Finding a Therapist, Made Simpler.

For Medi-Cal members in Northern California who want therapy and are not sure where to start looking.

Many people with Medi-Cal start their search for a therapist the same way. They find a list, call the first few names, and hear that the office does not take Medi-Cal, is not accepting new patients, or has a waitlist months long. After a few calls like that, a lot of people stop looking.

The search gets easier once you know how Medi-Cal mental health care is organized in Northern California. Medi-Cal is the state program. In the 24 counties Partnership HealthPlan of California serves, Partnership is the Medi-Cal managed care plan that manages benefits for most members, including mental health care. A therapist who is contracted with Partnership can see you, and one who is not usually cannot bill your Medi-Cal.

Start by confirming your plan. Look for the plan name on your Partnership member card, or log in to your BenefitsCal account. Many members carry two cards, a state Medi-Cal card and a separate Partnership card. If you are not sure which plan you have, Partnership Member Services can tell you at (800) 863-4155.

Next, match the kind of care to the right door. California splits Medi-Cal mental health care into two levels. Outpatient therapy for mild to moderate symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, grief, and stress, is covered by Partnership. Specialty mental health services for significant impairment, such as crisis intervention and targeted case management, are covered by your county mental health plan. Under the state's No Wrong Door policy, covered care can start before a diagnosis is made, so you do not have to sort this out alone before you reach out.

Then look in the places most likely to have openings. Partnership lists (855) 765-9703 for mental health services, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help members find care through the plan. You can also contact a contracted practice directly. Online directories can help, but a listing that says “Medi-Cal” does not always mean the therapist is contracted with Partnership. Medi-Cal is managed by different plans in different parts of the state, so always confirm the plan name.

Always confirm the therapist is contracted with your plan, not just that they take Medi-Cal.

Five questions on the first call save a lot of time. First, ask whether the practice is contracted with Partnership HealthPlan, not just whether it takes insurance. Second, ask whether there is a waitlist and when the first available appointment is. Third, ask whether sessions are offered by video and by phone. Fourth, ask who you will see and whether that clinician is licensed or registered with the state. Fifth, ask whether you will owe anything. Your plan cannot require a copay for Medi-Cal covered mental health services, so the answer for covered sessions should be no.

Telehealth changes the math, especially in rural counties. California law requires Medi-Cal managed care plans, including Partnership, to cover telehealth at parity with in-person care. That means you are not limited to the few offices within driving distance. A contracted therapist who offers telehealth can see you by secure video or phone, as long as you are physically in California during each session.

There is no paperwork gate either. You do not need a referral from a primary care provider, and there is no prior authorization to wait on before outpatient therapy starts. You can call or submit an intake form to a contracted practice yourself, today.

If you are in crisis, do not wait on any of these steps. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

PMHS is contracted with Partnership HealthPlan in all 24 counties it serves. Both of our therapists see Partnership members by secure video or phone, with no waitlist and no referral, and covered sessions are typically at no cost to you. We verify your coverage for you before your first session.

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.