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Cal AIM Justice Involved Initiative: Behavioral Health Links for Orange County

Orange County Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services is providing Behavioral Health Links to Justice Involved Medi-Cal members who plan to reside in Orange County post-release from incarceration and who meet eligibility criteria for Specialty Mental Health Services or Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System.

Behavioral Health Links to Orange County Behavioral Health can occur when the Correctional Facility’s pre-release Enhanced Care Management (ECM) provider contacts the Orange County Member Access Line (MAL) where the member will be screened over the phone. Members who meet eligibility criteria will be provided an appointment for the Professional-to-Professional Warm Handoff between the pre-release provider, the post-release provider and the Justice Involved member.  At the Professional-to-Professional Warm Handoff, the member and their pre-release provider will be given an appointment for the post-release intake.

  • Incarcerated members can call the MAL directly at 1-800-723-8641
  • Pre-release ECM providers can also call the MAL at the number above to schedule the Professional-to-Professional Warm Handoff; however, every effort should be made to include the JI member on the call.

  • The MAL will collect identifying information, including the member’s full name, pre-release and post-release contact information and address, Client Information Number (CIN), and demographic information needed.
    • The MAL will also ask for the name, phone number and email address of the member’s pre-release provider.
  • The MAL Member Services Representative will also ask a series of questions to ensure that the member meets the qualifications for enrolling in Specialty Mental Health Services or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services.  For this reason, please allow for up to 15 minutes to complete the call.
  • If eligibility are met for one or more of the Orange County Behavioral Health Plans, the MAL will offer the member and the pre-release provider an appointment time in the 14-day pre-release period to have a warm handoff with the post-release provider in each Behavioral Health Plan.

  • This meeting is intended to introduce the member to the post-release provider.
  • It includes a discussion between providers and the member about the Health Risk Assessment and Reentry Care plan that was completed during pre-release services.
  • The post-release provider will confirm the appropriate level of care and schedule a post-release intake appointment and assist in coordinating transportation if needed.
  • Please ensure a consent for exchange of information between the pre-release provider and post-release provider is available at the time of the warm handoff meeting or ahead of the meeting when possible.

  • As soon as the Professional-to-Professional Warm Handoff appointment is made, the pre-release provider should send a copy of an Authorization to Disclose (ATD) form that indicates authorization for exchange of information between the pre-release and post-release provider.
  • ATD forms along with copies of the Health Risk Assessment and Reentry Care Plan should be sent to one of the email boxes below:

ECM services are provided by the Manage Care Plans for Orange County which are operated by CalOptima and Kaiser Permanente.

For any additional questions regarding the CalAIM Justice Involved Behavioral Links process please email CalAIMSupport@ochca.com.