CYBHI: Student Insurance Collection Best Practices
The Children & Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is an investment being made by the state of California to expand access to mental health services across the state. The CYBHI is allowing schools to bill Medi-Cal and commercial insurance for services that they are already providing, paving the way for sustainable school-based mental health funding.
Collecting student insurance information is vital for the success of your CYBHI program. Without it, your school or district cannot seek reimbursement for the care provided. Collecting student insurance information for the CYBHI does not affect the student’s family coverage or status, but it does unlock critical resources that help keep counselors, social workers, and support staff in schools where students need them most.
We met with our district partners Marilaine Jensen from Exeter Unified School District and Shirley Diaz from Anaheim Elementary School District to learn more about their experiences and what has worked for them. Whether you’re building your CYBHI process from scratch or refining systems already in place, these five takeaways offer actionable guidance rooted in real district experiences.
Use Familiar Faces for Parent Communication
Parents/guardians are more likely to complete a form or comply with a new policy if they receive direction from a staff member that they already know and trust (front office staff, liaisons, teachers, etc.). To ensure effective communication and the successful implementation of your school’s student insurance collection initiatives, equip your parent-trusted staff members with simple, clear, and culturally relevant messaging and materials. It is crucial that these materials emphasize student safety and reassure families that their information won’t impact their immigration status or health insurance coverage.
TadHealth is proud to offer parent communication guidance to our customers, providing districts with the tools they need to thrive and prioritize student care.
Make Insurance Information a Requirement for Beginning-of-the-Year-Registration
Consider making the student insurance collection form a requirement for student registration. If parents/guardians are not comfortable providing the information, provide an option where parents can decline sharing that information.
Integrate Student Insurance Information Collection Efforts Throughout the Year
Consider setting up CYBHI tables at parent events throughout the year where parents can learn more about CYBHI and provide student insurance information. This includes but not limited to:
- Back to School Night
- Open House
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
- PTA Meetings
- Talent Shows
Get Everyone on the Same Page
Alignment across departments and district leadership is key for clear and effective communication. Educating your staff on CYBHI and the importance of student information collection will help ensure everyone is aligned on this initiative. The development of scripts and talking points for leaders and other parent-facing messengers can aid in parent communication. TadHealth is proud to provide support and templates for internal staff communication.
Make Insurance Collection a Scheduled Activity Each Day
Encourage your team to take time daily to focus specifically on insurance information collection and uploading. CYBHI claims cannot be submitted without student insurance information, making this work vital for the success of your program. Taking time daily to focus on student insurance collection will help ensure that your staff is not overwhelmed by adding an activity to their already busy schedules but rather incorporating it as part of their day.
Not in a CYBHI Cohort yet? Act now!
Joining a CYBHI cohort provides you with the opportunity to build a sustainable school-based mental health program. Every day you wait, you leave money on the table that could contribute to saving jobs, expanding your team and most importantly, caring for students. Apply before the Cohort 5, July 31st deadline! TadHealth offers free, no-strings-attached application support, helping districts apply in as fast as 7 minutes. Schedule your application support call today!
Are you interested in learning more about our work and the experiences of our users? Follow us on social media (LinkedIn & Instagram) for all-things CYBHI. You can also explore our LinkedIn Newsletter: The TadHealth CYBHI Playbook. It is a running series where we break down what’s working, what’s changing, and how to stay ahead of the game.
