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

CBHI performance specifications from MassHealth

Additional resources

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