​March 1, 2024 - Stakeholder Update

NOTE: Beginning Monday, March 11, DHCS will issue the weekly stakeholder update on Monday mornings (not Friday evenings).

Top News

National Doula Learning and Action Collaborative

On February 27, René Mollow, MSN, RN, Deputy Director of Health Care Benefits and Eligibility, represented DHCS as a member of the National Advisory Committee for the planning phase of the Institute for Medicaid Innovation's (IMI) new project, the National Doula Learning and Action Collaborative. She was invited to participate following her involvement in last year's IMI learning series about doulas and perinatal community health workers. Through her participation, Medi-Cal's work has been a great example for programs across the country to follow.

The planning phase for this learning collaborative, funded by the Pritzker Children's Initiative, will launch an intensive three-year national learning collaborative that will provide structured support, resources, and guidance for state-based teams to increase access to and coverage of doula services for birthing people of color with Medicaid coverage.
 

Program Updates

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Updated Policy Guide

DHCS released an updated ECM Policy Guide in February. This version includes updated policies on dual enrollment in ECM and county-based targeted case management; continuity of care policy changes for Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) members enrolled in a non-exclusively aligned enrollment Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan who were authorized to receive ECM at the end of 2023; the October 2023 Policy and Operational Guide for Planning and Implementing the CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative; and requirements clarifying that MCPs may not require or allow providers to report codes or modifiers for ECM and Community Supports services beyond those included in the ECM and Community Supports Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System coding guidance.​ ​

COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program Evaluation Report

On February 26, DHCS posted the COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program Evaluation Report, which covers the program period of August 29, 2021, through March 6, 2022. The report shows changes in COVID-19 vaccination rates for Medi-Cal members statewide and by MCP across 10 outcome measures. The COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program was a $350 million incentive payment program in which MCPs were eligible to earn incentive payments for activities designed to improve vaccination rates among their enrolled members. All 25 MCPs in California participated.
 

Join Our Team

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

CalAIM Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Virtual Vendor Fair 

On March 12, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., DHCS will host a virtual California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) PATH TA Marketplace Vendor Fair that will feature presentations from vendors providing services in Domain 4 of the PATH TA Marketplace: "Strengthening Care for ECM Populations of Focus."

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. Visit the PATH TA Marketplace to register and learn more about future Vendor Fairs.    

Additional upcoming TA Vendor Fairs include the Building Data Capacity Vendor Fair on March 28, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., and the Community Supports and Workforce Vendor Fair on April 9, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinar

On March 13, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., DHCS will host a HACCP webinar (advance registration required) to share guidance with families and community partners about applying for hearing aid coverage and maximizing HACCP benefits once enrolled. DHCS welcomes interested families, families currently participating in HACCP, and community partners to join this webinar for program updates, tips, and a question-and-answer session. For more information, please visit the HACCP webpage.

​CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup

On March 15 at 10 a.m., DHCS will hold the virtual CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup to provide updates on the Recovery Incentives Program and the California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT). Workgroup members can provide feedback on implementation and operational considerations. The meeting is open to members of the public, who may comment at the end of the meeting. Please email your questions to BHCalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov.