Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)

for MassHealth members under the age of 21

The Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) is a state-mandated program to enhance behavioral health care for MassHealth members under the age of 21. The initiative includes:

• Education and outreach for early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) services
• Standardized behavioral health screenings and assessments
• Information technology systems to track assessments, treatment planning, and treatment delivery
• Community-based services

Behavioral health screening tools in EPSDT Periodicity Schedule

For a table outlining the accepted behavioral health screening tools that providers must offer to all MassHealth members under 21, please visit our EPSDT resources page.

CBHI medical necessity criteria from MassHealth

• Family Support and Training
• In-home Behavioral Services
• In-home Therapy Services
• Intensive Care Coordination
• Mobile Crisis Intervention Services
• Therapeutic Mentoring Services

CBHI performance specifications from MassHealth

• Family Support and Training
• In-home Behavioral Services
• In-home Therapy Services
• Intensive Care Coordination
• Mobile Crisis Intervention Services
• Therapeutic Mentoring Services

Additional resources

For more information, please visit the CBHI page on Mass.gov.