CA SB966

Department must seek federal approvals to allow FQHCs and RHCs to bill for encounters with associate clinical social workers and associate marriage and family therapists under supervising licensed behavioral health practitioners when properly supervised and billed under the supervising practitioner.

Expands the definition of billable "visits" at FQHCs and RHCs to include services provided by supervising licensed behavioral health practitioners when delivered through associate clinical social workers or associate marriage and family therapists meeting specified conditions.

Requires that the associate clinical social worker or associate marriage and family therapist be supervised by a licensed behavioral health practitioner as mandated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Implementation is contingent on obtaining necessary federal approvals and ensuring federal financial participation is available.

Contains coordination language with Assembly Bill 32 so that if both bills are enacted, only the combined amendments in Section 1.5 will become operative.