Billing for What You Already Do: 5 Key Takeaways from TadHealth’s CYBHI Panel at the California MTSS Professional Learning Institute
School-based behavioral health providers support students every day through screenings, psychoeducation, care coordination, counseling, crisis response, and ongoing treatment.
At the California MTSS Professional Learning Institute in Anaheim, TadHealth brought together school and behavioral health leaders for a panel titled, Putting School-Based Care at the Center: CYBHI in Action for MTSS. The conversation explored how the Children & Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), can help schools receive reimbursement for services they are already delivering across Tiers 1, 2, and 3.
Moderated by Jen Athanacio, LMFT, PPS, Head of Product Education & Partnerships, the discussion went beyond billing requirements. It focused on what it takes to create systems that support providers, sustain services, and expand access to care.
Recognizing the Work Already Happening in Schools
School-based behavioral health rarely fits into a single appointment or service category. Providers may begin the day conducting a student screening, consulting with a teacher, coordinating with a family, facilitating a group session, responding to a crisis, and following up with an outside care provider.
These activities are essential parts of a strong Multi-Tiered System of Support. They are also examples of services that may qualify for CYBHI reimbursement when the appropriate processes are in place.
The panel emphasized that implementation should begin by identifying and recognizing this existing work. CYBHI should not require counselors, social workers, psychologists, or wellness staff to completely change how they support students. Instead, districts can build workflows around the care their teams already provide.
As Kara McCann shared, “Creating a sustainable system of support utilizing CYBHI is the goal.”
Investing in Prevention and Early Intervention
The panelists also highlighted the importance of reaching students before their needs become more severe. Tier 1 and Tier 2 services, including screenings, psychoeducation, group support, and care coordination, can help schools identify concerns earlier and connect students with the right level of care.
These interventions can affect more than a student’s immediate mental health needs. They can also influence attendance, behavior, engagement, and long-term academic success.
Laura Meusel, the Director of Student Services at Palm Springs Unified School District, described the impact her district has observed: “We have shown 3% improvement for students who have a behavioral health intervention in attendance versus students who don't, and then suspension and behavior. It's like a 60% differential when they have a behavioral health intervention versus non.”
Her remarks reinforced an important takeaway from the session: behavioral health services are not separate from a school’s academic and attendance goals. They are often a critical part of achieving them.
Building Trust with Students and Families
Successful CYBHI implementation also depends on clear communication with families. Districts must explain what services are available, how student information will be used, and what consent means in practical terms.
Dr. Francisco Dussan, Director of Student Services at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, shared how proactive outreach helped his district achieve strong family participation.
“I think I've had five parents. From the 8,700 students we have. Say no, thank you to CYBHI. And I still didn't let them go. I had the counselors reach out to the family to explain what this is. Informed consent. There you go.”
His experience demonstrated that consent is not simply a form to distribute. It is an opportunity to answer questions, address concerns, and help families understand how CYBHI can support their children.
Creating the Infrastructure Providers Need
While CYBHI can create new funding opportunities, panelists acknowledged that implementation requires thoughtful planning. Districts need clear roles, reliable documentation processes, leadership support, and staff members who understand billing requirements.
Sarahdee Duncan, Principal Consultant at Authentic Being Consulting and Therapy, emphasized the value of dedicated operational expertise, saying, “I can't recommend hiring a billing specialist enough,” and explaining that once her district had one, “the wheels just started rolling.”
The goal is not to turn behavioral health providers into billing experts. When districts establish the right administrative support and technology, providers can continue focusing on students while documentation and reimbursement processes operate more efficiently in the background.
Moving Toward Sustainable Systems of Care
Sustainable school-based behavioral health begins with recognizing the work providers are already doing.
CYBHI offers districts a pathway to fund screenings, prevention, care coordination, treatment, and other essential services across the MTSS continuum. However, long-term success depends on more than submitting claims. It requires strong family communication, practical workflows, appropriate staffing, and systems designed to reduce rather than add to provider burden.
By building the right foundation, districts can use CYBHI reimbursement to sustain existing services, strengthen early intervention, and expand access to care for more students.
To learn more about how TadHealth helps school districts implement CYBHI billing while supporting the workflows of school-based providers, connect with our team.
