July 29, 2024 - Stakeholder Update
Top News
Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Demonstration Addendum
On July 26, DHCS submitted an
addendum to the pending Section 1115
BH-CONNECT Demonstration under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act to further strengthen the continuum of care for Medi-Cal members with significant behavioral health conditions.
Through the BH-CONNECT addendum, California seeks to further expand the care continuum for Medi-Cal members with the most complex behavioral health issues and risk factors. Specifically, California proposes to enable county behavioral health plans to opt into one or both of two new opportunities tailored to the unique needs of Medi-Cal members who live with the most complex and significant behavioral health conditions:
- Community Transition In-Reach Services to support individuals with significant behavioral health conditions who are experiencing long-term stays in institutions in returning to the community.
- Room and Board in Qualified Residential Settings for up to six months for individuals with significant behavioral health conditions and specified risk factors. These settings will be limited in size to 16 beds or less and must be unlocked and voluntary; provide Medi-Cal covered, voluntary, and recovery-oriented services; and meet statewide standards established by DHCS in consultation with individuals with lived experience, advocacy groups, stakeholders, and tribal partners.
Please visit the
DHCS BH-CONNECT webpage for more information.
California and Sierra Vista Child & Family Services Break Ground on Modesto Community Wellness and Youth Prevention Center
On July 25, DHCS and Sierra Vista Child & Family Services
broke ground on a new facility in Modesto to close critical gaps in mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The Community Wellness and Youth Prevention Center will provide critical services, including restorative justice practices for youth, mental health counseling, pregnancy and postpartum services, family and parent support services, and other integrated services.
DHCS awarded Sierra Vista Child & Family Services more than $4.6 million through the
Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), which works to ensure comprehensive behavioral health care for California's most vulnerable residents. With the recently approved Proposition 1 bonds, in 2025 and 2026,
even more behavioral health treatment facilities will be funded and built.
DHCS has already competitively awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP grants. In addition, DHCS will distribute up to $4.4 billion in competitive BHCIP grants under Proposition 1 bond funds. Just this month, DHCS announced the
availability of up to $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding to develop a wide range of behavioral health treatment settings for Californians who most need care.
Behavioral Health Transformation is DHCS' work to implement
Proposition 1. DHCS holds regular public listening sessions. Updates and recordings of the sessions are available on the
Behavioral Health Transformation, Stakeholder Engagement webpage.
Program Updates
New American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation Videos for Medi-Cal Members
On July 15, DHCS released three new ASL Interpretation videos covering relevant topics important for Medi-Cal members. These videos help ensure that all members have access to vital information:
- The first video, Access to Interpreter Services, provides information about interpreter services available for Medi-Cal members, including ASL interpretation, and explains the rights and responsibilities related to accessing these services, why professional interpreters should be used, and how to request interpreter services for medical appointments.
- The second video, Billing Protections, explains billing protections for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal (dual eligible members). It details what Medicare covers, how cost-sharing works, and the protections against improper billing.
- The third video, Default Enrollment Pilot, provides information about a pilot program in California designed to help Medi-Cal members who are newly eligible for Medicare. The program aims to simplify the transition to Medicare and ensure seamless coverage.
We encourage you to share these valuable resources with your networks to help ensure that all people have access to this important information. Please see the
DHCS Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration webpage for more information, and please email your questions to
OMII@dhcs.ca.gov. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in promoting health equity and accessibility.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a highly-skilled, exceptionally motivated individual to serve as:
- Indian Health Program Coordinator to develop, implement, coordinate, operate, and evaluate the American Indian Health Program for DHCS. (Final filing date: August 9)
DHCS is 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
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.
988 Crisis System Workgroups
The California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) organized six workgroups to advise on the development of recommendations for a comprehensive 988 crisis system. CalHHS will use these recommendations to draft a five-year implementation plan due December 2024. Members of the public are invited to attend these workgroups in person or virtually. The workgroup Zoom links are available on the
CalHHS website:
- Workgroup 3: Integration, July 30, 1 to 3 p.m. PDT, at the Allenby Conference Room, 1512 O Street, Sacramento. This will be the final meeting for this workgroup.
- Workgroup 5: Data and Metrics, July 31, 1 to 3 p.m. PDT, at Health Management Associates, 1215 K Street, Suite 1050, Sacramento. This will be the final meeting for this workgroup.
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. PDT on August 1 to be considered for publication. When submitting comments in writing, please ensure 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 providers and
DHCS Provider Enrollment Division websites.
Consumer-Focused Stakeholder Workgroup (CFSW)
On August 2, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS will convene the CFSW, which provides stakeholders an opportunity to review and provide feedback on a variety of consumer messaging materials. The forum will focus on eligibility- and enrollment-related activities and strives to offer an open discussion on Medi-Cal policies and functionality. Meeting materials, including the agenda, will be posted to the
CFSW webpage by noon on July 31. Please email your questions to
DHCSCFSW@dhcs.ca.gov.
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.
In Case You Missed It
Critical Funding Opportunity Available to Expand Behavioral Health Services
On July 17, DHCS
released the Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready
Request for Applications (RFA). Eligible organizations can apply for funding to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate properties for behavioral health services for Medi-Cal members. DHCS will award up to $3.3 billion in grants to projects that expand community-based behavioral health facilities and services.
This funding aims to address significant treatment gaps by improving access to behavioral health care. Interested parties can find application instructions on the
BHCIP website and submit their applications by December 13, 2024. This initiative, part of Proposition 1, seeks to transform California's mental health and substance use disorder systems, providing more comprehensive care for the state's most vulnerable populations. For more information, contact DHCS at
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
