DHCS expresses gratitude to our plans, providers, stakeholders, and other partners for their commitment and partnership during the COVID-19 PHE. We worked together and adapted quickly to the pandemic’s challenges and difficulties to care for millions of Californians. Our joint efforts enabled us to navigate the PHE with resilience and perseverance, and we are grateful for your ongoing engagement. ​​  

The health care industry, particularly hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and skilled nursing facilities, faced the brunt of the PHE’s impact. The surge in COVID-19 cases placed immense strain on those facilities, stretching resources to their limits and challenging our workforce as never before seen with overwhelming patient volumes, shortages of critical supplies and equipment, and the need for additional staff. Despite these challenges, our collective efforts enabled us to continue providing vital services. Some examples include, making permanent telehealth policies implemented during the PHE, including payment parity, flexibilities for FQHC partners and expanding telehealth to all delivery systems, stabilizing and retaining California’s health care workforce by providing retention payments to workers in qualifying facilities and clinics, and launching a Coverage Ambassadors program and Renewal Campaign to ensure that Medi-Cal members know how best to retain their health coverage, we have demonstrated our commitment to serving Californians.  ​​  

Rebuilding and strengthening our health care system requires a continued collaborative effort. We must focus on implementing strategies to bolster our system and workforce. We’ve learned a lot from this pandemic, and how we can better protect the health and well-being of all Californians, now and in the future.  ​​  

As a reminder, the end of the federal COVID-19 PHE has implications for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). DHCS acted to make permanent several flexibilities implemented over the course of the PHE. Below is a summary of end dates for key federal Medicaid provisions, with additional details on how DHCS unwound the PHE in the Medi-Cal program. ​​  

Disposiciones de Medicaid y CHIP COVID-19 bajo la Ley del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense (ARPA): ​​  

• Cobertura sin costo para vacunas, pruebas y tratamientos contra el COVID-19 para los miembros de Medi-Cal: Se requiere que Medicaid cubra las vacunas, las pruebas y el tratamiento contra el COVID-19 sin costo compartido para los miembros hasta el final del período de cobertura de ARPA el 30de septiembre de 2024.  El DHCS está optando por extender permanentemente la cobertura para las vacunas, las pruebas y el tratamiento contra el COVID-19 más allá del período de cobertura de ARPA.   ​​  
• Optional COVID-19 Group for Uninsured Individuals: California has taken advantage of the “optional COVID-19 group,” also referred to as the COVID-19 Uninsured Group, that provided uninsured individuals with coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment. This coverage expires on May 31 and DHCS began sending notices to individuals enrolled in the COVID-19 Uninsured Group about the program’s sunset along with a Single Streamlined Application to apply for Medi-Cal or Covered California coverage in late April 2023.  ​​  
• Contrapartida federal mejorada para las vacunas contra el COVID-19 y la administración de vacunas: Los estados reciben fondos federales de contrapartida del 100 por ciento para la cobertura de las vacunas y la administración de vacunas, según lo promulgado por ARPA. Estos fondos de contrapartida también finalizan el 30de septiembre de 2024. Como se describió anteriormente, Medi-Cal continuará cubriendo las vacunas contra el COVID-19.   ​​   

Flexibilidades legales que posibilita la PHE:  ​​  

Las exenciones de la Sección 1135 expirarán el 11 de mayo y los programas de Medicaid no pudieron extender esas flexibilidades más allá del final de la PHE. Además, el DHCS decidió suspender las flexibilidades de inscripción de proveedores de emergencia de Medi-Cal antes del final de la PHE, a partir del 29de marzo de 2023. ​​  

Las Enmiendas al Plan Estatal de Ayuda en Caso de Desastre (SPA, por sus siglas en inglés) de Medicaid también vencerán el 11 de mayo, excepto aquellas que el DHCS hizo permanentes. Para obtener detalles sobre las pólizas específicas que se hicieron permanentes a través del proceso tradicional de SPA, consulte la Parte I del Plan de Desintegración Operativa de Cobertura Continua y PHE COVID-19 de Medi-Cal.  Además, el DHCS actualizó recientemente la Carta 20-004 de Todos los Planes , que brinda orientación a los planes de atención administrada de Medi-Cal sobre cómo revertir los cambios temporales provistos por la PHE.​​    

Las fechas de terminación del Apéndice K de la Sección 1915(c) o del Anexo K de la Sección 1115 varían según la renuncia, pero por lo general serán a más tardar seis meses después del final de la PHE. Del mismo modo, el DHCS tiene la intención de hacer permanentes algunas flexibilidades 1915(c) y 1115.  Para obtener detalles sobre estas pólizas, consulte la parte I del Plan de Desintegración Operativa de Cobertura Continua y PHE de COVID-19 de Medi-Cal. ​​  

Avanzando  ​​  

COVID-19 may no longer be classified as a public health emergency, however, COVID-19 will continue to be an ongoing health issue and California’s SMARTER Plan is specifically designed to effectively manage this ongoing reality. SMARTER, which stands for Shots, Masks, Awareness, Readiness, Testing, Education and Rx, is the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 response. It retains California’s operational preparedness and will continue to guide our work in supporting communities throughout the state. With the knowledge gained over the past few years, we understand the steps that we must take to prepare for future COVID-19 surges or variants, which includes reducing the burden on health care systems. The SMARTER Plan acknowledges and builds upon California’s previous successes and is designed to be adaptable. Additionally, this website hosted by the California Health & Human Services Agency, provides resources for Californians about various services and programs that are impacted by the end of the COVID-19 PHE, including flexibilities and other policy changes.​​   

En el futuro, trabajando juntos podemos abordar con confianza los desafíos que plantea el COVID-19 y, al mismo tiempo, mantener saludables a los californianos.​​