March 30, 2026
Top News
Birthing Care Pathway: One Year Later
On March 27, DHCS announced the one-year anniversary of the
Birthing Care Pathway Report, which outlines 42 policy solutions designed to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members. So far, 28 policies have already been completed, including removing administrative barriers for midwives and doulas, issuing statewide doula guidance, launching the
Doula Directory, strengthening behavioral health treatment guidance, and increasing provider reimbursement for maternity care. The remaining 14 recommendations are still in progress, including the development of a joint agency letter that will strengthen statewide expectations for referrals to and use of home visiting programs for pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members, created through a collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, California Department of Social Services, and First 5 California.
Explore the year-one accomplishments to see how the Birthing Care Pathway is transforming care for families across California.
Program Updates
New Application Types Added to the Behavioral Health Licensing and Certification Portal
On March 30, DHCS expanded the
Behavioral Health Licensing and Certification Portal to accept amendment applications, making all four substance use disorder licensing and certification application types available online:
- Initial applications (for first-time licensure or certification).
- Renewal applications (within 150 days of expiration).
- Level of care designations (to ensure facilities deliver services at the appropriate levels).
- Amendment applications (new in March 2026), allowing providers to update information on an existing license or certification.
This upgrade modernizes and simplifies the licensing and certification process for both new and current providers, ensuring faster, more transparent application review and enabling facilities to update or amend licenses or request the appropriate level of care designation as their programs evolve. Substance use disorder providers should log in to verify or create their profile and begin submitting applications. This milestone supports the Mental Health for All initiative, advances goals under the Behavioral Health Services Act, and strengthens statewide capacity efforts, such as the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program.Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring for its Civil Rights, Investigations, 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 its
Calendar of Events. DHCS provides free assistive services, including language interpretation, real-time captioning, and meeting materials in alternate formatting. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.
Real Time Behavioral Health Data Sharing: New Policy Guidance and Upcoming Webinar
On March 16, DHCS issued new guidance to strengthen real time behavioral health data sharing across Medi-Cal programs.
Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 26-013 outlines real time data sharing requirements for Behavioral Health Plans (BHP) and Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) counties. Paired with
All Plan Letter (APL) 26-004, which establishes corresponding guidance for Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP), this guidance provides updated and clarified responsibilities for counties and plans to support secure, real-time exchange of physical and behavioral health information among Medi-Cal partners to facilitate timely care coordination.
To support implementation, on April 2 at 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host an
All-Comer Webinar introducing the BHIN and APL, outlining requirements for MCPs, BHPs, and DMC counties. The session will cover key policy expectations, explain how these updates advance care coordination, and allow time for stakeholder questions. Please email any questions about the webinar to
DHCSDataSharing@dhcs.ca.gov.
Smile, California Mobile Dental Van Events
On April 6 and 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT,
Smile, California will host mobile dental van events in Siskiyou County to provide free dental services. The van will be located at 810 South Main Street in Yreka.
Smile, California is DHCS' Medi-Cal Dental education and outreach campaign designed to help more than 14 million members access and use their dental benefits, including free check-ups and treatments.
Smile, California will support the event with a flyer and social media posts to promote event awareness and encourage community members to schedule appointments in advance.
Comprehensive Intrauterine Device (IUD) and Contraceptive Implant Training
On April 9 and 10, 2026, DHCS' Office of Family Planning (OFP) will host an in-person Comprehensive IUD and Contraceptive Implant Training, which includes updates on current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. Conducted since 2018, this semi-annual provider training is designed for both new and experienced providers who want to build or refine their skills in IUD and implant placement and removal. The training includes hands-on practice with pelvic models and computer simulators, as well as proctoring by family planning experts. Advanced topics include management of side effects, tips for difficult contraceptive implant placements, pain management principles for office procedures, and complication prevention and management. To register, please see the OFP IUD & Implant Training webpage.
CalAIM Best Practices and Sustainability Toolkits
On April 17, from 10 to 11 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host a public webinar, “Accelerating Improvement with the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Collaborative Planning and Implementation (CPI) Best Practices and Sustainability Toolkits" (advance registration required). The webinar will introduce the CalAIM Best Practices and Sustainability Toolkits; demonstrate how these toolkits can strengthen partnerships, workflows, and referral networks; and outline clear, actionable steps that organizations can take to support long-term sustainability after Providing Access and Transforming Health ends. Guest speakers include Camden Coalition, BluePath Health, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and HC2 Strategies. Learn more by visiting the CPI webpage, and submit questions to collaborative@ca-path.com.
