California Medi-Cal Starts Shift Of Autism Treatment Services From Regional Centers To Managed Care Plans Effective February 1, 2016

On February 1, 2016, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) shifted responsibility for providing behavioral health treatment (BHT) services, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), for approximately 13,000 Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid) beneficiaries under age 21 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from regional centers to Medi-Cal managed care health plans (MCPs) and fee-for-service (FFS) delivery systems. All ABA/BHT services for ASD children between ages three and 18  will be transitioned to the MCPs.  The Regional Centers will continue to provide services for children . . .