March 25, 2024 - Stakeholder News
Top News
Proposition 1 Continues Behavioral Health Transformation
DHCS is taking a step forward to modernize the state's behavioral health delivery system. Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) will help improve accountability, increase transparency, and expand the capacity of behavioral health care facilities for Californians. BHT is supported by the passage of Proposition 1, which:
- Evolves the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) into the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA).
- Allocates funding to provide services to those with the most serious mental health conditions and/or substance use disorder.
- Updates MHSA funding allocations by increasing support for housing interventions and workforce investments, continuing flexibility to use resources for local needs, and strengthening county oversight and fiscal accountability.
- Allocates $6.4 billion in bonds to build 11,150 new behavioral health treatment beds and supportive housing, as well as outpatient capacity to help serve tens of thousands of people annually – from intensive services for people experiencing homelessness who also have severe mental illness, to counseling for children with depression, and everyone in between, including more than $4 billion for additional Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program investments.
Please see the BHT webpage for more information.
Program Updates
Patient Choice of Telehealth Modality and Right to In-Person Services
On March 15, DHCS published updates to the Medicine: Telehealth section of the Medi-Cal Provider Manual related to two specific areas, Patient Choice of Telehealth Modality and Right to In-Person Services. DHCS made these updates to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 184 (Chapter 47, Statutes of 2022) and Assembly Bill 1241 (Chapter 172, Statutes of 2023). To help inform the policy updates, DHCS held an informational webinar in December 2023, inviting stakeholders from the Telehealth Stakeholder Advisory Workgroup to listen, ask questions, and provide written feedback on the proposed language. The stakeholder feedback collected during this process was carefully considered and incorporated, in large part, into the final policy language.
The published policy language will help to improve access, utilization, and health equity, as well as ensure an overall positive health care delivery experience for both Medi-Cal providers and members. For more information, please visit the DHCS Telehealth website.
Smile, California Campaign for Medi-Cal Dental Services
On March 25 to 27, Smile, California will participate in the Child Health Education and Care Summit in Oakland hosted by First 5 California. Attendees will include childcare providers, educators from various education systems such as higher education and K-12, personnel from First 5 county commissions, medical and public health professionals, social workers, and early intervention specialists. During the summit, Smile, California will staff an exhibitor booth to distribute oral health materials with information about Medi-Cal Dental and answer questions from attendees.
Join Our Team
DHCS has the following executive job opening:
- Chief, Health Information Management Division, will lead highly motivated teams to transform data exchange and manage critical data processes for DHCS programs, including Medi-Cal, and stakeholders. (Final filing date is March 26)
DHCS is also hiring for communications, human resources, auditing, health policy, information technology, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Coverage Ambassador Webinar
On March 28, from 11 to 11:45 a.m., DHCS will host the “Keep Your Community Covered" Coverage Ambassador webinar (advance registration required). DHCS will provide an overview of new resources, and Coverage Ambassadors will share what they are hearing and seeing in their local communities. The group will also discuss needed resources to support Medi-Cal members with keeping their coverage. Spanish interpretation will be provided.
CalAIM Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Virtual Vendor Fair: Building Data Capacity
On March 28, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., DHCS will host a virtual California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) PATH TA Marketplace Vendor Fair featuring presentations from vendors providing services in Domain 1 of the TA Marketplace: “Building Data Capacity – Data Collection, Management, Sharing, and Use."
Free TA services provided by vendors in Domain 1 are designed to help TA Recipients build knowledge and implement the systems required to effectively leverage data in their work with and on behalf of Medi-Cal members receiving Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports. Approved TA Recipients and organizations currently contracted with or planning to contract with a Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) to provide ECM/Community Supports are encouraged to attend.
CalAIM PATH TA Marketplace Final Virtual Vendor Fairs
On April 9 and 25, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., DHCS will host the final virtual CalAIM PATH TA Marketplace Vendor Fairs, where vendors pitch their organization and services to potential TA Recipients and encourage utilization of the TA Marketplace. Approved TA Recipients and organizations currently contracted with or planning to contract with a Medi-Cal MCP or other eligible entity to provide ECM/Community Supports are encouraged to attend.
The April 9 Vendor Fair features vendors providing services in Domain 2: Community Supports and Domain 7: Workforce. The April 25 Vendor Fair features vendors providing services in Domain 5: Promoting Health Equity and Domain 6: Supporting Cross-Sector Partnerships.
