February 17, 2026
Top News
CalAIM 115 Demonstration Public Comment Period
On February 10, DHCS opened 30-day public and Tribal comment periods on its five-year renewal application for the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Section 1115 demonstration, which is set to expire on December 31, 2026. The proposed renewal builds on CalAIM's core principles of person-centered care and integration of physical, behavioral, and social services to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities. It reflects DHCS' commitment to creating a Medi-Cal system that goes beyond the doctor's office or hospital to address members' physical and mental health needs. The public and Tribal comment periods will remain open until 11:59 p.m. PDT on March 12, 2026. DHCS will also host two public hearings to gather stakeholder input. Registration links and additional materials for the hearings are available on the
DHCS CalAIM 1115 Demonstration and 1915(b) Waiver webpage.
Program Updates
Bilingual Medi-Cal Dental Outreach Campaign/Mobile Dental Van Events
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, an annual observance promoting the benefits of establishing good oral health early in life. DHCS is coordinating a bilingual
Smile, California campaign and created a digital toolkit to help partners amplify this message statewide. The toolkit includes ready-to-use social media graphics, videos, printable flyers and posters, coloring sheets, presentation slides, and the new bilingual storybook,
Jasmín Goes to the Dentist. Partners can download these resources and explore co-branding opportunities at
smilecalifornia.org.
Additionally, on February 23 and 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, mobile dental van events will be held in Calaveras County to provide free dental services. The van will be located at 1299 Gold Hunter Road in San Andreas.
Smile, California will support the event with a custom flyer and social media posts. Visitors are encouraged to call 1-888-585-3368 to pre-register and complete the consent forms before the event.
Online Medi-Cal Hospice Program Attestation Form Requirement
Effective March 2, DHCS will require all hospice providers to use the online
Medi-Cal Hospice Program Attestation Form to notify DHCS when a Medi-Cal fee-for-service member elects hospice services. Paper or emailed submissions will no longer be accepted. Providers must submit the online form within five calendar days of the member's election, in conjunction with counseling, informed consent, and completion of the Medi-Cal Hospice Program Election Notice form (
DHCS 8052), which must be retained in the member's medical record for audits. Submission of the attestation form is mandatory for payment eligibility, but does not guarantee reimbursement; claims will process only after DHCS validates the information and applies the hospice indicator (900 code). This requirement applies exclusively to Medi-Cal fee-for-service members; for managed care members, providers must follow their assigned managed care plan's submission requirements, including,
[TS1] [SP2] but not limited to, the submission of a Medi-Cal Hospice Program Election Notice as required by
All Plan Letter 25-008. Providers should retain DHCS' email confirmation as proof of timely filing. For questions, visit the
DHCS Hospice Care webpage or email
MCHospiceClerk@dhcs.ca.gov.
Paper-Based Application Process When Provider Online Enrollment System Is Unavailable
Effective April 1, if the online Medi-Cal provider enrollment application system experiences a system-wide outage or service disruption, providers must submit all enrollment applications, enrollment updates, and supplemental changes using paper forms. During such outages, these paper forms will serve as the official and legally required method for completing the Medi-Cal provider enrollment process. This direction supplements all previously issued bulletins requiring exclusive use of the online Medi-Cal enrollment application system. DHCS will continue to mandate electronic submission through the online system as the standard process.
On February 24, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PST, DHCS will hold a
public stakeholder hearing via webinar (advance registration required) to discuss the draft regulatory provider bulletin titled, “
Paper-Based Application Process for Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment When Online System Is Unavailable." Written comments, questions, or suggestions regarding updates to the bulletin may be submitted during the hearing in the webinar chat. For those unable to attend, written comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. PST on February 24 to be considered for publication. When submitting written comments, please ensure that the commenter and the organization or association being represented are both identified in the comments. Written comments should be submitted to
DHCSPEDStakeholder@dhcs.ca.gov. Based on the public comments received, DHCS will publish the final bulletin on the
Medi-Cal Providers and
DHCS Provider Enrollment Division websites.
Renewal of 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Self-Determination Program Waiver
DHCS is seeking input from members, providers, and other stakeholders on the renewal application for the
Medi-Cal 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Self-Determination Waiver. The proposed renewal, administered by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), would extend the waiver for five years, from July 2026 through June 2031. Under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, individuals with developmental disabilities are entitled to services and supports tailored to their needs and choices. DDS administers these services under DHCS oversight; DHCS is the State Medicaid agency that ensures compliance with Medicaid law and the approved waiver application.
The Self-Determination Program (SDP) offers participants and their families greater freedom and flexibility in person-centered planning, control over an individual budget, and the ability to select services and supports that best meet their needs. SDP helps individuals achieve objectives in their Individual Program Plan (IPP) while promoting independence and community integration. Additional information is available on the
DDS website.
DHCS intends to submit the renewal application to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by March 30, with an effective date of July 1, 2026. A
copy of the proposed waiver amendment was posted on February 6. Copies may also be requested by mail (Department of Developmental Services, Attn: Jonathan Hill, 1215 O Street MS 7-40, Sacramento, CA 95814) or email (
Federal.Programs@dds.ca.gov; please include “SDP Waiver" in the subject line). To ensure consideration before CMS submission, comments must be received by March 8. Comments received after this date will still be accepted, but may not be reviewed prior to the initial submission.
Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring for its Accounting, Provider Enrollment, Managed Care, 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 meeting materials in alternate formatting. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.
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, DHCS 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. Presenters will discuss how to support autonomy and informed decision-making within the context of clinical, ethical, and policy considerations. Participants will gain insight into current evidence, communication approaches, and referral pathways that promote equitable access to sterilization and related reproductive health services. For those unable to attend the live webinar, a transcript and recording, along with additional resources, will be available at a later date on the
Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment) website.
Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative: Upcoming Live Training Webinars
Medi-Cal is offering a live Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative Overview. This course introduces the
Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and outlines its purpose and structure. Attendees will learn about 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, attendees 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.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting
On February 25, 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 1501 Capitol Avenue (First Floor Conference Room 71.1316), Sacramento, CA 95814. SAC provides DHCS with valuable input and feedback on efforts to provide equitable access to quality health care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input on behavioral health initiatives and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. Updates will be provided on H.R. 1, the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, and Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) policy and implementation. The meeting will also serve as a CalAIM Section 1115 waiver renewal public hearing. The agenda and other meeting materials will be
posted as the meeting date approaches. For more information, please email
SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or
BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov.
Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting
On March 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly MCHAP meeting at 1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814, in the first floor conference room (71.1316) or via
public webinar. MCHAP advises DHCS on policy and operational issues that affect children in Medi-Cal. For more information, please see the
MCHAP webpage or email
MCHAP@dhcs.ca.gov.
Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council Meeting
On March 18, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council meeting via
public webinar. The Voices and Vision Council is a unique space where Medi-Cal members, Medi-Cal health plans, providers, community-based organizations, and state/county partners come together to provide direct input to the DHCS leadership team. For more information, please visit the
Voices and Vision Council webpage or email
VoicesandVisionCouncil@dhcs.ca.gov.
In Case You Missed It
Medi-Cal 1915(i) Home and Community-Based Services State Plan Amendment
DHCS is seeking input from members, providers, and other interested stakeholders regarding the renewal application for the Medi-Cal 1915(i) Home and Community-Based Services State Plan Amendment (SPA 26-0009). DDS intends to renew the SPA for a five-year period (October 2026 through September 2031). The renewal presents rate changes and new methodologies, provider types, and services from SPA 25-0040, which is pending CMS approval. The state anticipates that SPA 25-0040 will be approved by CMS prior to the approval of SPA 26-0009. Written comments may be emailed to Federal.Programs@dds.ca.gov or PublicInput@dhcs.ca.gov. Please indicate SPA 26-0009 in the subject line or message. Comments must be received no later than March 4. Please note that comments will continue to be accepted after March 4, but DHCS may not be able to consider those comments prior to the initial submission of SPA 26-0009 to CMS.
