September 16, 2024 - Stakeholder Update​​

Top News

DHCS Awards $55 Million to Expand Mental Health Early Childhood Wraparound Services

On September 13, DHCS awarded $55 million to 54 organizations across 34 counties to expand services that provide mental health and wellness services, including home visits for children, youth, and young adults in California. The awards are part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative's (CYBHI) Evidence-Based Practices and Community-Defined Evidence Practices (EBP/CDEP) Grant Program. By expanding successful EBP/CDEP models throughout the state, DHCS seeks to improve access to critical early childhood wraparound services to meet the needs of children and youth, including behavioral health needs, housing, education and employment support, and linkages to other services. Please email CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov if you have any questions.

Program Updates

COVID-19 Mitigation Project for Behavioral Health Systems

On September 9, DHCS, in partnership with The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, awarded $4.4 million to 42 eligible entities to implement Round 3 of the COVID-19 Mitigation Project. The project period is from September 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025. On April 29, 2024, DHCS released a Request for Applications to California-based entities that support COVID-19 mitigation services in behavioral health settings and serve individuals engaged in co-occurring care throughout California. Contracted organizations must use this funding to support one or more of the three following strategies: COVID-19 testing education, onsite COVID-19 testing, and/or maintaining healthy environments with a primary focus on supporting staff and individuals connected to the behavioral health system, particularly those engaged in mental health or substance use disorder care, including unhoused individuals.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) Waiver Renewal for the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)

In late September, DHCS and the California Department of Aging (CDA) expect to receive federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approval of the renewed 1915(c) HCBS waiver for the MSSP through June 30, 2029. The renewal is expected to include the expansion of the MSSP to all California counties; decrease the minimum participation age from 65 to 60; further clarify definitions of eligible individuals, including that participants may not be simultaneously enrolled in another Medi-Cal HCBS waiver or receive Enhanced Care Management (ECM) (if duplicative); and designate CDA as the entity responsible for performing evaluations and reevaluations of level of care. For additional information, please see the CDA MSSP webpage.

Join Our Team

DHCS is seeking a highly skilled, exceptionally motivated individual to serve as:
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• Privacy Officer and Attorney Supervisor to lead DHCS' Privacy Office. The Privacy Officer and Attorney Supervisor manages team members as they prepare legal pleadings and strategies, develop complex legal advice, and conduct varied litigation support activities. (Final filing date: September 23)
  

• Chief, Human Resources Division (HRD) to lead all aspects of human resources management, policies, practices, and operations for DHCS. The Chief of HRD provides strategic support, expert guidance, and creative solutions to the Directorate and Executive Staff, while ensuring adherence and compliance with the State of California's civil service rules and regulations. (Final filing date: September 25)
  

• Chief, Provider Enrollment Division (PED) to lead the development and implementation of policies, processes, and services related to the provider enrollment process, including screening, enrolling, and recertifying Medi-Cal providers. Additionally, the Chief of PED has full responsibility for the development and implementation of regulatory and process changes to the business requirements and enhancements for the Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment system. (Final filing date: September 30)
  

• Chief, Local Governmental Financing Division (LGFD) to provide organizational leadership and develop policy in support of Medi-Cal Behavioral Health and Local Educational Agency service programs as well as other local and county governmental federal reimbursement and financial oversight activities. (Final filing date: October 4)
  

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

Updated Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) Guide and Integrated Training Guide (ITG) Webinars

Two informational webinars will be hosted by UC Davis to support the launch of the new ICPM Guide and ITG. These resources will help managers, service coordinators, social workers, foster youth liaisons, youth probation officers, and others who support the local System of Care for Children and Youth in enhancing and improving sustainable safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families across California.

The first webinar, on September 18, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. PDT, will provide a general overview of the updated ICPM Guide and ITG, leadership behaviors, and implementation for members of local Interagency Leadership Teams (advance registration required). The second webinar, on October 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT, will provide a general overview of the updated ICPM Guide and ITG and practice-level content (advance registration required).

988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group Meeting

On September 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, the 988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group will meet at the Allenby Conference Room, 1512 O Street, Sacramento. This group advises on the development of recommendations for a comprehensive 988 system. The California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will use these recommendations to draft a five-year implementation plan due December 2024. Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in person or virtually. Details will soon be available on the CalHHS website.

PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Webinar

On September 26 at 10 a.m. PDT, DHCS will host a Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) TA Marketplace 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.

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 included in the ECM Policy Guide (page 107). The standards and policy take effect on January 1, 2025, and Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) are currently operationalizing the new guidance. On October 9, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host an all-comer webinar to share details on the standards and policy. Advance webinar registration is required when it is made available online. Stakeholders may also direct questions about the new guidance to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov.

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 aims 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.

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

On November 12, from 12 to 1 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the 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

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 MCPs beginning on January 1, 2025, and it will be a mandatory benefit offered by all MCPs on January 1, 2026.

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 ECM and Community Supports webpage for regular updates.