February 2, 2026
Top News
DHCS Releases Implementation Plan for New Federal Eligibility and Enrollment Changes Under H.R. 1; Webinars Scheduled
On January 29, DHCS released the
Implementation Plan for New Federal Eligibility and Enrollment Changes Under H.R. 1, which provides a roadmap for implementing the federal Medicaid requirements. These changes, which include new work and community engagement requirements and an increase to twice-yearly renewals for certain groups beginning in January 2027, will affect eligibility and enrollment for millions of Medi-Cal members.
DHCS is committed to minimizing disruption and maximizing continuity of coverage as these federally mandated changes take effect. The plan outlines guiding principles, timelines, and strategies to help Medi-Cal members stay covered and support counties, health plans, and community partners in preparing for these changes.
Due to overwhelming interest, the first all-comer webinar on February 5 is now full. To accommodate additional participants, DHCS will host a
second webinar on February 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. PST. No RSVP or registration is required for the second session; please join 5 to 10 minutes early. Both webinars will cover the same content, including an overview of the plan, key timelines, and opportunities for stakeholder engagement.
DHCS Celebrates PATH Initiative Milestone
On January 5, DHCS announced that 139 organizations have completed their projects under Round 1 of the
Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) initiative. Supported by $203 million in funding, awardees completed projects designed to strengthen their capacity to deliver Medi-Cal services across all counties, especially in underserved communities. Community-based organizations, county agencies, Tribal entities, hospitals, and Medi-Cal managed care plan partners used funds to expand the workforce, modernize infrastructure, and launch programs that improve housing stability, care coordination, and health outcomes after the launch of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM).
These efforts help build the infrastructure needed to deliver
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports. To stay informed and learn more about this milestone, visit the
PATH website and watch this
video. You can also subscribe to the PATH newsletter by scrolling to the 'Subscribe to our Newsletter' section.
DHCS Releases Latest ECM and Community Supports Quarterly Report
On January 29, DHCS published the latest
data update on ECM and Community Supports, covering data from January 2022 through June 2025. These services help Medi-Cal members stay healthier and avoid costlier health care services, such as emergency department visits and hospital stays. Key highlights from Q2 2025 include:
- ECM enrollment increased 61 percent compared to Q2 2024, with 204,704 members served.
- ECM enrollment among all children and youth more than doubled.
- Community Supports reached more than 520,000 members, delivering more than 1.3 million services statewide since the program first launched in January 2022.
- Provider networks expanded significantly to meet demand, with an 80 percent increase in the number of providers that serve adults transitioning from incarceration and a 102 percent increase in the number of providers that serve children and youth experiencing homelessness since Q2 2024.
- Medically tailored meals and housing-related supports are still among the most used services.
Program Updates
Updated Population Health Management Policy Guide
On January 30, DHCS released updates to the
Population Health Management (PHM) Policy Guide, including changes to Transitional Care Services (TCS), Local Planning and PHM Strategy, Risk Stratification and Segmentation, and Initial Health Appointment requirements. The updates streamline local planning requirements, clarify policies for dual eligible members, and introduce new pregnancy and postpartum care categories for TCS. Starting July 1, 2026, managed care plans must provide tailored TCS for pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members, improving support and outcomes for these high-need individuals. These requirements will ensure that all members have access to a comprehensive set of services based on their needs and preferences across the continuum of care. Please email questions to
PHMSection@dhcs.ca.gov.
Reminder for Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment
On January 23, an
alert was posted to the Med-Cal Rx website reminding pharmacy providers and individual prescribers (e.g., doctors, nurses, and pharmacists initiating prescriptions under their own scope of practice authority) about the requirement that all Ordering, Referring, and Prescribing (ORP) providers be enrolled in Medi-Cal using their National Provider Identifier (NPI) so claims can be processed and paid. DHCS will begin enforcing this requirement in mid-2026 and will provide more detailed information through the same alert process when the effective date is confirmed. To assist with and ensure compliance, DHCS has identified ORPs who have not yet enrolled in Medi-Cal as required and will send reminder alerts each month as part of Medi-Cal Rx's education and outreach plan. DHCS will also provide ORP enrollment updates to managed care plans and partner with stakeholders, such as the California Hospital Association, California Medical Association, and California Primary Care Association, to share information broadly and continuously to ensure successful implementation. For any questions, pharmacy providers and ORPs may call the Medi-Cal Rx Customer Service Center at 1-800-977-2273 or email the Medi-Cal Rx Education and Outreach team at
MediCalRxEducationOutreach@primetherapeutics.com.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:
- Chief, Strategic Planning and Workforce Development Division. The Chief serves as the principal advisor and administrator for strategic planning; enterprise governance and portfolio management (in partnership with the Senior Advisor for Policy and Program Support and Enterprise Technology Services); leadership meeting facilitation; Director's Office operations (including Department-wide communications and executive hiring, onboarding, and offboarding); employee engagement and belonging initiatives (including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion); workforce development; and succession planning. Applications must be submitted by February 10.
DHCS is also hiring for its Accounting, Legal Services, Contracts, 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.
Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Working Group Meeting
On February 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST, the California Health and Human Services Agency will hold its CARE Act Working Group meeting. The meeting will include a recap of the previous meeting and look ahead to 2026. Representatives from San Diego County Behavioral Health Services will share an implementation update, including their latest data, outcomes, and best practices. Representatives from Neimand Collaborative will discuss recent and upcoming CARE Act communication strategies. Additionally, participants will hear about a recommended framework from psychiatry subject matter experts on CARE agreements/plans as well as from Health Management Associates representatives who will provide a look ahead at the elements of the 2026 CARE Act Annual Report. Please see the CARE Act Working Group website for more information.
Skilled Nursing Facility Value Strategy Webinar
On February 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST, DHCS will host an all-comer webinar for stakeholders who want to learn more about the development of DHCS' comprehensive value strategy for Medi-Cal skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. The SNF Value Strategy will inform the reauthorization of the Medi-Cal Long-Term Care (LTC) Reimbursement Act, which governs the overall Medi-Cal financing framework for Freestanding SNFs. The Act's upcoming renewal provides a historic opportunity to build upon the CalAIM LTC Carve-in and AB 186 Nursing Facility Financing Reform programs. The SNF Value Strategy will include a landscape analysis of payment methodologies used by Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other payers. It will also include a multi-year roadmap to drive system transformation. If you have questions, please email SNFValueStrategy@dhcs.ca.gov. Visit the DHCS SNF Value Strategy webpage for more information.
Equity-Centered Sterilization Counseling: Evidence, Consent, and Practical Pearls
On February 20, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PST, Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment) and the University of California, San Francisco will host a webinar (advance registration required) to explore strategies to provide informed, compassionate, and patient-centered counseling to individuals considering sterilization. For more information, please see the Family PACT webpage.
Justice-Involved (JI) Reentry Initiative: Upcoming Live Training Webinars
Medi-Cal is offering a live Justice-Involved (JI) Reentry Initiative Overview. This course introduces the JI Reentry Initiative and outlines its purpose and structure. Learners will understand provider roles and requirements, including participation standards and coordination expectations. The training webinars are scheduled for February 24 (10 to 11:30 a.m. PST), February 25 (1 to 2:30 p.m. PST), and February 26 (10 to 11:30 a.m. PST). Providers must register for the webinar through the Medi-Cal Learning Portal and select the session they plan to attend to ensure enrollment. To view the webinar, providers must have internet access and a user profile in the portal (Note: Google Chrome is the recommended web browser for accessing the portal). Detailed instructions about the registration process and accessing webinar classes are available on the Outreach & Education page of the Medi-Cal Providers website. For additional assistance, contact the Telephone Service Center at 1-800-541-5555.
