through the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready awards. This
is funding 124 projects across 42 counties to create or expand 214 behavioral health facilities across California. This investment will result in 5,077 new residential treatment beds and 21,882 new outpatient slots for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, bringing essential behavioral health services closer to the Californians who need them most.
Backed by California voters through Proposition 1, this funding is a critical step in building a more responsive, community-based behavioral health system that brings treatment closer to communities, reduces emergency room visits, expands local access to care, and supports Californians in crisis. For more information, visit the
.
On May 7, DHCS announced the
Flexible Housing Subsidy Pools (“Flex Pools") RFA. DHCS will select up to 10 local teams to participate in the Flex Pools TA Academy and receive Flex Pools planning grants of approximately $150,000. The launch of
Medi-Cal Transitional Rent and
Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Housing Interventions creates an unprecedented opportunity to help people achieve better health outcomes through housing stability.
Flex Pools are intended to help counties and Tribal entities improve housing stability for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. They are a locally designed model to coordinate rental assistance and make the best use of available housing supports, aligning the work of managed care plans, county behavioral health agencies, and other key partners in the homeless services and rehousing systems. This RFA invites applicants for two interrelated opportunities in support of Flex Pools:
- The Flexible Housing Subsidy Pools Technical Assistance Academy (“Flex Pools Academy"), which will offer free, tailored technical assistance (TA) to local teams with an emphasis on successfully operationalizing the forthcoming BHSA Housing Interventions and Transitional Rent Behavioral Health Population of Focus. Recipient teams will begin staggered in 2025-26, and the Academy will run through spring 2027.
- Up to ten Flex Pools Planning Grants of approximately $150,000 each for county behavioral health agencies or Tribal entities that are part of a TA recipient team applying for the Flex Pools Academy. These planning grants will be funded through Behavioral Health Bridge Housing authority. Planning grants will be awarded to successful applicants in a single round in summer 2025.
Applications are due to DHCS by 5 p.m. PDT on June 13, 2025. Organizations selected for both opportunities will be notified in July 2025. To learn more and apply, please visit the
DHCS Housing for Health website.
HCBA Waiver Amendment Application – 30-Day Public Comment Period
On May 12, DHCS posted a draft of the 2025
Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver amendment for a 30-day public comment period, prior to submitting the final version to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for reauthorization. The HCBA waiver allows eligible enrollees to receive approved services via the telehealth delivery system. Proposed changes in the waiver amendment include:
- Clarifying guidance and expectations for telehealth services.
- Removing the Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled–Continuous Nursing (ICF/DD-CN) non-vent and vent-dependent benefit and settings, as they are being transitioned to the Medicaid State Plan as long-term care benefits.
This transition advances California's efforts to comply with the federal Medicaid
Home and Community-Based Settings (HCBS) Final Rule by reinforcing the delivery of services in integrated, community-based settings that support individual choice and autonomy.
All comments must be received by June 12, 2025. DHCS invites all interested parties to review the amendments and comment instructions on the
DHCS HCBA Waiver webpage under the HCBA Waiver Amendment Application – 30-Day Public Comment from May 12, 2025 – June 12, 2025 heading. If you have any questions, please email
hcbspolicy@dhcs.ca.gov.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:
- Chief, Capitated Rates Development Division. The Chief leads rate-setting activities for Medi-Cal managed care plans and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly organizations. Activities include implementing actuarial methods for establishing capitation rates and overseeing the development and implementation of policies and protocols for reimbursements. Additionally, the Chief ensures financial methodologies are consistent with the efficient delivery of quality health care and comply with state and federal laws, regulations, and rules. Applications must be submitted by May 30.
DHCS is hiring for its accounting, 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. DHCS provides free assistive services, including language interpretation, real-time captioning, and alternate formatting of meeting materials. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.
DHCS Releases Updated Community Supports Policy Guide – Volumes 1 and 2
On April 30, DHCS released an updated Community Supports Policy Guide, reorganized into two volumes to provide clearer and more targeted guidance.
Volume 1 includes updated service definitions for eight Community Supports that address members' health-related social needs, including Medically Tailored Meals/Medically Supportive Food, Asthma Remediation, and Transitions from Assisted Living Facilities or Institutional Settings.
Volume 2 focuses on housing-related Community Supports, including the new Transitional Rent benefit, and provides guidance on services designed to support members experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Transitional Rent will be optional for managed care plans to offer starting on July 1, 2025, and will become the first mandatory Community Support on January 1, 2026.
To support implementation, DHCS will host two informational webinars:
The updates reflect extensive feedback from managed care plans, providers, and other stakeholders, in alignment with the
Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Action Plan. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the updated guides and register for the webinars. For more information, please see the
Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports webpage and the new DHCS
Housing for Health webpage.
Proposition 35: Protect Access to Health Care Act-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)
On May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will hold the next
Protect Access to Health Care Act-SAC meeting. This committee is responsible for advising DHCS on developing and implementing components of the Protect Access to Health Care Act of 2024 (Proposition 35). The meeting will present the Administration's plan for the investment of Proposition 35 revenue for calendar years 2025 and 2026. Meeting materials will be posted as the meeting date nears. Please see the
Protect Access to Health Care Act-SAC webpage for more information about the meeting. For general inquiries, please email
DHCSPAHCA@dhcs.ca.gov.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting
On May 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the hybrid
SAC/BH-SAC meeting (advance registration required for online and in-person participation) at 1700 K Street (first-floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento. SAC provides DHCS with valuable input and feedback on efforts to provide equitable access to quality health care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input on behavioral health initiatives and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. The agenda and other meeting materials will be
posted as the meeting date approaches. For more information, please email
SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or
BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov.
Coverage Ambassador Webinar Series: Birthing Care Pathway
On May 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will hold a Coverage Ambassador webinar that will focus on DHCS' Birthing Care Pathway initiative (advance registration required). The webinar will provide information about maternity services for pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members from conception through 12 months postpartum and review highlights from the Birthing Care Pathway Report released on February 4. This initiative helps to ensure Medi-Cal members have access to high-quality, equitable care to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities. Coverage Ambassadors will also learn about DHCS' social media platforms, which offer up-to-date information on relevant topics that can benefit both Coverage Ambassadors and Medi-Cal members. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish will be offered during the webinar.
