Blue Shield Promise Medi-Cal gives members mental health and substance use disorder services. They do this through primary care physicians (PCPs) and licensed behavioral health providers. They also work with county providers and agencies. For our licensed behavioral health providers, we partner with Beacon Health Options. We also have behavioral health treatment services for children under the age of 21.

Mental health

Mental health services include, but are not limited to treatment for: 

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Psychotherapy
  • psychiatric medication management

See your Member Handbook (Evidence of Coverage) for a list of covered mental health services.

Behavioral health services for Blue Shield Promise Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect members

Call Beacon Mental Health and Substance Use Services to obtain coverage, benefit availability, and claims information:

  Los Angeles County phone:(855) 765-9701 [TTY: 711], 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Friday

  San Diego County phone:(855) 321-2211 [TTY: 711], 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Friday

Department of Mental Health

For more mental health services, including substance use disorder treatment, call the Department of Mental Health:

Los Angeles County:
  Phone: (855) 765-9701 [TTY: 711], 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health website

San Diego County:
  Phone: (855) 321-2211 [TTY: 711], 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
San Diego County Behavioral Health Services website

Suicide prevention hotline

  Phone: (800) 273-8255 [TTY: 711], 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Substance use disorder preventive services

Blue Shield Promise Medi-Cal offers Alcohol and Drug Screening, Assessment, Brief Interventions and Referral to Treatment (SABIRT) services as a covered benefit. This is for all members ages 11 and older, including pregnant women. These services are provided by PCPs and cover risky alcohol and substance use:
  • One alcohol and drug use screening per year
  • Brief intervention sessions and referral to treatment as needed

County agency services

Should you need more services, you can call your county agency to ask about longer treatment. You can do this without a referral from your PCP. The county services also cover other substance use disorders.

Department of Health Care Services Substance Use Resource Center
  Phone: (800) 879-2772 (TTY: 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Los Angeles County Substance Abuse Service
  Substance Abuse Service Helpline: (844) 804-7500 (TTY 711), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 
Substance Abuse, Prevention and Control website

San Diego County Substance Use Disorder Services
  Substance Use Disorder Services Access and Crisis Line: (888) 724-7240 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, 7 days week 
San Diego County Behavioral Health Services website

Behavioral health treatment for individuals under the age of 21

Blue Shield Promise Medi-Cal covers behavioral health treatment (BHT) for individuals under the age of 21. This includes applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and other evidence-based treatments. If this is something you would like to know more about, please schedule an appointment with your child’s primary care physician today.