March 10, 2025

Top News

Community Supports in California Remain Unaffected

DHCS partners may have seen recent updates from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the rescission of previous guidance on health-related social needs (HRSN). This guidance outlined pathways for states to incorporate services addressing HRSNs, such as housing supports and nutrition services, into Medicaid programs. This action has raised concerns about the potential impact on programs like Medi-Cal's Community Supports, which provide critical services to address non-medical factors influencing health. 

CMS confirmed that existing approvals, including California's 1115 waivers supporting Community Supports, remain unaffected. California supports Medi-Cal members having access to essential services that address HRSNs. DHCS will continue the ongoing implementation and delivery of all California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) and Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) services. DHCS, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and Medi-Cal providers will continue to provide Community Supports to address Medi-Cal members' HRSNs, help them live healthier lives, and avoid higher, costlier levels of care. 

​Program Updates

Updated CalAIM Medi-Cal Transformation Dashboard 

On March 7, DHCS refreshed the CalAIM Medi-Cal Transformation Dashboard. This latest release includes data refreshes for all CalAIM dashboard initiatives and enhancements to the Population Health Management dashboard. Through a series of initiatives and reforms, DHCS is advancing and innovating Medi-Cal to create a more coordinated, person-centered, and equitable health system that works for all Californians. Medi-Cal members have access to new and improved services to receive well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor's office or hospital and addresses all physical and mental health needs.  

As outlined in its Comprehensive Quality Strategy, DHCS is committed to data-driven improvement, transparency, and accountability to help Medi-Cal members, providers, partners, advocates, and our policy teams understand the progress of these initiatives and their impact on improving quality and reducing health disparities. This dashboard will be improved over time and expanded to include new information as data become available. Please email your questions to CalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov. 

​Join Our Team

DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as: 

• Chief, Program Support Division (PSD). The Chief of PSD leads all aspects of DHCS' business support services, including 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 financial, managed care, quality and population health management, information technology, 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. 

CHCF Briefing on CalAIM Housing Trio 

On March 12, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT, Susan Philip, Deputy Director for DHCS' Health Care Delivery Systems, will participate in a briefing held by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) on the CalAIM housing Community Supports: housing transition navigation services, housing deposits, and housing tenancy and sustaining services, collectively known as the housing trio. Advance registration is required for in-person (DHCS Auditorium, 1500 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento) or virtual participation. The briefing will cover the importance of these services in helping people move from homelessness to housing. CHCF will also moderate a discussion about the role Medi-Cal is playing in California's homelessness response and how that role can be strengthened and improved through critical partnerships across the health, homelessness, and housing sectors. 

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 virtual attendance (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. Please email questions or comments to MCHAP@dhcs.ca.gov. 

Doula Stakeholder Implementation Workgroup Meeting 

On March 14, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the Doula Stakeholder Implementation Workgroup meeting to assess the implementation of the Medi-Cal doula benefit and discuss recommendations, in accordance with Senate Bill 65 (Chapter 449, Statutes of 2021) and Welfare and Institutions Code section 14132.24. Stakeholders who are part of the workgroup may speak during public stakeholder meetings. Others are welcome to listen to meetings as attendees, comment using the chat function, and submit written comments. Stakeholders may also email written comments to DoulaBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov. For more information, including how to register for the workgroup meeting, please see the Doula Implementation Stakeholder Workgroup webpage. 

Contraception is Health Care Webinar  

On March 19, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS and the California Prevention Training Center will host the Contraception is Health Care webinar (advance registration required). This webinar explains why contraception is a vital component of health care for clients and their families. During the webinar, providers will learn how to proactively address contraception stigma and misinformation and how to advocate for contraceptive access among colleagues, clients, and the community. For providers unable to attend the live webinar, a transcript and recording of the webinar will be available on the Family PACT website at a later date. 

Coverage Ambassador Webinar    

On March 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a Coverage Ambassador webinar (advance registration required) to provide information about health care options and updates to Medi-Cal. Coverage Ambassadors help spread the word about Medi-Cal benefits, enrollment information, and new projects focused on creating a healthy California for all. Please visit the Coverage Ambassador website for more information, or subscribe to become a Coverage Ambassador and receive regular updates. 

Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Duals Integration Workgroup meeting 

On March 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup meeting (advance registration required). The workgroup is a stakeholder collaboration hub for CalAIM MLTSS and integrated care for dual eligible members. It allows stakeholders to provide feedback and share information about policy, operations, and strategy for upcoming changes to Medi-Cal and Medicare. The meeting agenda includes updates on Medicare enrollment data for dual eligible members, the Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) Dashboard, DHCS' D-SNP initiatives, and the D-SNP State Medicaid Agency Contract (SMAC) and Policy Guide. It also includes data updates on Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports for dual eligibles and a Community Supports service spotlight presentation on select service definition updates. 

More information, background materials, transcripts, and video recordings of previous workgroup meetings are posted on the CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup webpage. For questions or comments, please email DHCS at info@calduals.org.  

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinar for Medical Providers and Hearing Professionals 

On March 27, from 12 to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly HACCP webinar for medical providers and hearing professionals. For more information and to register, please visit DHCS' HACCP webpage. Registration information will be posted as the webinar date approaches. 

​In Case You Missed It

Expanding Mental Health Care in Los Angeles County 

DHCS and Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center recently broke ground on Gateways' youth expansion project in Los Angeles County. The project, funded by Round 4 of DHCS' Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), will focus on youth with serious emotional or behavioral problems experiencing an acute psychiatric emergency. DHCS awarded Gateways more than $19 million through BHCIP, which is part of California's ongoing commitment to expand behavioral health services for all Californians. With the passage of Proposition 1, even more behavioral health treatment facilities will be funded and built in 2025 and 2026. 

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 CDPH to an individual who has exhibited outstanding leadership and accomplishments in California public health. 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. 

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. 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.