2020 California Code
Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC
DIVISION 5 - COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
PART 3.4 - Early Psychosis Intervention Plus (EPI PLUS) Program
Section 5835.3.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize the commission to administer a competitive selection process as provided in this part to create new, and to expand and improve the fidelity of existing, service capacity for early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention services in California.

(b) The core objectives of this competitive selection process include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Expanding the provision of high-quality, evidence-based early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention services within California.

(2) Improving access to effective services for transition-aged youth and young adults at high risk for, or experiencing, psychotic symptoms, including the prodromal phase, or psychotic disorders.

(3) More comprehensively and effectively measuring programmatic effectiveness and enrolled client outcomes of programs receiving awards in the competitive selection process.

(4) Improving the client experience in accessing services and in working toward recovery and wellness.

(5) Increasing participation in school attendance, social interactions, physical health, personal bonding relationships, and active rehabilitation, including employment and daily living function development for clients.

(6) Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and inpatient days by appropriately utilizing community-based services and improving access to timely assistance to early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention services.

(7) Expanding the use of innovative technologies for mental health information feedback access that can provide a valued and unique opportunity to optimize care for the target population. This may include technologies for treatment and symptom monitoring.

(8) Providing local communities with increased financial resources to leverage additional public and private funding sources to achieve improved networks of care for the target population, including transition-aged youth and young adults.

(9) Improving whole-person care by increasing access to, and coordination of, mental health and medical care services.

(c) Funds allocated by the commission shall be made available to selected counties, or counties acting jointly, through a competitive selection process, or to other entities for research, evaluation, technical assistance, and other related purposes.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a county, or counties acting jointly, that receive an award of funds shall be required to provide a contribution of local funds.

(2) Upon approval of the commission, after consultation with the Department of Finance and the State Department of Health Care Services, other locally acquired funding, such as federal grants or allocations, or other special funds, may also be recognized for the purpose of contributing toward any contribution requirements.

(e) Awards made by the commission shall be used to create, or expand existing capacity for, early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention services and supports. The commission shall ensure that awards result in cost-effective and evidence-based services that comprehensively address identified needs of the target population, including transition-aged youth and young adults, in counties and regions selected for funding. The commission shall also take into account at least the following criteria and factors when selecting recipients of awards and determining the amount of awards:

(1) A description of need, including, at a minimum, a comprehensive description of the early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention services and supports to be established or expanded, community need, target population to be served, linkage with other public systems of health and mental health care, linkage with schools and community social services, and related assistance as applicable, and a description of the request for funding.

(2) A description of all programmatic components, including outreach and clinical aspects, of the local early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention services and supports.

(3) A description of any contractual relationships with contracting providers as applicable, including any memorandum of understanding between project partners.

(4) A description of local funds, including the total amounts, that would be contributed toward the services and supports as required by the commission through the competitive selection process, implementing guidelines, and regulations.

(5) The project timeline.

(6) The ability of the awardee to effectively and efficiently implement or expand an evidence-based program as referenced in this part.

(7) A description of core data collection and the framework for evaluating outcomes, including improved access to services and supports and a cost-benefit analysis of the project.

(8) A description of the sustainability of program services and supports in future years.

(f) The commission shall determine any minimum or maximum awards, and shall take into consideration the level of need, the population to be served, and related criteria as described in subdivision (e) and in any guidance or regulations, and shall reflect the reasonable costs of providing the services and supports.

(g) Funds awarded by the commission may be used to supplement, but not supplant, existing financial and resource commitments of the county or counties acting jointly, that receive the award.

(h) The commission may consult with a technical assistance entity, as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 4061, initiate an interagency agreement with another public entity, including the University of California system, or contract for necessary technical assistance to implement this part.

(i) The advisory committee may coordinate and recommend an allocation of funding to the commission for clinical research studies. The committee may recommend an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the total amount deposited in the Early Psychosis and Mood Disorder Detection and Intervention Fund for clinical research studies. The committee may recommend, in conjunction with the principal investigators, the data elements to be included in clinical research studies funded pursuant to this subdivision. The results of the clinical research studies shall be made available annually to the members of the public, including stakeholders and Members of the Legislature. The results of clinical research studies shall be deidentified in accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (Public Law 104-191), including Section 164.514 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and shall not contain any personally identifiable information according to the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code).

(j) The county and all award recipients shall comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws that govern medical information, including, but not limited to, HIPAA and its implementing regulations, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code), the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and Section 10850.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 92, Sec. 227. (SB 1289) Effective January 1, 2019.)