On August 1, 2023, DHCS began 30-day public comment and tribal public comment periods to solicit feedback on a new Section 1115 demonstration request, entitled the California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) demonstration. DHCS also began 30-day public comment and tribal public comment periods to solicit feedback on a proposed amendment to the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Section 1115 demonstration related to transitional rent services. The public comment periods for both are through August 31.
The BH-CONNECT demonstration builds upon unprecedented investments and policy transformations currently underway in California that are designed to expand access to community-based behavioral health care and improve outcomes for Medi-Cal members living with the most significant mental health and substance use needs. California has invested more than $10 billion and is implementing landmark policy reforms to strengthen the behavioral health care continuum. California's proposed goal for the BH-CONNECT demonstration is to complement and amplify these major behavioral health initiatives to establish a robust continuum of community-based behavioral health care services and improve access, equity, and quality for Medi-Cal members living with serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED), particularly populations experiencing disparities in behavioral health care and outcomes. The BH-CONNECT demonstration aims to expand Medi-Cal service coverage, drive performance improvement, and support fidelity implementation for key interventions proven to improve outcomes for Medi-Cal members experiencing the greatest inequities, including children and youth involved in child welfare, individuals with lived experience with the criminal justice system, and individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
To improve the well-being and health outcomes of Medi-Cal members during critical transitions or who meet high-risk criteria, DHCS is seeking an amendment to the CalAIM Section 1115 demonstration to provide up to six months of transitional rent services to eligible individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and transitioning out of institutional levels of care, congregate residential settings, correctional facilities, the child welfare system, recuperative care facilities, short-term post-hospitalization housing, transitional housing, homeless shelters or interim housing, as well as those who meet the criteria for unsheltered homelessness or for a Full Service Partnership program. Transitional rent services will be available for a period of no more than six months; must be cost-effective; and will be provided only if it is determined to be medically appropriate using clinical and other health-related social needs criteria. Transitional rent services will be voluntary for Medi-Cal managed care plans to offer and for Medi-Cal members to use.
Please visit the DHCS BH-CONNECT webpage and DHCS CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver webpage for background information, links to public comment materials, and information about how to provide feedback during the public comment period.
Additionally, on August 24, DHCS will host the second public hearing (advance registration required) for the BH-CONNECT demonstration and transitional rent services amendment to the 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. DHCS will consider all public comments prior to the planned submission of both the BH-CONNECT demonstration and CalAIM transitional rent services amendment to CMS in late 2023. Please email BHCalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov with any questions.
Finally, on August 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. DHCS will discuss both the BH-CONNECT demonstration and transitional rent services amendment to the CalAIM Section 1115 demonstration during the next Tribes and Designees of Indian Health Programs quarterly webinar (advance registration required). Please note that Indian health programs and urban Indian organizations may request a consultation, as needed, on these proposals.
Program Updates
Medi-Cal Rx
Effective August 4, Medi-Cal Rx reinstated Code 1 Labeler Restriction on 21 drugs, including Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone). Labeler code restriction requires the brand name version of the drug to be used instead of generic alternatives. On August 16, DHCS learned of localized supply chain issues in regional areas due to higher demand than was anticipated in the regional distribution centers, with some pharmacies unable to stock the brand name Suboxone. Although this is anticipated to be a temporary supply chain issue, DHCS immediately lifted the restriction. DHCS will reinstate the labeler code restriction on September 6 after the distribution channel fully primes with stock and pharmacies increase their stock to meet demand.
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 released a new five-year strategic plan to guide our work in the coming years. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with our approach to ensure Californians live healthier, happier lives. The strategic plan embraces our new, bold branding represented by the California poppy. Our new PURPOSE statement—provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all—replaces our previous mission and vision statements, outlining our vital role in making California a better place for all. Next are our new CORE VALUES: Belonging, Equity, Innovation, Stewardship, and Sustainability. Finally, our strategic plan presents six GOALS. These goals, and the related OBJECTIVES, express the tremendous work DHCS is leading to transform our health care system and reflect the organizational culture we are building together.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Tribes and Indian Health Program Representatives Meeting
On August 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., DHCS will host the quarterly Tribes and Indian Health Program Representatives meeting (
advance registration is required) at The Center for Healthy Communities located at 1414 K Street in Sacramento, and via WebEx. The meeting will provide a forum for tribes and Indian health program representatives to provide feedback on DHCS initiatives that specifically impact tribes, Indian health programs, and American Indian Medi-Cal members. Meeting materials are posted on the
Indian Health Program webpage.
DHCS Coverage Ambassadors: Keep Your Community Covered Webinar Series
On August 24, from 11 to 11:45 a.m., DHCS will host a webinar (advance registration required) for Coverage Ambassadors to collaborate on the continued development of the Medi-Cal redetermination public awareness, education, and outreach campaign. For more information, visit the Coverage Ambassadors webpage. Join the Coverage Ambassadors mailing list to receive the latest information and updated toolkits as they become available.
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.
DHCS Coverage Ambassadors: Train the Trainer WebinarOn August 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., DHCS will host a webinar (
advance registration required) on Coverage Ambassadors: Train the Trainer. The webinar will serve as a training session for Coverage Ambassadors to better assist their communities as California resumes standard Medi-Cal operations and communicates the importance of members renewing their Medi-Cal coverage. The webinar will also describe the resources available and how to use them. For more information, visit the Coverage Ambassadors
webpage. Join the Coverage Ambassadors
mailing list to receive the latest information and updated toolkits as they become available.
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 currently 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 ProfessionalsOn 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
Modernizing California's Behavioral Health System
On August 16, DHCS and the California Health & Human Services Agency hosted a brief informational webinar to provide a high-level summary of the status of proposed behavioral health reform legislation. In March, Governor Newsom released his proposal to modernize California's behavioral health system. DHCS engaged in multiple webinars, listening sessions, hearings, and meetings to receive comments on this proposal. An updated proposal was released in June. The webinar was solely focused on amendments to SB 326 (Eggman). The webinar recording and presentation slides are now available.
Now is the time to take the next step and build upon what we have already put in place, continuing the transformation of how California treats mental illness and substance use disorders. Please submit any questions to BHReform@dhcs.ca.gov.
