February 24, 2025
Top News
DHCS Releases Final Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual Module 1
On February 19, DHCS released the final version of the
Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual Module 1, which incorporates feedback received through public listening sessions, comments, and engagement forums. The manual is being released in multiple phases called “modules." Once completed, it will be a comprehensive guide for counties, behavioral health providers, Tribal leaders, individuals with lived experience, and other behavioral health stakeholders to implement the requirements detailed in the Behavioral Health Services Act, a component of Proposition 1, which was passed by California voters in March 2024 to support statewide reform and expansion of California's behavioral health system.
The manual is being released on a new web-based, easily searchable digital platform, setting a new standard for how policy guidance can be shared, reviewed, and updated—eventually replacing the need for plans and providers implementing the Behavioral Health Services Act to track the release of individual Behavioral Health Information Notices. For specific questions about the manual, please email
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov. For specific public comment-related inquiries, please email
BHTPolicyFeedback@dhcs.ca.gov.
Program Updates
Beverlee A. Myers Award for Excellence in Public Health
Nominations for the 2025 Beverlee A. Myers Award for Excellence in Public Health are now open. The award is the highest honor presented annually by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to an individual not currently working at CDPH who has exhibited outstanding leadership and accomplishments in California public health. The award will be presented to the public health professional who best embodies the following characteristics: exemplifies dedication and accomplishment in improving the health status of Californians; demonstrates leadership and collaboration within the public health and health service delivery communities; uses creative methods to promote essential public health services; and is sensitive to addressing the needs of special populations and reducing disparities in health outcomes.
The 2025 award recipient will be recognized and invited to speak at a special in-person awards ceremony in Sacramento scheduled for May 8. Please complete and submit the
nomination form by March 21. Please email your questions to Michael Marks at
commsinternal@cdph.ca.gov.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking talented and motivated individuals to serve as:
- Chief, Health Information Management Division (HIMD). The Chief of HIMD is responsible for the collection and exchange of data between DHCS and external stakeholders and for ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state standards and regulations. The Chief of HIMD also leads the development of policy and data presentation processes using business intelligence tools that support key policy initiatives, such as California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal and Home and Community-Based Services. Applications must be submitted by February 27.
- Chief, Procurement and Contracting Division (PCD). The Chief of PCD leads all aspects of procurement and contracting activities for DHCS and provides strategic support, expert guidance, and solutions for DHCS' procurement and contracting needs. The Chief of PCD is also designated as DHCS' Procurement and Contracting Officer (PCO). As the PCO, the Chief of PCD is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including applicable appropriations and executive orders. Applications must be submitted by February 28.
- Chief, Program Support Division (PSD). The Chief of PSD leads all aspects of DHCS' business support services, including, but not limited to, the management of DHCS facilities, assets, fleet, forms, and records, as well as health and safety and emergency response activities. Additionally, the Chief of PSD is responsible for developing and implementing business support-related policies and procedures under the division's purview and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and rules. Applications must be submitted by March 12.
DHCS is also hiring for its accounting, financial, quality and population health management, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
DHCS posts upcoming public meetings on the
Calendar of Events.
California Opioid Settlements Annual Expenditures Report Meeting
On February 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a
virtual public meeting to discuss the California Opioid Settlements Annual Expenditures Report for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 (advance registration required). The statewide report will be published on the DHCS California Opioid Settlements
webpage and offers an overview of opioid settlement and bankruptcy payments and expenditures for SFY 2022-23. Beginning in 2023, DHCS received reported expenditure data regarding opioid settlement-funded projects by California and its participating cities and counties. The purpose of the meeting is to review the annual report, provide a high-level review of allowable expenditures under the opioid settlement and bankruptcy agreements, offer details on how funds were appropriated to California state projects, and summarize how funds were spent on local initiatives by cities and counties in SFY 2022-23.
Medi-Cal Dental Stakeholder Meeting
On February 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the
Medi-Cal Dental statewide stakeholder meeting. DHCS will share updates and information about new and upcoming activities. The meeting also provides dental stakeholders with a forum to share input with the Medi-Cal Dental team that can help improve the delivery of oral health care services. Materials will be posted on the
Medi-Cal Dental Statewide Stakeholder Meeting webpage prior to the meeting. Please email your questions to
dental@dhcs.ca.gov.
Birthing Care Pathway Webinar
On March 4, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a
webinar on the
Birthing Care Pathway (advance registration required). On February 4, DHCS
released the
Birthing Care Pathway Report, which includes a series of policy solutions DHCS has implemented/is implementing for the Birthing Care Pathway, shares progress to date, and identifies strategic opportunities for further exploration. The Birthing Care Pathway aims to address the physical, behavioral, and health-related social needs of pregnant and postpartum members by improving access to providers, strengthening clinical care and care coordination across the care continuum, providing whole-person care, and modernizing how Medi-Cal pays for maternity care.
During the webinar, attendees will hear from DHCS leaders about the goals of the Birthing Care Pathway, a comprehensive overview of the policies DHCS is implementing, a summary of strategic opportunities for further exploration, and how the
Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model will complement and bolster DHCS' work to strengthen California's health care delivery system, improve maternal health outcomes, and reduce disparities. Please email
BirthingCarePathway@dhcs.ca.gov with any questions.
Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting
On March 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly MCHAP meeting at 1700 K Street (first-floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento, and via
public webinar (advance registration required for online and in-person participation). MCHAP advises DHCS on policy and operational issues that affect children in Medi-Cal. The meeting will provide updates on the Birthing Care Pathway and DHCS Pediatric Dashboard. It will also include a presentation by Alex Briscoe from the California Children's Trust about the unprecedented reforms impacting Medicaid and youth mental health systems change. Please email questions or comments to
MCHAP@dhcs.ca.gov.
In Case You Missed It
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care Capacity Expands in Los Angeles County
On February 7, DHCS and CRI-Help
announced the grand opening of the SUD Crisis Management Hub: A Fully Integrated Behavioral Health Campus project in Los Angeles County. The site includes an adult residential SUD treatment facility, an intensive outpatient treatment SUD facility, and a sobering center. These combined facilities are projected to serve more than 2,500 individuals annually. The SUD Crisis Management Hub project was funded by Round 5 of DHCS'
Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). DHCS awarded CRI-Help more than $21 million through BHCIP, which is part of California's ongoing commitment to expand behavioral health services for all Californians.
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, including funding opportunities to support the implementation of the new Transitional Rent Community Support. 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. All organizations providing the Transitional Rent Community Support must do so in partnership with their county behavioral health department. To demonstrate this partnership, all CITED applicants planning to request funding to support the Transitional Rent Community Support must also submit a
Letter of Support in collaboration with the county behavioral health department.
The deadline to apply for PATH CITED Round 4 funding is 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 2, 2025. The guidance document and application are available on the PATH CITED webpage. Please send any questions to cited@ca-path.com.
