Fact Sheets - California

SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS IN CALIFORNIA

The first California school-based health centers opened in 1985. In the school year 1999/2000, 102 centers were operating. Many of the school sites offer services to students from other school campuses. California does not provide grant funding explicitly for school-based health centers. Centers are allowed to bill Medicaid and have contracts with managed care plans. However, California programs report that despite aggressive billing, they recover no more than 50 percent of their operating costs; most receive substantially less than that. Community support, private foundation grants, and in-kind contributions from health center sponsors have been critical to the development of the centers.
 
Descriptive Data


SBHCs with primary
care providers
 Types of schools
housing SBHCs		 Location of SBHCs

State Policies
Table I: Third Party Payments for SBHC Services
SBHCs are eligible for services under fee-for-service Medicaid Yes
SBHCs are eligible for services under fee-for-service SCHIP Yes
State specifically prohibits SBHCs from billing Medicaid No
State requires through law, managed care contracts or regulations that Medicaid managed care provider networks include SBHCs No
State encourages through law, managed care contracts or regulations that Medicaid managed care provider networks include SBHCs No
State prohibits SBHCs from being paid for care provided to Medicaid managed care beneficiaries No
State requires through law, managed care contracts or regulations that SCHIP managed care provider networks include SBHCs No
State requires through law, managed care contracts or regulations that SCHIP managed care provider networks include SBHCs No



Table II: Programs and Policies that Support SBHCs
Is there a program unit that is responsible for providing technical assistance to communities interested in SBHCs? No
Does the state have targeting guidelines for state-funded SBHCs? No
Has the state established operating standards for SBHCs? No
Are SBHCs licensed by state health licensing authority?* Yes
*Licensed under clinic/hospital who provides medical care

 

Table III: SBHCs and Managed Care Experience
Do any SBHCs in the state have contracts with managed care plans? Yes
Do any SBHCs participate in commercial plans? Yes
Does state law permit nurse practitioners to participate in managed care provider networks as primary care providers? Yes



Table IV: SBHCs and Community Support
Has the state health department or education agency sponsored polls or organized focus groups to identify public interest and concerns regarding SBHCs? No
Has the state agency been asked to provide information on how to start, operate or fund a SBHC? No
Has the agency been contacted by persons who were worried about the opening of SBHCs in their community? No
Has the agency been contacted by persons opposed to the opening of SBHCs in the state? No
Do SBHCs assess parent and/or student satisfaction with their services? Yes

 

No SBHC specific funding from the state for SBHCs in school year 1999/2000

 

Source: National Survey of School-Based Health Centers 2000,
Making the Grade

Contact Information:

Irwin Staller
President, California Assembly
on School Based Health Care
c/o PO Box 550
Stockton, CA 95201
Phone:209/466-3271 x501
Fax: 209/466-1619
Email: Istaller@deltahealthcare.org

Jan Marquard
Treasurer
11133 O'Melvaney Ave
San Fernando, CA 91340
Phone: 818/365-7517
Fax: 818/837-7127
Email: jlm45381@csun.edu

Related Links:

California Department of Health Services
http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov

Department of Mental Health
www.dmh.cahwnet.gov

Department of Managed Health Care
www.hmohelp.ca.gov