The latest news about the Justice-Involved initiative and the significant steps California is taking to address poor health outcomes in Justice-involved individuals - people who are now, or have spent time, in jails, youth correctional facilities, or prisons.
DHCS Releases the Policy Operational Guide for Planning and Implementing the CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative for Stakeholder Comment
Headline: DHCS Releases the Policy and Operational Guide for Planning and Implementing the CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and Model of Care (MOC) Addendum III for Stakeholder Comment
On June 12, 2023, DHCS released the Policy and Operational Guide for Planning and Implementing the CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative for stakeholder comment. This draft guidance memorializes policy and operational requirements for implementing the Medi-Cal Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative. The draft guidance is intended to lay out to implementing stakeholders – correctional facilities, behavioral health agencies, providers, CBOs, and Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs), among others – the policy design and operational processes that will serve as the foundation for implementing this important initiative.
The following sections are included in the Guide:
- Section 1: Legal Authority
- Section 2: Providing Access to Transforming Health Initiative Funding
- Section 3: Approach to Planning
- Section 4: Enrolling in Medi-Cal Coverage
- Section 5: Pre-Release Service Readiness Assessments
- Section 6: Pre-Release Services and Eligibility Screening Processes
- Section 7: Compliance with Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act
- Section 8: Providing Pre-Release Services Delivery Model
- Section 9: Provider Enrollment and Payment
- Section 10: Pre-Release Service Rate Setting
- Section 11: Reentry Planning
- Section 12: Monitoring and Evaluation
- Section 13: Managed Care Plan (MCP) Requirements
This complex initiative requires a close working partnership across multiple stakeholders in order for it to be successful. To that end, DHCS requests stakeholders submit written feedback to this guide by July 7, 2023. Feedback should be sent to the Justice Involved Advisory Group inbox (CalAIMJusticeAdvisoryGroup@dhcs.ca.gov).
Model of Care (MOC) Addendum III for the Individuals Transitioning from Incarceration (JI) Population of Focus (POF)
Please see the Model of Care (MOC) Addendum III for the Justice Initiative Population of Focus. All MCPs are required to complete the MOC Addendum III, which DHCS will use to assess each MCP's readiness to implement ECM for the JI POF. The MOC follows the same format and sections as Section 13 of the Policy and Operational Guide. As such, MCPs should refer to Section 13 as they review the draft MOC attached to this email. Please note that the questions in the attached MOC Addendum III are subject to change based upon stakeholder comments on the Policy and Operational Guide. As a reminder, MCPs must submit their responses to the MOC Addendum III by September 1, 2023 to the CalAIM ECM/ILOS inbox (CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov).
PATH Round 3 Planning Grant Applications Open
The application period for PATH Round 3 is open from May 1st until July 31st, 2023.
PATH JI Round 3 is a planning grant funding opportunity that provides small planning grants to correctional agencies (or an entity applying on behalf of a correctional agency) to support both planning and implementation of justice-involved re-entry services, including investments in capacity and IT systems that are needed to effectuate Medi-Cal justice-involved re-entry services.
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Round 2 Funding to Support the Implementation of the Medi-Cal Application Process Mandate in County Correctional Facilities
PATH Round 2 provided a funding opportunity for larger grants to support entities as they implement the processes, protocols, and IT system modifications necessary to support the implementation of pre-release Medi-Cal enrollment and suspension processes. The grant is funded by
PATH, a five year, $1.85 billion initiative designed to build up the capacity and infrastructure of the Medi-Cal delivery system.
The application deadline for Justice-Involved Round 2 funding was March 31, 2023.
Learn more about the PATH JI Capacity Building Program.
California Obtains Federal Approval to Expand Medicaid Services for Justice-Involved Individuals
On January 26, 2023, California became the first state in the nation approved to offer a targeted set of Medicaid services to youth and eligible adults in state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities for up to 90 days prior to release.
Read the full press release.