DHCS released the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1 (2024): Launch Ready and Round 2 (2025): Unmet Needs program update. Round 1 funding will total up to $3.3 billion for behavioral health treatment facilities. The Request for Application (RFA) for Round 1 will be posted in summer 2024, applications will be due in fall 2024, and awards will be made in early 2025. Additionally, DHCS released the Behavioral Health Transformation implementation timeline.
Prospective Bond BHCIP applicants are encouraged to review the program update, which outlines eligibility considerations, qualifying facility types, funding parameters, and match requirements, before the RFA is released. Virtual webinars and learning collaboratives will be held to assist with application preparation.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking highly-skilled, exceptionally motivated individuals to serve as:
- Chief of Medi-Cal Enterprise Systems Modernization to lead all information technology (IT) management and policy-related activities for the division, including using agile methodologies/frameworks to ensure projects and assignments meet customer needs through the delivery of IT products. (Final Filing Date: June 4)
- Chief of Information Technology Strategy Services to lead the development, implementation, and management of IT-related strategy, policies, and planning in enterprise system architecture, governance, project portfolio and delivery management, and administration activities. (Final Filing Date: June 4)
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
Children's Presumptive Eligibility (CPE) and Newborn Gateway Portals
On May 29 at 10 a.m. and June 6 at 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host CPE and newborn gateway portal overview trainings. Registration for these trainings is available through the Medi‑Cal Learning Portal, where recorded trainings will be available.
Effective July 1, DHCS will launch provider online portals to improve access to coverage and care for new families. Through CPE, providers may grant temporary, full scope coverage to eligible applicants through an online portal. This portal replaces the Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) gateway portal. The newborn gateway portal is for reporting the birth of a baby with linkage to Medi-Cal and the Medi-Cal Access Infant Program within 72 hours after birth or 24 hours after discharge, whichever is sooner.
For the CPE portal, all providers seeking to participate must complete training to become familiar with the updated portals and reporting requirements. For the newborn gateway portal, all qualified presumptive eligibility providers are required to use this portal to report infants born to Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal Access Program members in their facilities, including hospitals, birthing centers, and other birthing settings.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting
On May 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will convene the SAC/BH-SAC hybrid meeting (advance registration required). The meeting will include an update on Proposition 1 implementation.
SAC provides DHCS with valuable input on ongoing California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) implementation efforts and helps DHCS further its efforts to provide high-quality, equitable care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input regarding behavioral health activities. It was created as part of the ongoing DHCS effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system and incorporates existing groups that have advised DHCS on behavioral health topics.
CalAIM Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Duals Integration Workgroup Meeting
On May 30 at 10 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host the CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup virtual meeting (advance registration required). The workgroup serves as a stakeholder collaboration hub for CalAIM MLTSS and integrated care for dual eligible members and allows stakeholders to provide feedback and share information about policy, operations, and strategy for upcoming changes to Medi-Cal and Medicare.
Agenda topics include updates on the Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) State Medicaid Agency Contract (SMAC) and Policy Guide, Medicare enrollment data for dual eligible members, the Default Enrollment Pilot, and the 2025 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule, as well as a presentation on Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports for dual eligible members.
Background materials, transcripts, and video recordings of the previous workgroup meetings, along with additional information about the workgroup, are posted on the CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup webpage. For questions or comments, please email info@calduals.org.
Behavioral Health Transformation Public Listening Session
On May 30, from 1 to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a Behavioral Health Transformation public listening session on the County Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes. This session is open to the public.
In March, California voters passed Proposition 1, which includes the Behavioral Health Services Act and Behavioral Health Bond. The Behavioral Health Services Act calls for new County Integrated Plans for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes that require counties to demonstrate coordinated behavioral health planning using all services and sources of behavioral health funding to provide increased transparency, stakeholder engagement, and outcomes for all local services. During the public listening session, attendees can provide direct input on the guidance DHCS is developing for the County Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes.
Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for more information about the monthly public listening sessions and additional resources. Please send questions related to Behavioral Health Transformation and/or the public listening sessions to BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
California Children's Services (CCS) Redesign Performance Measure Quality Workgroup Meeting
On May 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will virtually host the
CCS Redesign Performance Measure Quality Workgroup meeting in accordance with Assembly Bill 118 (Chapter 42, Statues of 2023). DHCS and the workgroup are partnering to develop utilization and quality measures, which will be reported annually, that relate to CCS specialty care for both Whole Child Model and Classic CCS counties. Additional information and meeting details are available on the
CCS Redesign Performance Measure Quality Subcommittee webpage.
CalAIM All-Comer Webinar – Population Needs Assessment
On June 3, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host an
all-comer webinar to provide an overview of policy guidance for the Population Needs Assessment (PNA). To support the success of the Population Health Management (PHM) Program and broader Medi-Cal transformation efforts, DHCS has redesigned Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) requirements for developing a PNA, which has historically been the primary mechanism for MCPs to identify the priority health and social needs of their members, including any health disparities. DHCS requires MCPs to meaningfully participate in local health jurisdictions' (LHJs) Community Health Assessments (CHA)/Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) rather than complete a separate PNA focused solely on their own members' data. This meeting will provide an overview of the January 2024 PHM policy guidance for MCPs to participate in LHJ CHA/CHIP processes and a preview of the 2024 DHCS PHM Strategy Template.
