March 17, 2025

Program Updates

Request for Applications: Expanding Access to Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) 

On March 24, DHCS will release the Round 3 Request for Applications (RFA) for California's eligible residential substance use disorder facilities to implement, expand, and/or improve access to MAT services. This funding will assist with start-up costs and support recruitment, mentorship, training, and other associated costs to increase provider knowledge and comfort with providing MAT through a collaborative learning opportunity. The program will run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Licensed and certified substance use disorder treatment facilities, including residential facilities, must implement and maintain a comprehensive MAT policy approved by DHCS, ensuring access to FDA-approved medications for substance use disorders. For more information, please visit the MAT Access Points Project website. 

​Join Our Team

DHCS is hiring for its financial, human resources, pharmacy, behavioral health, 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. 

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, D-SNP initiatives, and the D-SNP State Medicaid Agency Contract 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

California Launches Three-Year Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness 

On March 12, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) unveiled its 2025-2027 Statewide Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, a roadmap to address one of the state's most urgent crises. This three-year plan sets goals for the state and helps advance the state's work to strengthen accountability for local governments receiving state funds. The plan is designed to serve as a tool that Cal ICH will use to organize and assess its investments, ensuring that efforts are strategic, measurable, and aligned with a shared vision. 

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, which includes 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.