Alternative Formats
It is the policy of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to fully comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other state and federal laws relating to the rights of a qualified member of the public. A person is a qualified member of the public if they are an appropriate person with whom a public agency should or would communicate. Discrimination on the basis of disability in public programs is prohibited and DHCS will protect the rights of persons with disabilities to have meaningful and equal access to public services, including but not limited to, Medi-Cal and other programs that DHCS administers in whole or in part through partnerships with other entities, such as providers, facilities, managed care plans, vendors, contractors, counties, or other state agencies.
It is also the policy of DHCS to assist persons with disabilities in communicating effectively with DHCS and its partners. DHCS will ensure effective communication applies to all qualified members of the public with disabilities, including those who simply make contact seeking information about programs, services, or activities.
DHCS provides auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, to ensure all qualified persons with speech, hearing, and/or vision disabilities can effectively communicate and participate in public programs, services, and/or activities.
DHCS identifies common program documents that are critical to ensuring equal access to programs, benefits, and/or services and make those documents readily available in the following alternative formats: large print (20-point Arial), audio format, accessible electronic format (such as a data CD), and braille.
DHCS has been outreaching Medi-Cal beneficiaries by phases to offer alternative formats for written communication:
- Blind and visually impaired (BVI) beneficiaries;
- Disabled and working disabled beneficiaries; and
- The rest of the Medi-Cal population.
DHCS completed the first phase of its outreach campaign at the end of 2020, began the second phase in June 2021, and will outreach the rest of the Medi-Cal population in quarter 1, 2022.
If you have received alternative format outreach letter, you can follow the instructions in the letter to provide your alternative format preference.
Medi-Cal beneficiaries can call the DHCS Alternative Formats administrator toll free at (833) 284-0040 to request alternative format at any time.
