Quality Assurance Fee
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Third Party Liability and Recovery Division (TPLRD) is responsible for collecting Quality Assurance Fees (QAF) from specified providers. TPLRD is also responsible for collecting a Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax on health care plans. Providers and MCOs may use this page to report required data, make electronic payments, and send questions to program staff.
Report Required Data
Providers associated with the programs below must report data to DHCS in order to determine their QAF amount due. These providers should use the links below:
Ground Emergency Medical Transport Program (GEMT)
GEMT Online Data Submission Form
GEMT Data Submission Form Reference Guide
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)
SNF Online Data Submission Form
SNF Page for Data/Payment Submission Form
Designated Intermediate Care Facility-Developmentally Disabled (DICF-DD)
DICF Online Data Submission Form
DICF Page for Data/Payment Submission Form
The following programs do not require additional data to be submitted:
- Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program (HQAF)
- Managed Care Organization (MCO)
Make Online Payments
DHCS now accepts Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for the QAF and MCO Tax programs. For more information, please visit the TPLRD EFT Payments webpage.
Note: If you misplaced or do not have an invoice number, refer to the following table and use the default invoice number to make a payment.
| QAF/MCO Tax Program | Invoice Number |
|---|---|
| Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) | GEM12345678 |
| Designated Intermediate Care Facility (DICF) | ICF12345678 |
| Day Treatment – DICF | DAY12345678 |
| Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) | SNF12345678 |
| Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Fee-For-Service | HQF12345678 |
| Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Managed Care | HQM12345678 |
| Managed Care Organization Tax | MCO12345678 |
When paying by EFT using the default Invoice Number above, please send an email to QAF@dhcs.ca.gov and include the details listed below to ensure the EFT payment is posted and applied correctly:
- Provider/Organization Name
- National Provider Identifier (NPI) Number (if applicable)
- Health Care Access and Information Identification (HCAI ID, formerly OSHPD) (if applicable)
- Amount of the EFT payment
- Date of EFT payment
- Payment invoices and/or census data identifying what the EFT payment is for (i.e. month/quarter and rate year)
Payment Address for Checks
| QAF/MCO Tax Program | Mailing Address |
|---|---|
| SNF |
Department of Health Care Services
ATTN: SNF QAF Accounting Section/Cashiers Unit, Mail Stop 1101 1501 Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 997415 Sacramento, CA 95899-7415 |
| DICF | Department of Health Care Services ATTN: DICF QAF Accounting Section/Cashiers Unit, Mail Stop 1101 1501 Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 997415 Sacramento, CA 95899-7415 |
| GEMT | Department of Health Care Services ATTN: GEMT QAF Accounting Section/Cashiers Unit, Mail Stop 1101 1501 Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 997415 Sacramento, CA 95899-7415 |
| HQAF | Payments may be submitted by Overnight Mail with a tracking number for morning delivery via FedEx, Golden State, or United Parcel Service to:
Department of Health Care Services ATTN: HQAF Accounting Section/Cashiers Unit, Mail Stop 1101 1501 Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 997415 Sacramento, CA 95899-7415 |
| MCO Tax | Payments may be submitted by Overnight Mail with a tracking number for morning delivery via FedEx, Golden State, or United Parcel Service to:
Department of Health Care Services ATTN: MCO Tax Accounting Section/Cashiers Unit, Mail Stop 1101 1501 Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 997415 Sacramento, CA 95899-7415 |
More Information about the Programs
These programs support quality improvement efforts and enhance Federal Financial Participation for the Medi-Cal program. For more information about the QAF programs, click on the specified program page(s) below:
- Ground Emergency Medical Transport Program (GEMT)
- Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program (HQAF)
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)
- Designated Intermediate Care Facilities (DICF)
- Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax