July 8, 2024
Top News
Targeted Rate Increases – Provider Webinar
On July 17, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a provider
webinar (advance registration required) to answer questions about the calendar year 2024 targeted provider rate increases. All questions providers would like addressed must be sent to DHCS at
targetedrateincreases@dhcs.ca.gov no later than July 8.
On June 20, DHCS published requirements, through
All Plan Letter 24-007, necessary for Medi-Cal managed care plans to implement targeted provider rate increases in calendar year 2024. For additional information, please see the DHCS
Medi-Cal Targeted Provider Rate Increases and Investments website.
Program Updates
Community Engagement Events
From July 15 to July 26, 2024, DHCS will partner with California Black Media to host six community engagement events about the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. The events will be held in Sacramento (July 15), Alameda (July 16), Los Angeles (July 17), Inland Empire (July 19), Kern (July 22), and San Diego (July 26). DHCS leadership and representatives from Medi-Cal managed care plans will meet with Black newspaper publishers and business, faith, and community-based leaders to discuss how Medi-Cal is being transformed, new Medi-Cal benefits and services that may be of interest to the Black community, and how Black media outlets can help share information with Medi-Cal members and their families.
New Resources for Behavioral Health Transformation
DHCS released new resources to help local governments and stakeholders navigate California's Behavioral Health Transformation, also known as Proposition 1. Resources include the
recording and
presentation slides from DHCS' June 3 webinar on Behavioral Health Transformation. The webinar, featuring presentations from DHCS, the California Health & Human Services Agency, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the California Department of Veterans Affairs, provided an overview of Proposition 1 provisions, major implementation milestones, and additional information. Other new resources available on the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage include a
fact sheet and an overview of the
Behavioral Health Bond: Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1 and 2.
Syringe Services Programs (SSP)
DHCS, with support from the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, received approval from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to utilize federal Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) funding to either support existing or start new SSPs within the State of California. On June 19, DHCS issued
Behavioral Health Information Notice No: 24-024 to explain to county behavioral health directors, for informational and planning purposes, the federal and state policies regarding the use of SUBG funds for SSPs for federal fiscal year 2024-2025.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a highly skilled, exceptionally motivated individual to serve as:
- Assistant Deputy Director for Behavioral Health to provide management and support in implementing behavioral health initiatives designed to achieve equitable health care outcomes and ensure consistent access to high-quality mental health and substance use disorder care. (Final filing date: July 12)
DHCS is also hiring for its
legislative and governmental affairs, human resources, auditing, health policy, information technology, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
California Children's Services (CCS) Advisory Group Meeting
On July 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the
CCS Advisory Group quarterly meeting. The CCS Advisory Group and DHCS partner to ensure children in the CCS and Whole Child Model (WCM) program receive appropriate and timely access to quality care. Agenda topics include updates on WCM expansion, Enhanced Care Management, the CCS Compliance, Monitoring, and Oversight Workgroup, the Child Health and Disability Prevention program, and the CCS Redesign Performance Measure Quality Subcommittee. Additional information and meeting details are posted on the
CCS Advisory Group webpage. Please email your questions and comments to
CCSProgram@dhcs.ca.gov.
Doula Stakeholder Implementation Workgroup Meeting
On July 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the Doula Stakeholder Implementation Workgroup meeting to examine the implementation of the Medi-Cal doula benefit, in accordance with Senate Bill 65 (Chapter 449, Statutes of 2021) and section 14132.24 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Stakeholders who are part of the
workgroup may speak during public stakeholder meetings. Others are welcome to listen to meetings as attendees, comment using the chat function, and submit written comments. Stakeholders may also email written comments to
DoulaBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov. For more information, including how to register for the workgroup meeting, please see the
Doula Services as a Medi-Cal Benefit webpage.
CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup Meeting
On July 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. PDT, DHCS will convene the
CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup meeting (advance registration required) to provide updates on the Provider Integration Project and Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT). Workgroup members can provide feedback on implementation and operational considerations. Please see the
agenda for more information. This meeting is open to the public. Please email your questions to
BHCalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov.
In Case You Missed It
California Celebrates the Groundbreaking of Napa Valley Youth Wellness Campus
On July 2, DHCS and
Mentis celebrated the
groundbreaking of a new youth wellness campus that will serve at-risk children and youth who need mental health and substance use disorder treatment. DHCS awarded Mentis more than $4.7 million through
BHCIP to address gaps in behavioral health treatment. The community mental health clinic and community wellness/youth prevention center will serve an estimated 1,950 people annually.
More information about Proposition 1 can be found at
mentalhealth.ca.gov. DHCS holds regular public listening sessions, and updates and recordings of the sessions are available on the
Behavioral Health Transformation webpage. Please sign up on DHCS'
website to receive monthly updates.
BH-CONNECT Demonstration Addendum: Public Comment Period
On June 14, DHCS began a 30-day public comment period (through July 14 at 11:59 p.m. PDT) for an addendum to the pending
BH-CONNECT demonstration. California will submit an addendum to the BH-CONNECT demonstration application to further strengthen the continuum of behavioral health care. The addendum will offer two new options for county behavioral health plans to cover: Community transition in-reach services for individuals with long-term institutional stays, and room and board in enriched residential settings for up to six months for those with significant behavioral health conditions and specified risk factors.
Comments will be accepted via U.S. mail or electronic mail. Written comments may be sent to the following address; please indicate “BH-CONNECT Addendum" in the written message:
Department of Health Care Services
Director's Office
Attn: Tyler Sadwith
P.O. Box 997413, MS 0000
Sacramento, California 95899-7413
Email comments may be submitted to
1115Waiver@dhcs.ca.gov. Please indicate “BH-CONNECT Addendum" in the subject line of the email message. For more information, please visit the
DHCS BH-CONNECT webpage.
Children's Presumptive Eligibility (CPE) and Newborn Gateway Portals
On July 1, DHCS launched new online portals for providers to improve access to coverage and care for new families. Through CPE, providers may grant temporary, full-scope coverage to eligible applicants. This portal replaced the Child Health and Disability Prevention gateway portal. The Newborn Gateway portal is for reporting births with linkage to Medi-Cal and the Medi-Cal Access Infant Program within 72 hours of birth or 24 hours after discharge. If providers experience any issues, they may contact the Telephone Service Center at 1-800-541-5555.
