Acerca del DHCS
El Departamento de Servicios de Atención Médica de California (DHCS, por sus siglas en inglés) es la columna vertebral de la red de seguridad de atención médica de California, ayudando a millones de californianos todos los días. El propósito de DHCS es proporcionar acceso equitativo a una atención médica de calidad que conduzca a una California saludable para todos.
To fulfill this purpose, DHCS’ Strategic Plan establishes the following high-level goals:
- Estar centrado en la persona: poner a las personas en primer lugar y diseñar programas y servicios para el cuidado integral de la persona en la comunidad.
- Aumentar el acceso significativo: garantizar que las personas reciban atención cuándo, dónde y cómo la necesiten fortaleciendo la cobertura de atención médica, los beneficios y la capacidad de los proveedores y servicios.
- Lograr la excelencia en los resultados de salud: mejorar los resultados de calidad, reducir las disparidades en la salud y transformar el sistema de prestación de servicios.
- Ser un empleador de elección: atraer, desarrollar y retener un equipo diverso y talentoso que esté capacitado e tenga impacto;
- Fortalecer las operaciones: mejorar nuestras estructuras organizativas, procesos y sistemas para mejorar la administración del programa.
- Aproveche los datos para mejorar los resultados: impulse mejores decisiones y resultados con información significativa.
DHCS is the federally designated single state agency responsible for financing and administering the state’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, which provides health care services to low-income persons and families who meet defined eligibility requirements. Medi-Cal is authorized and funded through a federal-state partnership. Medi-Cal programs cover physical health, mental health, substance use disorder, services, pharmacy, dental, and long-term services and supports. DHCS is also the single state agency for Substance Abuse and the State Mental Health Authority, and administers county-operated community mental health and substance use disorder programs, together known as behavioral health.
Medi-Cal serves about 15 million Californians. About one-third of Californians receive health care services administered by DHCS, making the Department the largest health care purchaser in California. Our success is made possible only through collaboration with the federal government, other state agencies, counties, plans, providers, and community partners as we invest more than $200 billion annually for the care of low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
DHCS is a dynamic Department with ambitious goals and talented, committed employees. We work hard every day to fulfill our vital responsibility to support the delivery of quality health care to Californians. We will continue to use tax dollars as effectively as possible while finding opportunities to improve Californians’ health and the health care delivery system of our Golden State.
DHCS Major Program Initiatives – Go-Live Dates
DHCS’ initiatives are designed to support the health of Medi-Cal members and communities across California. These efforts illustrate DHCS’ commitment to delivering meaningful, person-centered care within a responsible budgetary structure and federal parameters. The link below includes a timeline of the major program initiatives and their anticipated go-live dates, pending readiness and federal approvals. This information will be updated as necessary.
- DHCS Major Program Initiatives – Go-Live (Excel) (updated as of 7/18/2025)