Effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2023:

• Dyadic services and dyadic caregiver services are added as Medi-Cal benefits.


• Modifier U1 is defined to designate dyadic services.


• Family therapy for interparental conflict between caregivers of children ages 0 to 20 years, when at least one caregiver is identified as a primary caregiver of a Medi-Cal eligible child, is added as a Medi-Cal benefit.


• Up to six psychotherapy sessions per provider per year for recipients 21 years and older with persistent mental health symptoms in the absence of a mental health disorder are added as Medi-Cal benefits.

Dyadic Services

Dyadic services are preventive behavioral health services for recipients ages 0 to 20 years and/or their caregivers. Medi-Cal reimburses the following dyadic services for recipients ages 0 to 20 years, when billed to the child’s Medi-Cal ID with the U1 modifier:

• Dyadic Behavioral Health (DBH) Well-Child Visits (H1011)


• Dyadic Comprehensive Community Support Services, per 15 minutes (H2015)


• Dyadic Psychoeducational Services, per 15 minutes (H2027)


• Dyadic Family Training and Counseling for Child Development, per 15 minutes (T1027)

For more information about dyadic services, refer to the Non-Specialty Mental Health Services: Psychiatric and Psychological Services section of the provider manual.

Dyadic Caregiver Services

Dyadic caregiver services include the following assessment, screening, counseling and brief intervention services provided to the caregiver:

• ACE screening (G9919, G9920)


• Alcohol and drug Screening, Assessment, Brief Interventions and Referral to Treatment (SABIRT) (G0442, H0049, H0050)


• Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (96127)


• Depression screening (G8431, G8510)


• Health behavior assessments and interventions (96156, 96167, 96168, 96170, and 96171)


• Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (90791, 90792)


• Tobacco cessation counseling (99406, 99407)

Dyadic caregiver services listed above are provided to the caregiver for the benefit of the child. These services may be billed using the child’s Medi-Cal ID when delivered during a child’s visit attended by the child and caregiver and must be designated using Modifier U1.

For more information about dyadic services, dyadic caregiver services, and psychotherapy updates, refer to the Non-Specialty Mental Health Services: Psychiatric and Psychological Services section of the provider manual.