July 15, 2024 - Stakeholder Update​

Program Updates 

Family PACT Updated Provider Enrollment and Responsibilities Policy

On July 16, DHCS will publish updates to the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (PACT) program's provider enrollment policy regarding site certifier roles and responsibilities, provider orientation, and required training for site certifiers and practitioners. Additional information will be available on the Family PACT Provider Enrollment webpage and Family PACT Policies, Procedures, and Billing Instructions Manual, Provider Enrollment and Responsibilities section.
 

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 19) ​
  

DHCS is also hiring for its human resources, auditing, health policy, information technology, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.
 

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars 

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. 

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. 

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

On July 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the SAC/BH-SAC meeting (advance registration required) at 1700 K Street (first floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento​.

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 and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. It incorporates existing groups that have advised DHCS on behavioral health topics. For more information, please email SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov. 

Coverage Ambassador Webinar

On July 25, from 11 to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host a Coverage Ambassadors webinar (advance registration required). The discussion will reflect on the Medi-Cal eligibility redetermination campaign that officially ended on May 31, 2024. Meeting information, including the webinar link, will be posted on the DHCS Coverage Ambassadors webpage. For more information, please email Ambassadors@dhcs.ca.gov. 

Proposition 64 Advisory Group Meeting

On July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the Proposition 64 Advisory Group (Prop 64 AG) meeting at The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, 1321 Garden Highway, Suite 210, Sacramento. Meeting information, including the agenda, webinar link, and additional materials, will be posted on the Prop 64 AG webpage and emailed to Prop 64 AG members. 

The meeting will provide updates on the logic model and evaluation of Elevate Youth California (EYC), a statewide program designed to address substance use disorders by investing in youth leadership and civic engagement for youth of color and 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth ages 12 to 26 living in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. During the meeting, an EYC grantee will present on working with youth living in these communities and highlight successes from participating in the EYC program.

The purpose of the Prop 64 AG is to share emerging trends in youth substance use, make recommendations to DHCS on best practices in youth substance use prevention, and provide feedback on Youth Education Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA)-funded program assessment, implementation, and evaluation. DHCS launched EYC in 2019 and, to date, has awarded more than $257.7 million through 365 grants with five rounds of standard track grants, three rounds of capacity building grants, and one round of innovation funding. EYC currently operates in 55 of 58 counties. For more information, please see the EYC website or email elevateyouthca@shfcenter.org. 

Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Transformation Public Listening Session

On July 30, from 1 to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a public listening session on substance use disorder services available under the Behavioral Health Services Act. In March 2024, California voters passed Proposition 1, which includes the Behavioral Health Services Act and Behavioral Health Bond. During the session, which is open to the public, attendees can comment on the guidance DHCS is developing for substance use disorder funding. Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for more information about the 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. Additionally, please sign up for Behavioral Health Transformation updates. 

Updated Medi-Cal Established Place of Business Enrollment Requirements and Procedures for Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives - Webinar

On August 1, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS will hold a public stakeholder hearing via webinar (advance registration required) to discuss the regulatory provider bulletin entitled “Updated Medi-Cal Established Place of Business Enrollment Requirements and Procedures for Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives." Effective September 17, 2024, individual licensed midwife and certified nurse midwife providers may report an “administrative location" as their service address, and that administrative location will be exempt from certain established place of business requirements.

Written comments, questions, or suggestions may be submitted during the hearing in the webinar chat. For those unable to attend, written comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on August 1 to be considered for publication. When submitting comments in writing, please ensure that the commenter and organization/association being represented are both identified in the comments. Written comments should be submitted to DHCSPEDStakeholder@dhcs.ca.gov. Based on the public comments received, DHCS will publish the final bulletin on the Medi-Cal and DHCS websites. 

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinar for Medical Providers and Hearing Professionals

On August 15, from 12 to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host its quarterly HACCP webinar for medical providers and hearing professionals. For more information and to pre-register, please visit DHCS' HACCP webpage.