The PA requirements for the 46 remaining STCs will be reinstated under Phase 3, Lift 4, currently planned for implementation on June 23, 2023.
California Unwinding Monthly Report for April 2023
On May 22, DHCS will publish California's submission of the federal “Unwinding Monthly Report" for the eligibility month of April 2023 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the continuous coverage unwinding federal requirements. The report includes California's updated estimate of total pending applications received between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2023, that are still in a pending status as of April 30; total April 2023 annual renewals and renewal outcomes; and total Medi-Cal fair hearings pending more than 90 days as of April 30. The report also includes a description of California's renewal timeline and policy during the unwinding period. This report will be posted to the DHCS Medi-Cal Enrollment webpage under “DHCS Continuous Coverage Unwinding Data." Each monthly report will include the same measures, but specific for that month. DHCS will provide reports to CMS on or about the 20th of each month through at least June 2024.
Join Our Team
DHCS has two immediate openings for two new executive roles:
- Chief, Population Health Management Division, this position is responsible for the strategy, policy, oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of the Population Health Management Program.
- Chief, Quality and Health Equity Division, this position is responsible for clinical quality and health equity initiatives, program evaluation, quality and equity outcomes, and quality assurance and performance improvement activities across DHCS programs and delivery systems.
DHCS is dedicated to preserving and improving the overall health and well-being of all Californians. DHCS' mission is to provide the most vulnerable residents with equitable access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, and is currently transforming the Medi-Cal program to make sure it provides the care Californians need to live healthier, happier lives. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Dementia Care Aware – Cognitive Health Assessment (CHA) Virtual Training
Starting May 19, Dementia Care Aware is offering monthly Zoom trainings (advance registration required) on the CHA, led by geriatric medicine experts at the University of California, Irvine. The CHA is a dementia screening approach intended to be conducted in older adult patients whenever a cognitive screen is indicated. The next training will be held on June 2. Primary care providers and teams can join us on the first and third Fridays of each month to learn more about how the CHA can empower primary care providers and their teams to better detect dementia in their patients. Free continuing medical education and continuing education units are available.
Tribal and Indian Health Program Representatives Virtual Meeting
On May 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., DHCS will host the quarterly Tribal and Indian Health Program representatives' virtual meeting (advance registration required). This webinar will include a discussion of DHCS programs and initiatives of interest to tribal partners, and offer a forum to provide feedback on specific aspects of DHCS initiatives that directly affect tribes, Indian Health Programs, and American Indian Medi-Cal members. The next meeting will be held in August in Sacramento. The meeting agenda and other materials will be posted on the Indian Health Program webpage as they become available.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) and Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee (BH-SAC) Meeting
On May 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., DHCS will host the SAC and BH-SAC hybrid meeting (advance registration required). It will open as a joint meeting, with topics shared by SAC and BH-SAC. There will be a BH-SAC-only meeting held after the joint meeting; there is no SAC-only meeting. Attendees can attend virtually or in person at The California Endowment, located at 1414 K Street in Sacramento. For more information, please visit the SAC and BH-SAC webpages.
Panel Discussion: Building Partnerships for Launching Enhanced Care Management (ECM) for Children and Youth
On June 23, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., DHCS will host a virtual event (advance registration required) on the vision for Enhanced Care Management (ECM) for children and youth, in advance of the launch of ECM for Children and Youth Populations of Focus (POF) on July 1. DHCS leaders will be joined by a panel of providers, community-based organizations (CBOs), and managed care plans (MCPs) to provide:
- A reminder of the design and operational guidance for the Children and Youth POFs.
- Examples of how providers are preparing to launch ECM for the Children and Youth POFs.
- Guidance to MCPs, counties, and other providers on contracting for the ECM benefit.
This webinar is open to the public, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during the session. It will be of special interest to MCPs and providers working with children and youth who are new to contracting with MCPs, including counties and CBOs. Please submit questions to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov no later than June 19.
In Case You Missed It
California Awards Millions to Strengthen State's Opioid Response
On May 19, DHCS awarded more than $12 million in grants to strengthen the state's opioid response as part of the California's $1 billion plan to tackle the opioid epidemic. The awards include $7.9 million to 20 DHCS-licensed, residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities throughout the state as part of the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion Project, $3.5 million to 23 organizations through the Tribal Urban Indian Defined Best Practice program, and $1.05 million to seven organizations through the California Native MAT Network for Healing and Recovery.
