September 3, 2024 - Stakeholder Update​

Top News

Transitional Rent Concept Paper

On August 30, DHCS released the Transitional Rent Concept Paper for a three-week public comment period. DHCS invites the public to comment on this concept paper by 5 p.m. PDT on September 20, 2024. The concept paper summarizes the design of transitional rent, a new initiative under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Section 1115 waiver demonstration to cover rent/temporary housing for Medi-Cal members who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and meet certain additional eligibility criteria. Coverage of transitional rent as a Community Supports service will be optional for Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) beginning on January 1, 2025, and it will be a mandatory benefit offered by all MCPs on January 1, 2026.

To improve the well-being and health outcomes of Medi-Cal members during critical transitions or who meet certain high-risk criteria, California seeks to provide up to six months of transitional rent services for eligible members 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 members who meet the criteria for unsheltered homelessness or for a Full Service Partnership (FSP) program. Transitional rent services will be provided only if it is determined to be medically appropriate using clinical and other health-related social needs criteria.

Comments may be submitted to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov with the subject line “Comments on Transitional Rent." DHCS also encourages the public to visit the Medi-Cal Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports webpage for regular updates.

DHCS Awards $147 Million to Help Medi-Cal ECM and Community Supports Providers Statewide

On August 30, DHCS awarded $146.6 million to 133 community providers throughout California that provide ECM and Community Supports services to Medi-Cal members. This funding is part of the Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) initiative, aimed at supporting community providers' capacity to partner with MCPs and participate in the Medi-Cal delivery system.  

These awards build upon the CITED Round 1 funding of $207 million and CITED Round 2 funding of $144 million announced in 2023, as well as funding totaling $37 million to clinics in July 2024, representing all of California's 58 counties. ECM and Community Supports are essential to Medi-Cal transformation, serving the highest-need Medi-Cal MCP members with in-person care coordination, housing assistance, and other vital services, leading a more equitable health system that works for all Californians. For more information, visit the PATH website.

Program Updates

DHCS Streamlining Access to ECM

DHCS is streamlining and improving access to ECM by standardizing referrals and expediting the authorization process. DHCS worked extensively with stakeholders to develop statewide ECM Referral Standards and an updated ECM presumptive authorization policy (page 107). For full details on the policy and eligible ECM providers, please see the updated ECM Policy Guide. The standards and policy take effect on January 1, 2025, and MCPs are currently operationalizing the new guidance. This adds to a series of DHCS reforms to streamline access to ECM and Community Supports outlined in the 2023 ECM/Community Supports Action Plan.

Additionally, on October 9, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host an all-comer webinar (advance registration required) to share details on the standards and policy. Webinar registration will be made available online. Stakeholders may also direct questions about the new guidance to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov.

Explore the "PATHways to Success" Web Portal

DHCS invites organizations to visit PATHways to Success and read on-the-ground testimonials from organizations across California participating in PATH. As community-based organizations, Medi-Cal providers, Tribes, local government agencies, and others continue to participate in PATH, DHCS will showcase their firsthand accounts of providing successful ECM and Community Supports services linkages for the Medi-Cal members they serve. Explore the new site and learn how PATH is helping organizations meet the needs of their members and provide coordinated, ongoing ECM and Community Supports. Please email your questions to communications@ca-path.com.

Elevate Youth California (EYC) Cohort 6 Standard Track

On August 19, DHCS released a Request for Applications and encouraged youth-serving community-based and Tribal organizations to apply for up to $1 million to implement the EYC program over a three-year grant period in low-income, historically under-resourced communities of color. EYC is a statewide program addressing substance use disorder by investing in youth leadership and civic engagement for youth of color and Two-spirit/LGBTQIA+ youth ages 12 to 26 living in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. For more information and to apply by the September 23, 2024, deadline, please visit the EYC website.

Join Our Team

DHCS is seeking a highly skilled, exceptionally motivated individual to serve as:

• Chief of the Office of Family Planning to lead the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (FPACT) program, which provides family planning services for low-income individuals and families. The Chief also develops and implements complex and sensitive policies related to FPACT, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health services in the Medi-Cal program. (Final filing date: September 4)
  

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

Consumer-Focused Stakeholder Workgroup (CFSW)

On September 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS will hold the monthly CFSW meeting, which provides stakeholders an opportunity to review and provide feedback on a variety of consumer messaging materials. The forum focuses on eligibility- and enrollment-related activities and offers an open discussion on Medi-Cal policies and functionality. Meeting materials, including the agenda, will be posted on the CFSW webpage by noon on September 4. Please email your questions to DHCSCFSW@dhcs.ca.gov.

Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting

On September 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly MCHAP meeting at 1500 Capitol Avenue, Building 172 in the ABC Training Rooms, or via public webinar. MCHAP advises DHCS on policy and operational issues that affect children in Medi-Cal. The meeting will provide an update on ECM and new benefits, review the AB 2083 Children and Youth System of Care supplementary analysis to the multiyear plan report, and provide a Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative update.

Behavioral Health Services Act Housing Interventions Public Listening Session

On September 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a public listening session on Housing Interventions 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 this session, which is open to the public, participants may comment on the guidance DHCS is developing and help shape the future of behavioral health care services in California.

Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for more information about this public listening session and additional resources. Please send your questions about Behavioral Health Transformation and/or the public listening sessions to BHTinfo@DHCS.ca.gov.

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinar for Families and Community Partners

On September 12, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the quarterly HACCP webinar for families and community partners. For more information and to pre-register, please visit DHCS' HACCP webpage.

PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Webinar

On September 26 at 10 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host a PATH TA Marketplace TA recipient informational webinar (advance registration required). All currently approved TA recipients and eligible organizations interested in becoming TA recipients are encouraged to attend. The webinar will provide support on selecting vendors and projects, submitting TA projects for approval, progress reporting, and more. Please submit your questions to ta-marketplace@ca-path.com. Visit the PATH TA Marketplace webpage for more information.

DHCS Harm Reduction Summits

Registration is currently open for the first two DHCS Harm Reduction Summits in Shasta County (October 24) and San Mateo County (November 19). Through these convenings, DHCS hopes to collaborate with communities across the state to change the culture around the concept of harm reduction within California's substance use disorder treatment system and to create low-barrier, patient-centered care. DHCS encourages substance use disorder treatment providers and staff (including social workers, peers, front desk staff, case managers, nurses, physicians, and all staff in substance use disorder treatment settings) to attend and learn about best practices for incorporating the tenets of harm reduction into substance use disorder treatment settings. The remaining summits will be in Fresno County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County in winter 2025. Register on the event website.

In Case You Missed It

Critical Funding Opportunity Available to Expand Behavioral Health Services

On July 17, DHCS released the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready Request for Applications. Eligible organizations can apply for funding to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate properties for behavioral health services for Medi-Cal members. 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.​