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January 21, 2025​

Top News

DHCS Responds to Southern California Wildfires

On January 17, DHCS issued a news release detailing the Department's work to expand support for Medi-Cal members impacted by the Southern California wildfires. DHCS swiftly implemented key administrative flexibilities to protect Medi-Cal members in affected regions of the state. These efforts include simplified Medi-Cal enrollment and renewal processes, waived requirements to access prescription medications and medical devices, and other flexibilities to ensure all Medi-Cal members have access to care during this emergency. Additionally, DHCS is actively seeking further federal flexibilities to expand support for impacted Medi-Cal members and providers.

DHCS is working closely with county behavioral health plans and local providers to ensure individuals continue to have access to critical behavioral health services. In addition, DHCS is in the process of applying for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) regular funding. The CCP is a short-term disaster relief grant program that provides funding for additional assistance to address the behavioral health needs of disaster survivors.

DHCS understands recovering from these wildfires will be challenging and has developed an online resource to help answer Medi-Cal member questions about accessing services during this emergency. DHCS remains committed to supporting communities during this difficult time and is grateful to the emergency responders and health care workers on the ground. Stay safe, see official updates for the latest information, and follow evacuation orders issued by local officials.

Program Updates

Transition to New Family PACT Portal

On January 13, DHCS' Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (PACT) program transitioned to the Family PACT Portal to simplify and streamline the eligibility process for Family PACT clients. The client portal allows applicants to create accounts, apply for Family PACT, and manage their enrollment status online. The provider staff portal allows provider staff to efficiently enroll, recertify, and update information for clients. 

On February 2, the Health Access Programs (HAP) Client Eligibility System will be disabled. All Family PACT client enrollment, changes, and deactivations must be completed exclusively through the new Family PACT portal. As part of this transition, HAP cards are no longer being issued by the fiscal intermediary and will now be referred to as a HAP identification number. HAP cards are now digitized and can be accessed and printed directly from the user's Family PACT account via the Family PACT portal. The number can be printed out by the client or the provider or shown electronically on a mobile device when visiting a provider. Providers have access to comprehensive training and job aids through the Family PACT Online Training Center. For questions or assistance, please email providerservices@dhcs.ca.gov or call (916) 650-0414.

Join Our Team

DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:

  • Chief of the Pharmacy Benefits Division. The Chief is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of policy, services, and coverage criteria for outpatient pharmacy services for the state's Medi-Cal program. This includes providing policy direction for Medi-Cal Rx as well as invoicing and collecting federal and state supplemental drug rebates. The Chief of PBD also leads the development of nutrition, vision care, and medical supply benefits and oversees the administration of the Medi-Cal Pharmacy and Vision Benefit programs. A licensed pharmacist is desired, but not required. Applications must be submitted by February 7.
DHCS is also hiring for its accounting, behavioral health, eligibility, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars

Medi-Cal Rx Pediatric Integration Weekly Webinars

On January 17, DHCS began hosting a weekly Medi-Cal Rx Pediatric Integration webinar. Webinars will be held every Friday from 12 to 1 p.m. PST to support partner readiness. Partners, including pharmacy providers and prescribers, should plan to attend a webinar prior to the implementation of Medi-Cal Rx Pediatric Integration on January 31. More information is available on the Medi-Cal Rx Education & Outreach webpage.

Smile, California Webinar: Promoting the Medi-Cal Dental Benefit for National Children's Dental Health Month

On January 22, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST, Smile, California will host a webinar to kick off National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February. The webinar will feature a preview of the new Healthy Smile Land materials, strategies for promoting Medi-Cal dental services during NCDHM, and resources for accessing and distributing outreach materials. Attendees will also be able to connect with Smile, California representatives to ask about Medi-Cal dental benefits.

DHCS Harm Reduction Summits

DHCS collaborates with communities across the state to promote harm reduction and low-barrier, patient-centered care within California's substance use disorder treatment system. DHCS encourages substance use disorder treatment providers and staff (including social workers, peers, front desk staff, case managers, nurses, physicians, and all staff in substance use disorder treatment settings) to attend and learn about incorporating the tenets of harm reduction into substance use disorder treatment. Summits will be held in Fresno County (January 23), San Diego County (February 11), and Los Angeles County (February 27). Register on the event website.

​Coverage Ambassador Webinar: Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
On January 30, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. PST, DHCS will host a webinar for DHCS Coverage Ambassadors (advance registration required). The webinar will provide updates on the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). It will convey information on justice-involved individuals who are now, or have spent time, in jails, youth correctional facilities, or prisons and who are at higher risk for poor health outcomes, injury, and death than the public. It will focus on significant steps California is taking to improve poor health outcomes for individuals as they prepare to reenter their communities by working to ensure they have continuity of coverage upon their release. Additionally, Coverage Ambassadors will learn how early childhood wraparound services will be expanded through the CYBHI, which will provide mental health services to children, youth, and families. Find out more about DHCS Coverage Ambassadors, or sign up to become a Coverage Ambassador.

Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting

On February 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the hybrid SAC/BH-SAC meeting (advance registration required for online and in-person participation) at 1700 K Street (first-floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento. SAC provides DHCS with valuable input on ongoing California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) implementation efforts and helps DHCS further its efforts to provide high-quality, equitable care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input regarding behavioral health activities and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. For more information, please email SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov.

In Case You Missed It

Proposed DHCS 2025-26 Budget

The proposed 2025-26 Governor's Budget for DHCS allocates $193.4 billion in total funds, including $42.8 billion from the General Fund, and supports 4,821.5 positions. This budget reflects the Administration's continued investment in transforming Medi-Cal into a coordinated, person-centered, and equitable health system for Californians. The budget prioritizes modernizing the health care delivery system, with a focus on improving accountability and transparency and strengthening community-based care. These strategic investments support DHCS' purpose to provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all.

Now Open: Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) Round 4 Application

On January 6, DHCS opened the PATH CITED Round 4 application window. The PATH CITED initiative provides funding to build the capacity and infrastructure of on-the-ground partners including community-based organizations, hospitals, county agencies, Tribes, and others, to successfully participate in Medi-Cal. Nearly $158 million is available for Round 4. The deadline to apply for PATH CITED Round 4 funding is 11:59 p.m. PST on March 7, 2025. The guidance document and application can be found by visiting the PATH CITED webpage. Please submit questions to cited@ca-path.com.

PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Round 5 Vendor Application

On Ja​nuary 1, DHCS opened the PATH TA Marketplace Round 5 vendor application. The deadline to apply is January 31. Round 5 will be a targeted procurement for new and existing hands-on service offerings that address TA Marketplace gaps. The Round 5 procurement will seek TA vendor applications for all seven TA domains, but it will focus on services for the following provider types: rural providers, Tribal and Indian health care providers, maternal and child-serving providers, and transitional rent providers.

DHCS will not accept submissions for new off-the-shelf projects or changes to existing off-the-shelf projects during the Round 5 procurement period. Instead, the Round 5 application will solicit on-demand resources from existing TA vendors. Please visit the TA Marketplace Vendor webpage to access the guidance documents and to apply. Please submit questions to ta-marketplace@ca-path.com.

Last modified date: 1/21/2025 4:37 PM