​February 6, 2024 - Stakeholder News

Top News

Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (MCP) Responsibilities for Indian Health Care Providers and American Indian Members

On February 8, DHCS published All Plan Letter (APL) 24-002, which summarizes and clarifies existing federal and state protections and alternative health coverage options for American Indian members enrolled in Medi-Cal MCPs. It consolidates various MCP requirements regarding protections for Indian health care providers, including requirements related to contracting and reimbursing claims in an appropriate and expeditious manner. Additionally, the APL provides guidance regarding MCP tribal liaison requirements and expectations in relation to their roles and responsibilities.
 

Program Updates​

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Update

On February 5, DHCS released an addendum to the HACCP Action Plan, which is available on the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children webpage. The addendum details how DHCS is being responsive to and addressing the specific items outlined in the Governor's veto message for Senate Bill 635 and provides the most current updates related to DHCS' work on the HACCP.

On February 13, from 12 to 1 p.m., DHCS will host a HACCP webinar (advance registration required) to share information with providers to help pediatric patients and their families maximize HACCP benefits. The training session will outline program requirements for families to apply for coverage. It will also outline the claims submission process for audiologists, otolaryngologists, physicians, and their office staff. For more information, please visit www.dhcs.ca.gov/haccp.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(i) State Plan and 1915(c) Waiver Amendments for Developmentally Disabled Individuals

On February 6, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), in partnership with DHCS, posted proposed amendments to the HCBS 1915(i) State Plan and HCBS 1915(c) waiver for a 30-day public comment period, prior to submitting the final version to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval:  

• 1915(i) State Plan Amendment (SPA 24-0005) would add group homes for children with special health care needs as a new provider of community living arrangement services and add participant-directed as a service delivery method for self-directed support services. 
  

• 1915(i) SPA (SPA 24-0006) would implement the next round of rate reform adjustments, effective July 1, 2024, as currently required in Welfare and Institutions Code section 4519.10. The 2024-25 Governor's Budget proposes to return full implementation of rate reform, including this next round of adjustments, to the original date of July 1, 2025, from the accelerated date of July 1, 2024. DDS is continuing to prepare administratively for the full implementation of rate reform, subject to the final 2024-25 budget agreement.
  

• HCBS Waiver Amendment CA.0336.R05.04 would add telehealth as a delivery method for specified services, add group homes for children with special health care needs as a new provider of community living arrangement services, and add participant-directed as a service delivery method for self-directed support services. 
  

• HCBS Waiver Amendment CA.0336.R05.05 would implement the next round of rate reform adjustments, effective July 1, 2024, as currently required in Welfare and Institutions Code section 4519.10. The 2024-25 Governor's Budget proposes to return full implementation of rate reform, including this next round of adjustments, to the original date of July 1, 2025, from the accelerated date of July 1, 2024. DDS continues to prepare administratively for the full implementation of rate reform, subject to the final 2024-25 budget agreement.
  

The proposed amendments will be posted to DDS's website, along with an email address for submitting written feedback. All comments must be received by March 7. DDS invites all interested parties to review the amendments and comment instructions on the DDS HCBS Programs webpage. Please email your questions to Federal.Programs@dds.ca.gov.

ADRC Advisory Committee Recruitment

The California Department of Aging (CDA) is recruiting members for the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Advisory Committee. Additional information about the advisory committee, its responsibilities, and member expectations is included in this announcement and membership application. Please send your questions and applications to ADRC@aging.ca.gov by March 8 if you are interested in joining this advisory committee beginning in July 2024.

PATH Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) Round 3 Application

The deadline to apply for Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) CITED Round 3 funding is February 15. The PATH CITED initiative provides funding to build the capacity and infrastructure of on-the-ground partners, including community-based organizations, public hospitals, county agencies, tribes, and others, to successfully participate in Medi-Cal. Office hours will be held on February 12, from noon to 12:30 p.m. (register on the PATH CITED website), to assist prospective applicants.

RFI: California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Initiative Centers of Excellence (COE)

On January 31, DHCS released a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input from interested parties to establish one or more COEs that will offer training and technical assistance to Medi-Cal specialty behavioral health providers and county behavioral health plans. This opportunity is to support fidelity implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs), including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis (CSC for FEP), Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of Supported Employment, Clubhouse Services, and additional EBPs for children and youth. Please review RFI #23-070 for more information about the specific functions of COEs and the included EBPs. The deadline for questions is February 14, and the deadline for responses to the RFI is March 1. Please submit your questions about this RFI to PCDRFI3@dhcs.ca.gov.
 

Join Our Team​

The following exam is open:

• Coordinator, Indian Health, among other roles, will serve as the principal professional consultant in Indian health to serve DHCS in the planning, development, implementation, coordination, operation, and evaluation of an Indian Health Program. (Final filing date is February 16)

 
Also, DHCS is hiring for our communications, human resources, auditing, health policy, information technology, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.
 

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars

California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Population Health Management (PHM) Advisory Group Meeting

On February 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., DHCS will host the PHM Advisory Group meeting. The meeting will focus on the Transitional Care Services (TCS) policy, including a summary of the TCS policy update that went into effect on January 1, 2024, for all members. PHM Advisory Group members will have the opportunity to comment on DHCS' priorities for TCS implementation in 2024, including connecting members to primary care, ensuring smooth transitions for those transitioning into or out of skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, and transitional care services for birthing individuals. Also, members will discuss how to leverage TCS to improve referring eligible individuals to Enhanced Care Management, Community Supports, and other services post-discharge. Additionally, DHCS welcomes recommendations from members on improving timely, thorough, and accurate transfer of data/information between discharging facilities, MCPs, and post-discharge providers.

Furthermore, the meeting will focus on the MCP Community Reinvestment Policy, including an overview of the quality achievement Community Reinvestment requirements, funding allocation methodology, guiding principles, use categories, and permissible Community Reinvestment activities. DHCS is in the process of finalizing a draft Community Reinvestment All Plan Letter (APL), scheduled for public comment in Quarter 2 2024. PHM Advisory Group members will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the Community Reinvestment program in advance of the APL release.

The meetings are open to the public, and meeting information and materials will be available on the CalAIM Population Health Management Initiative webpage. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the webinar to PHMSection@dhcs.ca.gov. 

CalAIM Subacute Care Facility Carve-In Virtual Office Hours

On February 14, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., DHCS will host an office hours session as part of an educational webinar series on the CalAIM subacute care facility long-term care (LTC) carve-in. The office hours provide a dedicated forum for DHCS to engage with subacute care facilities, Medi-Cal MCP representatives, and other stakeholders to address questions related to the subacute care facility carve-in policy requirements and implementation of the transition to managed care that took effect on January 1, 2024. 

Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance when registering for the office hours session or by emailing them to LTCtransition@dhcs.ca.gov. Additional details about past webinars are available on the CalAIM Subacute Care Facility LTC Carve-In transition webpage.  

PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Virtual Vendor Fair

On February 29, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., DHCS will host the first PATH TA Marketplace virtual Vendor Fair. TA Vendor Fairs are an opportunity for vendors to pitch their organization and services to potential TA recipients and encourage utilization of the TA Marketplace. TA recipients and organizations interested in learning more about the TA Marketplace, including how to apply to receive free services, are invited to attend. This is the first in a series of upcoming Vendor Fairs and will focus on presentations from vendors providing services in Domain 3 of the PATH TA Marketplace: "Engaging in CalAIM through Medi-Cal Managed Care".

In Case You Missed It

CalAIM Continuous Coverage for Children Public Comment

The 30-day public comment period for the CalAIM Section 1115 Continuous Coverage for Children amendment application is from January 12 through February 12. To ensure consideration prior to submission to CMS, comments must be received no later than 11:59 PM PST on February 12. DHCS welcomes all public comments.

DHCS is requesting to amend the CalAIM Section 1115 demonstration to include expenditure authority under Section 1115(a)(2) to receive federal matching funds to provide continuous coverage for children through the end of the month in which their 5th birthday falls, regardless of when they first enroll in Medi-Cal or the Children's Health Insurance Program and any changes in circumstances that would otherwise cause a loss of eligibility. Implementation of this policy is contingent upon a state determination of available General Fund resources in 2024-2025 and subsequent fiscal years and CMS approval. Additional information is available on the DHCS CalAIM 1115 Demonstration and 1915(b) Waiver webpage.