DHCS Stakeholder News - September 22, 2023
Top News
California Invests Additional $33 Million in Mentored Internship Program
DHCS today issued a
news release announcing an additional $33 million in awards to 120 nonprofit providers and tribal organizations, extending the existing behavioral health workforce Mentored Internship Program to organizations that successfully completed the first round of the program. Each entity will receive up to $500,000 to enhance and build its behavioral health substance use disorder workforce, focusing on resources that expand the prevention, treatment, and recovery workforce to support Californians with or at risk of developing an opioid use disorder.
Program Updates
Medicare-Medi-Cal (Medi-Medi) Plans Video
On September 15, ahead of the Medicare open enrollment period, DHCS released a new
video for stakeholders, including agents and brokers, entitled “Medi-Medi Plans: Information for Stakeholders". The 2024 Medicare open enrollment period is October 15 through December 7, with plan coverage taking effect on January 1, 2024. Californians in twelve counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara,
Fresno, Kings, Madera, Sacramento, and Tulare) will be eligible to enroll in Medi-Medi Plans, a type of Medicare Advantage plan in California only available to dual eligible members. Medi-Medi Plans provide more comprehensive care to individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal, and benefits in both programs are coordinated by one managed care plan.
As of January 1, 2023, the former Cal MediConnect plans were transitioned to Medi-Medi Plans, which are currently offered for voluntary enrollment in seven counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. Beginning on January 1, 2024, Medi-Medi Plans will expand for voluntary enrollment in five new counties: Fresno, Kings, Madera, Sacramento, and Tulare. Additional information is available on the
DHCS Medi-Medi Plan webpage.
Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement
DHCS this week issued a stakeholder communication regarding the completion of Medi-Cal Rx reinstatement with the retirement of the transition policy for enteral nutrition products for members 22 years of age and older, effective November 10, 2023. After that date, Medi-Cal Rx will focus on system enhancements and prepare for the integration of the pediatric population in Medi-Cal Rx in 2024. Over the next few weeks, DHCS will present more detailed information about the future of Medi-Cal Rx during regularly scheduled stakeholder meetings. Stakeholder feedback will continue to be sought as DHCS explores opportunities to better serve members and providers and optimize system operations.
Additionally, on September 22,
Reinstatement Phase 4, Lift 2, Reinstatement of Cost Ceiling and Prior Authorization for Enteral Nutrition and Specific Standard Therapeutic Classes, occurred.
Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring! DHCS has an immediate opening for
Chief of the Population Health Management Division within Quality and Population Health Management (the final filing date is September 25). This executive role leads the strategy, policy, oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of population health management.
DHCS is also hiring for our fiscal, human resources, legal, auditing, health policy, and information technology teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
DHCS' purpose is to provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all. DHCS' goals and objectives reflect the tremendous work DHCS is leading to transform the state's health care system and strengthen organizational excellence.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program Transition
On September 28, from 2 to 4 p.m., DHCS will virtually host the final
CHDP program transition workgroup meeting (advance registration required). This stakeholder workgroup informed the development and implementation of a transition plan and defined milestones to guide the transition of the CHDP program. Agenda topics include updates on key CHDP program components, transition plan review, and next steps for the completion of the CHDP program transition.
Senate Bill 184 (Chapter 47, Statutes of 2022) authorized DHCS to transition the CHDP program, effective July 1, 2024. Transitioning the CHDP program aligns with the Department's goal under California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal to reduce administrative complexities, enhance coordination of care and the whole person care approach, and increase standardization of care across Medi-Cal by consolidating care responsibilities for children/youth under Medi-Cal managed care plans.
The transition plan is available to workgroup members and interested stakeholders for comment from September 26 through October 10. Non-workgroup members can provide feedback by emailing
chdpprogram@dhcs.ca.gov to request a copy of the transition plan. More information is available on the
CHDP Transition webpage.
DHCS Coverage Ambassadors: Train the Trainer Webinar (Spanish)
On September 28, from 3 to 4 p.m., DHCS will host a
webinar to train DHCS Coverage Ambassadors (advance registration required) on how to better assist their communities as California resumes Medi-Cal eligibility redeterminations. The webinar will cover the importance of members renewing their Medi-Cal coverage and highlight available resources. For more information, please visit the
DHCS Coverage Ambassador webpage. Join the
DHCS Coverage Ambassador mailing list to receive the latest information and updated toolkits as they become available.
Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Informational Webinar
On September 29, DHCS will host the quarterly PATH TA Marketplace informational webinar for approved TA recipients. Entities eligible to receive services through the TA Marketplace are encouraged to submit the TA Recipient Eligibility Application by September 22 to receive an invitation to the webinar. Only entities that have completed the TA Recipient Eligibility Application and have received approval to become a TA recipient will receive the webinar link. Visit the
TA Marketplace webpage and click the “Apply to shop TA" button to apply. For questions, please email
ta-marketplace@ca-path.com.
Medicare Coverage Choices in California: Webinar
On October 11 at 1 p.m., DHCS and the California Department of Aging will jointly host a webinar entitled,
"Navigating Medicare Coverage Choices in California, Including Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits" (advance registration required). Presenters will include Stephanie Fajuri from the Center for Health Care Rights, an expert in Medicare choices for consumers, and Nils Franco from ATI Advisory, a lead analyst for the review of Medicare Advantage Plan supplemental benefits in California.
The webinar will share helpful information for consumers, families, health care providers, and the public policy community. It will include a presentation and question and answer session on Medicare coverage choices for consumers during the Medicare Open Enrollment period from October 15 to December 7, as well as highlights from a newly released DHCS
chartbook on supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage Plans in California for contract year 2023.
Medicare Advantage plans offer a variety of supplemental benefits. The new chartbook examines these supplemental benefits in California to provide insight into the opportunities they may offer to support the state's growing Medicare population. Variations in supplemental benefit offerings show how Medicare Advantage plans can be designed differently to influence access to key supports for California Medicare beneficiaries.
Chartbook development was funded by The SCAN Foundation to support DHCS' Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration (OMII). The chartbook is part of a series of chartbooks available on the
DHCS OMII webpage. For questions or comments, please email
OMII@dhcs.ca.gov.
In Case You Missed It
Updated Keep Your Coverage Campaign Materials
New, ready-to-use content, including downloadable flyers, social media posts, and graphics, has been added to the
Keep Your Community Covered resources hub webpage for American Indians & Alaska Natives. Visit the resource hub and share it with promotores, Enrollment Navigators, DHCS Coverage Ambassadors, and others who conduct outreach to Medi-Cal members.
