Therapy This Week, Not Next Month.

For anyone with Medi-Cal who has decided to start therapy and does not want to wait weeks for a first appointment.

Deciding to start therapy often takes a long time. Once someone finally makes that decision, hearing that the first appointment is six weeks away can undo it. Many people never call back. The good news is that with Medi-Cal, a long wait is not the rule you have to accept.

California has timely access standards for health plans. For Medi-Cal managed care plans, the standard for a non-urgent appointment with a non-physician mental health provider, such as a therapist, is 10 business days from your request. If you cannot get an appointment in that window, call Partnership Member Services at (800) 863-4155 and tell them. Your plan is responsible for helping you find timely care.

Most delays come from a few predictable places. Small practices fill up and keep waitlists. Phone tag can stretch a simple question across a week. Some people wait because they think they need a referral first, or that they need their card in hand before they can call. For outpatient therapy through Partnership, you do not need a referral or a prior authorization, and a practice can verify your coverage with you directly.

You do not need a referral or your card in hand to reach out.

A little preparation also speeds things up. Have your full name, date of birth, and the best phone number to reach you ready. Your Partnership member ID helps if it is handy, but it is not required to reach out. Know which days and times work for you, and ask for the first available appointment rather than a specific slot weeks out. If you are open to telehealth, say so. Video and phone sessions remove the commute, which often opens up earlier times.

Here is how it works at PMHS. You submit a short intake form or call or text (925) 771-0430. We respond within one hour between 8am and 8pm, or by 9am the next morning. We verify your Partnership coverage, then text you to confirm you are ready to get started. Next, we send your SimplePractice invite so you can complete consent forms before your first session. Most patients are seen within the same week of reaching out. Forms submitted on weekends may take longer due to limited weekend hours.

Your first session lasts 50 to 60 minutes by secure video on Doxy.me, with no download or account required, or by phone if video does not work for you. You need to be physically located in California at the time of each session. The first session is an intake. Your clinician will ask about your history, your goals, and what support looks like for you. You will not be asked to commit to a treatment plan on day one.

Starting this week is not the same as emergency care. If you are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, or you are in danger right now, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 any time, or call 911.

If you have been putting off therapy because you assumed the wait would be long, that assumption may be the only thing standing in the way. PMHS has no waitlist, accepts Partnership HealthPlan, and covered sessions are typically at no cost to you.

Getting started takes a few minutes. Submit our intake form at www.pacmhs.com/connect and we will reach out within one hour between 8am and 8pm, or by 9am the next morning to verify your PHP coverage and get your first session scheduled. You can also press the Get Started button below, which takes you to the same form.