LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 9Pt. 3Ch. 7Art. 2§ 14053 Mental Health Services Coverage

§ 14053 Mental Health Services Coverage

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14053 Mental Health Services Coverage

Key Takeaways

  • •Health care services include hospital stays for kids under 21, even in mental health hospitals.
  • •Kids under 21 can get regular check-ups and treatments to stay healthy.
  • •If a kid is in a mental health hospital right before turning 21, they can stay until they turn 22.
  • •Health care services usually don't cover people in jail or certain hospitals for tuberculosis or mental health (unless they're under 21).

Example

A 20-year-old is in a hospital for mental health treatment.

They can stay in the hospital for treatment until they turn 22, even if they turn 21 while they're there. This is because the law lets them keep getting help a little longer.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14053 Mental Health Services Coverage

(a) The term “health care services” means the benefits set forth in Article 4 (commencing with Section 14131) of this chapter and in Section 14021. The term includes inpatient hospital services for any individual under 21 years of age in an institution for mental diseases. Any individual under 21 years of age receiving inpatient psychiatric hospital services immediately preceding the date on which he or she attains age 21 may continue to receive these services until he or she attains age 22. The term also includes early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment for any individual under 21 years of age. (b) The term “health care services” does not include, except to the extent permitted by federal law, any of the following: (1) Care or services for any individual who is an inmate of an institution (except as a patient in a medical institution). (2) Care or services for any individual who has not attained 65 years of age and who is a patient in an institution for tuberculosis. (3) Care or services for any individual who is 21 years of age or over, except as provided in the first paragraph of this section, and has not attained 65 years of age and who is a patient in an institution for mental disease. (4) Inpatient services provided to individuals 21 to 64 years of age, inclusive, in an institution for mental diseases operating under a consolidated license with a general acute care hospital pursuant to Section 1250.8 of the Health and Safety Code, unless federal financial participation is available for such inpatient services. (Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 93, Sec. 64. Effective July 7, 2000.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

institutiontreatmentmedicalhospitalbenefitspatienthealthdiagnosis

Related Statutes

  • § 14526.2 Adult Day Health Authorization
  • § 14043.15 Medi-Cal Provider Certification Rules
  • § 14051 Medically Needy Eligibility Criteria
  • § 14093.05 Medi-Cal Managed Care Contracts
  • § 14093.06 Managed Care Ccs Expansion

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 14053.
View Official Source