DHCS Stakeholder News - April 24, 2023
Top News
Information about Scam Risks to Medi-Cal Members
DHCS is aware of scammers and bad actors
nationwide contacting Medicaid members requesting a fee to help them apply for or renew their Medicaid coverage. Medi-Cal members in California are also being targeted.
Medi-Cal members should know that Medi-Cal never requires payment during the application or renewal process.
DHCS urges stakeholders to use our toolkits in all outreach efforts. Additionally, it is important to educate Medi-Cal members about how they can expect to be contacted through official legitimate sources. If there are questions, Medi-Cal members can work with their local community partners or contact their county Medi-Cal office.
Program Updates
California's Federal Unwinding Baseline Report
DHCS submitted California's “Unwinding Baseline Report" to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the continuous coverage unwinding federal requirements. The report includes California's estimate of total pending applications received between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2023; total members enrolled as of March 31, 2023; and total Medi-Cal fair hearings pending more than 90 days as of March 31, 2023. The report also includes a description of California's renewal timeline and policy during the unwinding period.
Medi-Cal Rx Update
The
Medi-Cal Rx Find A Pharmacy tool has been updated with new features to help members easily locate enrolled Medi-Cal pharmacies. These enhancements include a larger search radius to benefit rural communities, better messaging if a pharmacy is not located in a search result, and improved filtering of results for “Mail Order", “IV Infusion", and “Indian Health Services" to more easily identify pharmacies and mail order opportunities.
Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring! DHCS has an immediate opening for
Chief, Data Management and Analytics Division. This executive role presents a unique opportunity for a mission-driven, exceptionally motivated individual to further the Department's priority to be a data-literate, data-driven decision-making organization.
DHCS is also hiring for our fiscal, human resources, legal, auditing, health policy, information technology, and communications teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Population Health Management (PHM) Advisory Group Meeting
On April 26, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., DHCS will host the next
PHM Advisory Group meeting (advance registration required). The meeting will provide feedback on DHCS' proposed changes to the population needs assessment (PNA) that Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (are required to complete. HCS envisions the modified PNA to promoting greater alignment with local health departments and other community stakeholders, more robust community engagement, and a deeper understanding of member health, social needs, and preferences from the communities in which they live. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit additional questions before the webinar to
CalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov.
Health Enrollment Navigators Project Meeting
On May 1, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., DHCS will virtually host a joint stakeholder meeting with county and community-based organization (CBO) partners, advocates, and other interested individuals to provide updates and answer questions about the Navigators Project, which provides funding to counties and CBOs to serve hard-to-reach potentially eligible Medi-Cal populations. Information about this meeting, other general information, and updates will be available on the Health Enrollment Navigators Project
Stakeholder & Advocate Communication webpage. Interested parties may also request to be added to the meeting notice by emailing
HealthNavigators@dhcs.ca.gov.
Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting
On May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DHCS will host the next
MCHAP hybrid meeting (advance registration required) at The California Endowment (1414 K Street, Sacramento). Meeting materials will be posted on the
MCHAP webpage closer to the meeting date.
In Case You Missed It
California Awards $2.5 Million to Strengthen Behavioral Health Navigator Program
On April 17,
DHCS awarded more than $2.5 million to 103 hospitals with emergency departments, with each receiving $25,000 to implement strategies to sustain the
CalBridge Behavioral Health Navigator Program (CalBridge) and maintain behavioral health navigators working with individuals. To date, 385 California hospitals have received funding under the CalBridge program.
DHCS also released funding opportunities for two opioid and stimulant use disorder community-based prevention programs: the Opioid Use and Stimulant Use Education and Outreach in 2S/LGBTQ+ Communities (
RFA available here) and the Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Prevention and Education in Communities of Color (
RFA here). Both projects are part of DHCS' broader efforts to address SUD, collectively known as the
California MAT Expansion Project, to increase access to MAT, reduce unmet treatment needs, and reduce opioid overdose-related deaths through the provision of prevention, treatment, and recovery activities.
Published COVID-19 Information
