June 16, 2025

Top News

Statement on Medi-Cal Data Privacy and Federal Use

On June 13, DHCS issued a statement about its commitment to protecting the privacy and well-being of all Medi-Cal members. Recent reports have raised serious concerns about how federal agencies may be using Medicaid data, including the personal data of all 15 million Californians covered by Medi-Cal. DHCS clarified what it knows and the actions it is taking. Upon learning of these reports, DHCS contacted the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to seek clarification on whether any Medi-Cal member data had been shared with other federal agencies, what specific data may have been involved, and for what purpose. As of now, DHCS has not received confirmation that data sharing occurred. Read more in our statement.

California Releases BrightLife Kids and Soluna Impact Update

DHCS released an Impact Update on BrightLife Kids and Soluna, two free virtual behavioral health services platforms available to all California children, youth, and families through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The update highlights significant growth in user adoption and the use of coaching and referral services, as well as testimonials from users. As of May 2025, more than 319,000 youth and families have used the apps, more than 62,000 coaching sessions have been completed, and more than 70 percent of users consider it their first and only source of professional mental health support. Interested in helping us spread the word about BrightLife Kids and Soluna? Download the BrightLife Kids and Soluna outreach toolkits, which include posters, videos, social media content, and more.

Program Updates

Advancing State Strategies to Address Maternity Care Deserts Policy Academy

On June 6, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau, selected California to participate in the Advancing State Strategies to Address Maternity Care Deserts Policy Academy. Over two years, the Academy will support DHCS and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to expand access to quality maternity care, especially in underserved areas.

DHCS and CDPH will partner with the Department of Health Care Access and Information, California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, and Medi-Cal managed care plans to identify, develop, and strengthen policy strategies to address maternity care deserts, including factors that impact health care access and workforce development. This work builds on the DHCS policies outlined in the Birthing Care Pathway Report. It will also reflect DHCS priorities to address disparities in access and quality of care in maternal health and ensure that all pregnant people, especially people in low-income communities, receive the support they need to safely navigate pregnancy and childbirth.

Join Our Team

​DHCS is hiring for its Medi-Cal managed care, accounting, 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 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.

CDC Guidelines Webinar

On June 24, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the What's New in the 2024 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC), Selected Practice Recommendations (SPR), and Quality Family Planning (QFP) Guidelines webinar (advance registration required). The webinar will highlight key updates clinicians need to know, including new recommendations for individuals with chronic kidney disease, revised risk categories for depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate users, expanded guidance on intrauterine device-related pain management, and updated contraceptive counseling best practices. The changes will be discussed in detail, and the webinar will review the MEC/SPR app and job aids available from the CDC. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, a transcript and recording of the webinar, along with additional resources, will be available on the Family PACT website at a later date.

CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup Meeting

On June 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Duals Integration Workgroup meeting (advance registration required). The workgroup is a stakeholder collaboration hub for CalAIM MLTSS and integrated care for dual eligible members. It allows stakeholders to provide feedback and share information about policy, operations, and strategy for upcoming changes to Medi-Cal and Medicare. The meeting agenda includes updates on the 2026 Medi-Medi Plan expansion, DHCS' Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) initiatives, the D-SNP State Medicaid Agency Contract and Policy Guide, and a duals data spotlight presentation on D-SNP data, dental data, Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports data, and Medicare enrollment data for duals. More information, background materials, transcripts, and video recordings of previous workgroup meetings are posted on the CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup webpage. For questions or comments, please email DHCS at info@calduals.org.

California Maternal Health Task Force Launch

On June 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT, the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and California Maternal Health Innovation Program will launch the California Maternal Health Task Force. This convening (advance registration required) will bring together maternal health leaders and partners from across the state to shape a shared vision for improving maternal health in California. Community-based organizations, funders, local health departments, the maternal health workforce, clinical professionals, professional associations, policy and public health stakeholders, academics, and people passionate about improving maternal health in California are encouraged to attend.

Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting 

On July 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly MCHAP meeting at 1700 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95811, in the first-floor conference room (17.1014) or via public webinar (advanced registration required). MCHAP advises DHCS on policy and operational issues that affect children in Medi-Cal. The meeting will provide information about improving children's preventive care outcomes, updates on the California Children's Services Quality Metric Redesign, and details about Medi-Cal vision services.

Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting

On July 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST, 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.

In Case You Missed It

Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council

DHCS is now accepting applications to join the Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council. This new stakeholder group offers a dedicated space for Medi-Cal members and stakeholders to discuss Medi-Cal matters and provide direct, informed, and meaningful feedback about the Medi-Cal program to DHCS leadership. The council strengthens member representation in DHCS' stakeholder engagement efforts and helps ensure Medi-Cal programs are responsive, fair, and inclusive. Hearing directly from Medi-Cal members and stakeholders who serve them is an important part of Medi-Cal Transformation. Member and stakeholder engagement also supports the goals outlined in DHCS' Comprehensive Quality Strategy, which focuses on improving the health of all Californians. For more information, please visit the Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council webpage.

Now Open: PATH Justice-Involved Round 4 Application

On May 12, DHCS opened the Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Justice-Involved Round 4 application window. The deadline to apply for Round 4 funding is July 11, 2025. Only PATH Justice-Involved Round 3 awardees are eligible for the Justice-Involved Round 4 funding opportunity, and applications must be submitted on behalf of county sheriff's offices, county probation offices, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and county behavioral health agencies. Eligible agencies will receive email communications with instructions on how to apply. For more information about PATH Justice-Involved Round 4, please visit the PATH Justice-Involved webpage. All resources are available under “Reference Materials." Please submit questions to justice-involved@ca-path.com.​