Medi-Cal for Foster Youth & Presumptive Transfer: Basic Requirements and Applicability

This fact sheet provides an overview of presumptive transfer of Medi-Cal in the circumstance in which youth in foster care are accessing Specialty Mental Health Services, waivers, and applicability for special populations and placements. Presumptive transfer was established by AB 1299 (Ridley-Thomas 2016). It provides for the prompt transfer of the responsibility for providing and paying for specialty mental health services (SMHS) for children and youth in foster care when they are placed outside of their county of original jurisdiction. The goal of presumptive transfer is to provide children and youth in foster care with timely access to SMHS, consistent with their individual strengths and needs and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) requirements.