January 20, 2026
Top News
Chief Deputy Director for Policy and Program Support Erika Sperbeck Leaving DHCS
Erika Sperbeck, Chief Deputy Director for Policy and Program Support, will leave DHCS for a new opportunity on January 30. Erika has been a pivotal leader since joining DHCS in April 2017. She guided the Department through tremendous growth—a nearly 40 percent workforce increase, more than doubling the annual budget, and numerous programmatic initiatives—while navigating significant change and uncertainty, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a hybrid organization. Under Erika's leadership, DHCS focused on becoming an employer of choice; strengthening infrastructure and operations; enhancing financial management to safeguard the integrity, accountability, and transparency of more than $200 billion in annual state and federal funding; and maintaining program integrity. Upon Erika's departure, Assistant State Medicaid Director Lindy Harrington will serve as interim Chief Deputy Director for Policy and Program Support.
Program Updates
DHCS Launches New Paper Single Streamlined Application
On January 16, DHCS launched the revised paper
Single Streamlined Application, which now aligns with the online application portals at
CoveredCA.com and
BenefitsCal.com. This application is used by individuals and families to apply for insurance affordability programs, including Medi-Cal and Covered California health plans. This revision is the result of a collaborative effort between DHCS and Covered California. It is designed for better accessibility and user experience, incorporating extensive focus group testing, readability assessments, and stakeholder input. The updated application is currently available in English both as a printed booklet and online via the DHCS website, and the Spanish booklet and online version will be available in early 2026. Additional languages and large-print formats will continue to roll out in 2026 and will be accessible on the DHCS website. Thanks to all stakeholders who provided their feedback and assisted with revising the application.
Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring for its Licensing and Accounting, Program Operations, Behavioral Health, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
DHCS posts upcoming public meetings on its
Calendar of Events. DHCS provides free assistive services, including language interpretation, real-time captioning, and alternate formatting of meeting materials. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.
California Children's Services (CCS) Advisory Group Meeting
On January 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. PST, DHCS will hold the quarterly
California Children's Services Advisory Group meeting. DHCS and the CCS Advisory Group partner to ensure children in the CCS/Whole Child Model program receive appropriate and timely access to quality care. Agenda topics include 2025 CCS accomplishments, 2026 CCS priorities, managed care plan monitoring and oversight, postmortem noticing, and Medi-Cal Rx pediatric integration. Additional information and meeting details are available on the
CCS Advisory Group webpage. Please email
CCSProgram@dhcs.ca.gov if you have any questions.
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee Webinar
On January 26, from 12 to 2 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the ninth
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee (QEAC) meeting (advance registration required). During this public webinar, committee members will collaborate and provide feedback on DHCS' ongoing efforts to measure and evaluate the quality and efficacy of behavioral health services and programs in California. Public participation is encouraged. Attendees can provide direct input to DHCS using the Q&A feature. For more information about QEAC webinars and additional resources, visit the
Behavioral Health Transformation Stakeholder Engagement webpage. Questions? Email
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
Smile, California: National Children's Dental Health Month
On January 28 at 11 a.m., Medi-Cal Dental partners are invited to join a
webinar to kick-off February's National Children's Dental Health Month celebration. The webinar will cover Medi-Cal Dental benefits for children and families, in-language materials, and ways to help families feel prepared and confident about dental care. National Children's Dental Health Month promotes oral health and helps to raise awareness of dental benefits for children under age 18. This year's focus is on helping children prepare for dental visits by improving their understanding of a dental check-up and fostering positive relationships with their dentist. Please email questions to
hello@smilecalifornia.org.
Coverage Ambassadors Webinar
On January 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a
Coverage Ambassador webinar and provide an overview of the transitional rent community support (advance registration required). Attendees are encouraged to ask questions or share comments during the webinar. Coverage Ambassadors are trusted messengers who help raise awareness about Medi-Cal benefits, enrollment opportunities, and new initiatives aimed at building a healthier California for all. Please visit the
Coverage Ambassador website for more information and
subscribe to receive regular updates, newsletters, and webinar reminders.
In Case You Missed It
Governor's Budget
The Governor's proposed 2026–27 budget for DHCS totals $229.1 billion ($49.5 billion General Fund) and 4,745.5 positions. The budget builds upon the Administration's commitment to maintain access to care while implementing federally required changes and continuing investments to transform Medi-Cal and improve the behavioral health delivery system. These proposals support a person-centered health care system for more than 14 million Californians. Please see the Budget Information page for 2026-27 Budget Act documents, including the DHCS budget highlights.
