of billable services and is intended to support staffing, early identification, prevention and intervention in schools. The county’s coast-to-coast plan includes training, network meetings for mental-health leaders and tools to help LEAs implement claims systems. OCDE staff said ACCESS programs will begin participating in the fee schedule in January 2026.
Board members asked how the fee schedule works; staff said claims are submitted for school-based services and reimbursed through managed-care plans or private insurers and that the capacity grants fund planning, system setup and training. OCDE staff said more detailed questions about specific screenings and reimbursements would require research and follow-up.Reporting: OCDE will continue to provide technical assistance to LEAs as they prepare to use the fee schedule and will administer the one‑time capacity funds.