DHCS Stakeholder News - August 11, 2023
Top News
BH-CONNECT and CalAIM Transitional Rent Services Public Hearing
On August 24, DHCS will host the second public hearing (advance registration required) for the Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Medicaid section 1115 demonstration and transitional rent services amendment to the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) section 1115 demonstration. The hearing is open to the public and will take place at 1700 K Street, Room 1014, Sacramento, and via Zoom. The public will be able to comment at the end of the hearing.
After meeting all applicable federal public comment requirements for the public hearing, DHCS will begin the CalAIM Behavioral Health Workgroup. The workgroup agenda will include updates on the Recovery Incentives Program: California's Contingency Management Benefit. Workgroup members will be able to provide feedback on implementation and operational considerations. Please email
BHCalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov with any questions.
Program Updates
Managed Care Plan (MCP) Transition Policy Guide
On August 7, DHCS released version three of the 2024 MCP Transition Policy Guide that includes DHCS policy and MCP requirements related to member transitions of Medi-Cal MCPs that take effect on January 1, 2024. The latest version includes the continuity of care data sharing policy and other updates. The policy guide will be available
online and will be updated regularly to keep MCPs informed of new and developing guidance.
Medi-Cal Rx
On August 4,
Phase IV, Lift 1, the reinstatement of claim edits for age, gender, and labeler code restrictions for members 22 years of age and older, was successfully implemented.
Phase IV, Lift 2 will occur on September 22 when prior authorization requirements will be reinstated for new start enteral nutrition products for members 22 years of age and older. Also, for adult members 22 years of age and older, maximum claim cost limits (cost ceiling edits) will be reinstated by drug type. More details about the cost ceiling limits will soon be added to the
Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement page.
Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring for our fiscal, human resources, legal, auditing, health policy, and information technology teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
DHCS is dedicated to preserving and improving the overall health and well-being of all Californians. DHCS' mission is to provide the most vulnerable residents with equitable access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, and is currently transforming the Medi-Cal program to make sure it provides the care Californians need to live healthier, happier lives.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
CalAIM Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled (ICF/DD) Carve-In Webinar
On August 21, DHCS will virtually host the second in a series of educational webinars (advance registration required) on the CalAIM intermediate care facility for developmentally disabled (ICF/DD) carve-in to managed care. The goal of these webinars is to provide stakeholders with an understanding of the ICF/DD carve-in policy requirements and how to best prepare to support members when all Medi-Cal managed care plans will be required to cover and coordinate institutional long-term care for members residing in an ICF/DD starting on January 1, 2024. The webinar will focus on educating ICF/DD providers and Regional Centers, Medi-Cal managed care plan responsibilities, and overall readiness for when the ICF/DD carve-in goes into effect.
The webinar series will feature several topics, including an ICF/DD carve-in 101, promising practices for contracting, billing, and payment rules, and best practices for care transitions and care management. ICF/DD providers and Medi-Cal managed care representatives are encouraged to attend. All webinars are open to the public.
Additional details about upcoming webinars are available on the CalAIM ICF/DD LTC Carve-In transition
webpage. Email questions or comments to
LTCtransition@dhcs.ca.gov.
Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices into Reproductive Health Services Webinar
On August 30, from 12 to 1:30 p.m., DHCS and the California Prevention Training Center will host an Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices into Reproductive Health Services webinar (advanced registration is required). Trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand a client's life experiences to deliver effective care and has the potential to improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, and health outcomes. For those 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.
Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinar for Families and Community Partners
On September 12, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., DHCS will host a HACCP webinar
(advance registration required) to share guidance with families and communities about applying for hearing aid coverage and helping children to maximizing their HACCP benefits once enrolled. DHCS welcomes newly interested families, those who are already participating in HACCP, and community partners supporting families and children to join this webinar for program updates, tips, and a Q&A session. For more information, please visit
www.dhcs.ca.gov/haccp.
HACCP Webinar for Medical Providers and Hearing Professionals
On September 14, from 12 to 1 p.m., DHCS will host a HACCP webinar
(advance registration required) to share information with providers to help pediatric patients and their families maximize HACCP benefits. The training session will address program requirements for families to apply for coverage and the claims submission process for audiologists, otolaryngologists, physicians, and their office staff. For more information, please visit
www.dhcs.ca.gov/haccp.
In Case You Missed It
Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage Unwinding Dashboard
On August 7, DHCS
published a new interactive Medi-Cal
dashboard detailing statewide and county-level demographic data on Medi-Cal application processing, enrollments, redeterminations, and renewal outcomes. DHCS will update, and continue to adjust, the dashboard monthly throughout the remainder of the year-long redetermination process.
