​​DHCS Stakeholder News - May 26, 2023

​Top News

DHCS Releases Report about Californians with Medicare

On May 26, DHCS released a Medicare data chartbook, entitled “Cultural and Linguistic Demographics of the California Medicare Population". This book includes information about the language and birthplace demographics of Californians with Medicare, including those who are Medicare-only and those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal. 

Key findings include:

• In 2019, 15 percent of Californians with Medicare had limited English proficiency, which is nearly three times higher than the national average of 5 percent.
• California accounted for 32 percent of all Medicare members in the U.S. who had limited English proficiency.
• Among Californians with Medicare, 32 percent were born outside of the U.S., compared to 12 percent nationwide.
• Dual eligible members had a higher proportion (49 percent) of individuals born outside the U.S. compared to Medicare-only members in California (26 percent).
• Among Medicare members in California, those age 65 or older had a higher likelihood (33 percent) of being born outside the U.S. compared to those under 65 (25 percent).

Funded by The SCAN Foundation, the chartbook is based upon an analysis of 2015-2019 U.S. Census American Community Survey data. DHCS will discuss the highlights of the chartbook with stakeholders in a future webinar.

Program Updates

Funding Deadline Reminder: Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED)

On May 31, the PATH CITED Round 2 application window will close. Round 2 funding supports providers, local organizations, county agencies, public hospitals, tribes, and others that are contracted or plan to contract with a Medi-Cal managed care plan to build the capacity and infrastructure needed to enable the transition, expansion, and development of Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports for Medi-Cal members. For more information and to apply for PATH CITED Round 2 funding, visit ca-path.com/cited.

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Spanish-Language Brochure

DHCS posted the HACCP Spanish-language brochure for families and community partners and Spanish-language communications toolkit. Additional resources are available on the HACCP Resources for Community Partners webpage.

Medi-Cal Rx Update

On May 19, Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement Phase III, Lift 3 was successfully launched. On May 23, a 30-day notification for Phase III, Lift 4: Retirement of the Transition Policy for Beneficiaries 22 Years of Age and Older was released, notifying stakeholders that on June 23, 2023, Phase III, Lift 4 (P3/L4) will be implemented, lifting the Transition Policy for 46 Standard Therapeutic Classes. This is the fourth in a series of lifts to retire the Transition Policy by reinstating NCPDP Reject Code 75 – Prior Authorization Required. 

Join Our Team 

DHCS has immediate openings for two new executive roles: 

• Chief, Population Health Management Division: This position leads the strategy, policy, oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of the Population Health Management Program.  
• Chief, Quality and Health Equity Division: This position leads 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 also hiring for our fiscal, human resources, legal, communications, auditing, health policy, and information technology teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.  

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars

Covered California Virtual Workshop on Enrollment Program to Keep Californians Covered

On June 5, from 10 to 11 a.m., Covered California, in partnership with DHCS and the Western Center on Law & Poverty, will host a virtual workshop (advance registration required) to discuss a new program that aims to provide eligible Californians with a seamless transition from Medi-Cal to a health insurance plan offered by Covered California. With the end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement on March 31 and the first group of Medi-Cal disenrollments as a result of redeterminations to occur beginning July 1, Covered California is helping to enroll eligible Californians transitioning out of Medi-Cal into low- to no-cost health plans, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining coverage.

CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup Meeting

On June 8, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., DHCS will host the CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup webinar (advance Zoom registration required). The goal of this meeting is to provide updates on the CalAIM Behavioral Health Documentation Redesign initiative and BH CONNECT waiver. Workgroup members will provide feedback on implementation and operational considerations. Please see the webinar agenda for more details, and for information about the waiver, please visit the CalAIM webpage.

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 MCPs to provide: 

• A reminder of the design and operational guidance for the Children and Youth POF. 
• Examples of how providers are preparing to launch ECM for the Children and Youth POF. 
• 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, and for those who are new to contracting with MCPs, such as counties and CBOs. Please submit questions to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov no later than June 19.