IMPORTANT: Are you enrolled in Medi-Cal? Has your contact information changed in the past two years? Give your county office your updated contact information so you can stay enrolled. Go to benefitscal.com or call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services at 1-866-613-3777

Behavioral Health Services

L.A. Care provides mental health services and substance use disorder services through PCP’s, Behavioral Health Specialists from Beacon Health Services, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Mental health services may include treatment for anxiety, depression, or behavior health problems. Your doctor can provide you with some outpatient mental health services.  

Outpatient mental health services are a benefit covered by L.A. Care Health Plan. You can call L.A. Care Health Plan or ask your PCP for the name of a mental health provider.  These services include:

  • Individual and group mental health testing and treatment (psychotherapy)
  • Psychological testing to evaluate a mental health condition
  • Outpatient services that include lab work, drugs, and supplies
  • Outpatient services to monitor drug therapy
  • Psychiatric consultation
  • Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment
Substance Use

Substance Use Disorder Preventive Services

Alcohol misuse screening services are now a benefit covered by L.A. Care Health Plan for all members ages 18 and older.  These services for alcohol misuse are provided by PCP’s and cover:

  • One expanded screening for risky alcohol use per year
  • Three or more 15-minute brief intervention sessions to address risky alcohol use per year

L.A. Care Health Plan does not cover services for major alcohol problems, but you may seek treatment from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health/Substance Abuse and Control (LACDPH/SAPC) with or without a referral from your PCP.  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health/Substance Abuse and Control (LACDPH/SAPC) also treats other substance use disorders. The scope of Substance Abuse Services offered by Los Angeles County is available in their brochure.

Behavioral Health Treatment

Autism Spectrum Disorder

L.A. Care Health Plan covers behavioral health treatment (BHT) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals under 21 years of age. This includes applied behavior analysis and similar evidence-based treatments. The services should develop, improve, or restore, as much as possible, the daily functioning of a member with ASD.

For more information please review the member handbook for your plan. Member Materials are located under the For Members section. 

Transgender Health Services

L.A. Care Health Plan covers medically necessary transgender medical services for members. Medical necessity is determined by our medical staff, in concert with the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care. Services include medically necessary hormone therapy, preventive screenings, behavioral health assessments for transgender services, medically necessary sex reassignment surgery, and referrals to culturally responsive community resources.

For more information, please review the member handbook for your plan. Member Materials are located under the For Members section.

Medi-Cal

Mental health services may include treatment for anxiety, depression, or behavior health problems. Your doctor can provide you with some outpatient mental health services. Behavioral health services such as psychotherapy and medication management are provided to L.A. Care members by Beacon Health Options.

There are some specialized mental health services that are provided to Medi-Cal members through the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH). You may receive services from Beacon Health Options or from LACDMH with or without a referral from your doctor.

See the Benefit Descriptions section of your Member Handbook to learn more about L.A. Care's Mental Health Services.
 

L.A. Care Covered™ and L.A. Care Covered Direct™

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (MH/SUD) benefits are covered through Beacon Health Options. You or your PCP can call Beacon’s Behavioral Health Hotline at 1-877-344-2858 (TTY 1-800-735-2929) to get an appointment. Prior authorization is not required for general outpatient health services for in-network providers. In addition, there is no limitation on the number of visits for medically necessary MH/SUD services. For information on services that do not require prior authorization and the general process for obtaining prior authorization for all other MH/SUD services, please call the Behavioral Health Hotline or review your plan’s Evidence of Coverage at L.A. Care Covered™ and L.A. Care Covered Direct™.

Unhappy man and his reflection in window
What is Behavioral Health?

Behavioral health includes not only ways of promoting well-being by preventing or intervening in mental illness such as depression or anxiety, but also has an aim of preventing or intervening in substance abuse or other addictions.

Behavioral Health Services

Phone 1-877-344-2858
TTY/TTD 1-800-735-2929

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Phone
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Phone 1-800-854-7771

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L.A. County Department of Public Health/Substance Abuse Prevention & Control

Phone 1-844-804-7500

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Links to Visit

Behavioral Health Services
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
L.A. County Department of Public Health/Substance Abuse Prevention & Control
L.A. County Substance Use Treatment Services