April 27, 2026
Program Updates
Medi-Cal Dental Benefit Changes
DHCS, in partnership with
Smile, California, is raising awareness about Medi-Cal Dental benefit changes taking effect on July 1, 2026. On that date, adult members aged 19 and older who currently receive full‑scope benefits, but do not meet federal immigration status requirements, will no longer receive full-scope dental benefits and will transition to emergency-only dental coverage. Some groups will still receive full dental benefits, even if they do not qualify for federally funded full‑scope Medi-Cal, including individuals under age 19, people who are pregnant, including one year postpartum, and former foster youth under age 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday.
Learn more about the changes.To support access to care, Smile, California will host Mobile Dental Van events throughout 2026. The first event was held in San Benito County on April 21–22, to be followed by additional stops in Calaveras, Del Norte, Glenn, Lassen, and Mariposa counties. These events offer no‑cost preventive services, referrals, and onsite staff to answer questions about Medi-Cal dental coverage and the July 1 changes. Families may call 1‑888‑585‑3368 to schedule an appointment, pre‑register, and complete consent forms. Additionally, partners and providers can download bilingual outreach materials from the
Medi‑Cal Dental Benefit Changes webpage and are encouraged to share the
Find‑a‑Dentist tool to help members locate care. Additional details about who is affected can be found on the
Medi-Cal Changes webpage.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:
- Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legal Services (OLS). The Deputy Chief Counsel plans, organizes, and directs the work of OLS in support of OLS operations and overall administration of DHCS programs. The Deputy Chief Counsel provides advice to the Director and Executive staff in matters involving legal policy litigation, federal policy, financial operations, and legislation. Applications must be submitted by May 12.
DHCS is also hiring for its Accounting, Health Care Financing, Quality and 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.
BrightLife Kids and Soluna Impact Webinar
On May 5, from 3 to 4 p.m. PDT, DHCS will hold a webinar, “Early Support, Big Impact on Mental Health: BrightLife Kids and Soluna in Action," hosted by Darrell Steinberg. The webinar will discuss user experiences with BrightLife Kids and Soluna and highlight the 2025 BrightLife Kids and Soluna Impact Report. Since launching in January 2024, the platforms have reached more than 500,000 users across all 58 counties, delivering more than 112,000 coaching sessions. Early data show the platforms are advancing equity, with most users coming from communities with the greatest social and health inequities. For questions, please email CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov.
Expanding Access to Care for Justice-Involved Youth
On May 7, from 3 to 4 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a webinar focusing on how the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative are reducing barriers to care for youth with justice involvement. DHCS will provide an overview of these initiatives, new benefits for services delivered by peer support specialists, community health workers, and certified wellness coaches, and resources available to improve care and access for individuals reentering communities. Kindful Restoration, a community provider, will also share about the work they're doing in the Inland Empire and how these services are benefiting youth involved with the justice system.
Coverage Ambassador Webinar Series
On May 27, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a Coverage Ambassador webinar to provide an overview of the Birthing Care Pathway (advance registration required). Spanish translation and live captions will be available. Coverage Ambassadors should also check their email to participate in DHCS' Coverage Ambassador Annual Survey, which is open until April 30. Coverage Ambassadors are trusted messengers who help raise awareness about Medi-Cal benefits, enrollment opportunities, and new initiatives aimed at building a healthier California for all. Visit the Coverage Ambassador website for more information, including how to subscribe to receive regular updates, newsletters, and webinar reminders.
In Case You Missed It
Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual Performance and Health Equity Measures: Public Comment Period
On April 20, DHCS opened the public comment period for proposed Behavioral Health Transformation performance and health equity measures for the county behavioral health and managed care plans (MCP). Developed with input from the public and experts, including the Quality and Equity Advisory Committee, these performance and health equity measures will supplement the performance measures finalized in the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Policy Manual in April and replace the initial set of broad, population-level indicators. Counties and MCPs can use these measures, which provide detailed data tied to statewide goals like reducing homelessness, institutionalization, and justice involvement, to tailor interventions, monitor outcomes, and ensure accountability, leading to smarter planning, greater transparency, and more equitable results. Please see the proposed performance and health equity measures. To submit comments, email BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov with the subject line, “Feedback on Performance and Health Equity Measures" by May 8 at 4 p.m. PDT.
