October 7, 2024 - Stakeholder Update
Top News
SB 525 (Health Care Minimum Wage Increases)
On October 1, DHCS Director Michelle Baass
notified the Joint Legislative Budget Committee that DHCS initiated the data retrieval that is necessary to implement an increase in hospital quality assurance fee revenues for the program period beginning January 1, 2025. The health care minimum wage increases will be effective 15 days after the date of the notification, on October 16, unless a later effective date is specified. For more information about the health care worker minimum wage increases, including effective dates by facility type, please see the Department of Industrial Relations'
frequently asked questions.
Smile, California Mobile Dental Van to Visit Trinity County
The
Smile, California mobile dental van is hitting the road again and will be in Trinity County from October 9-12. In partnership with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Trinity County, and the California Dental Association, this Medi-Cal dental initiative is just one effort underway to enhance member use of essential dental care and improve oral health outcomes in rural communities. The mobile dental van tour will provide preventive and treatment services to residents of Trinity County, including Medi-Cal members.
Services performed onsite can include exams, X-rays, treatment planning, cleanings, fillings, root canals, fluoride applications, and more. DHCS and its partners are dedicated to advancing preventive dental services for children and adults living in areas throughout California with limited access to dental care.
The
Smile, California dental van tours are part of DHCS' policy to increase member access to mobile dental services and ensure that members, especially those in rural communities, have access to equitable, quality care. Medi-Cal members interested in attending this event may register by calling (888) 585-3368, and members can
find a dentist online.
Program Updates
Medi-Cal Enrollment Requirements and Procedures
Effective November 25, community-based organization (CBO) enrollment applications may include community health workers (CHW) offering justice-involved services and licensed/unlicensed individuals rendering care management services. This option will be available to both first-time CBO applicants and currently enrolled CBO providers submitting a supplemental application. Additionally, county children and families commissions that provide CHW and asthma preventive services will be eligible to apply to enroll in the Medi-Cal program.
On October 8, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS will hold a
public stakeholder hearing via webinar (advance registration required) to discuss the regulatory provider bulletin entitled “Updated Medi-Cal Enrollment Requirements and Procedures for Community-Based Organizations, Local Health Jurisdictions, and County Children and Families Commissions." Written comments, questions, or suggestions may be submitted during the hearing in the webinar chat. For those unable to attend, written comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. PDT on October 8 to be considered for publication. When submitting written comments, please ensure that the commenter and organization/association being represented are both identified in the comments. Written comments should be submitted to
DHCSPEDStakeholder@dhcs.ca.gov. Based on the public comments received, DHCS will publish the final bulletin on the
Medi-Cal providers and
DHCS Provider Enrollment Division websites.
Skilled Nursing Facility Workforce Standards Program
On October 1, DHCS launched the opt-in process for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Workforce Standards Program (WSP). This program will provide an increased Workforce Rate Adjustment to SNFs that maintain a collective bargaining agreement, participate in a statewide multi-employer labor management committee, or meet basic wages and benefit standards established by DHCS. The SNF WSP makes available more than $500 million annually to enable SNFs to recruit and retain a workforce that provides high-quality long-term care to Medi-Cal members.
The WSP will hold SNFs accountable for providing fair compensation and benefits to approximately 100,000 long-term care workers. The WSP is part of a broader package of nursing facility financing reform initiatives enacted by
Assembly Bill 186 (Chapter 46, Statutes of 2022), which also includes the
Workforce & Quality Incentive Program and
Accountability Sanctions Program. SNFs wishing to participate in the WSP for calendar years 2024 and 2025 must submit the required opt-in materials no later than December 1, 2024. Please visit the
SNF WSP webpage for more information.
Additionally, on November 6, from 10 to 11 a.m. PST, DHCS will host a provider
webinar (advance registration required) to provide an overview of the WSP opt-in process. Providers can send questions they would like answered during the webinar to
SNFWSP@dhcs.ca.gov by October 30.
2024 Population Health Management (PHM) Strategy Deliverable – Template Links Now Available
In June 2024, DHCS posted instructions for Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) to complete the 2024 PHM Strategy Deliverable. The fillable PDF templates for the deliverable, including the
Submission Instructions, Part 1 Template, and
Part 2 Template, are now available on the
PHM webpage. The initial due date for the deliverable was October 31, but the deadline was extended to November 22 for MCPs needing more time.
The purpose of this annual deliverable is to provide DHCS with updates on MCPs' PHM programs, including progress in meaningful participation in the Community Health Assessments (CHA)/Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) led by Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJ) in the service areas where MCPs operate. The MCP-LHJ collaboration on the CHA/CHIP will support MCPs' ability to identify needs and strengths within members' communities as well as reduce siloed approaches to PHM. This collaboration will allow MCPs and their community partners to improve the lives of members more effectively.
Update: Equity and Practice Transformation (EPT) Payments Program
DHCS'
EPT is a directed payment program that incentivizes participating Medi-Cal contracted primary care practices to work on activities to improve quality, population health, and health equity in alignment with DHCS'
Comprehensive Quality Strategy. During the week of July 17, DHCS announced to all participating stakeholders the EPT program updates and changes after approval of the final fiscal year 2024-25 budget, which reduced EPT funding by 80 percent. The budget requires restructuring the program to ensure it is practical and successful. All original primary practices are eligible to remain in the newly restructured program. However, the maximum potential payments that practices can earn have been reduced. Additionally, the number of activities and milestones have been restructured and reduced. Please see the
new activities and milestones. DHCS has no plans for a second EPT cohort.
DHCS and the Population Health Learning Center held webinars for practices, MCPs, and associations during the week of July 22 to provide an overview of the program redesign. Practices were given detailed information and instructions about how to opt out of the program if it does not align with practices' current goals and strategic plans. Technical assistance webinars for the practices began on August 12.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking highly skilled, exceptionally motivated individuals to serve as:
- Chief, Provider Enrollment Division (PED) to lead the development and implementation of policies, processes, and services related to provider enrollment, 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 business requirements and enhancements for the Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment system. (Final filing date: October 14)
- Chief, Local Governmental Financing Division 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 financing oversight activities. (Final filing date: October 18)
DHCS is also hiring for its
website, auditing, health policy, information technology, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee Meeting
On October 8, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the inaugural meeting of the
Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee (advance registration required). This committee, a non-statutorily required part of the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Transformation, supports the development of a quality and equity strategy for behavioral health. The committee collaborates with DHCS to provide feedback on the requirements for measuring and evaluating behavioral health services. The meeting is open to the public, who will have an opportunity to comment. Visit the
Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for more information, or email questions to
BHTInfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
Improving Access to Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Webinar
DHCS released updated policies that will allow members to access ECM more quickly and will standardize administrative practices across MCPs. DHCS worked extensively with stakeholders to develop an updated ECM presumptive authorization policy in the
ECM Policy Guide (page 107), which allows qualified ECM providers to offer services immediately upon meeting a member for up to 30 days while a formal referral is made. In addition, DHCS released statewide
ECM Referral Standards that will require streamlined, uniform practices across MCPs, including new guidance prohibiting certain types of information collection that could delay the timely receipt of ECM services. The policy and standards take effect on January 1, 2025, and MCPs 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 policy and standards. Advance webinar registration is required. This webinar is open to all and will be of special interest to MCPs, providers, community partners, and organizations referring members to ECM. Stakeholders may also direct questions about the new guidance to
CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov.
Updated Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) Guide and Integrated Training Guide (ITG) Webinars
On October 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT, the University of California, Davis will host an informational
webinar (advance registration required) 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 webinar will provide a general overview of the updated ICPM Guide and ITG and practice-level content. A prior webinar held on September 18 provided a general overview of the updated ICPM Guide and ITG, leadership behaviors, and implementation for members of local Interagency Leadership Teams.
California Children's Services Advisory Group Meeting
On October 9, DHCS will host the quarterly meeting of the California Children's Services (CCS) Advisory Group. DHCS and the CCS Advisory Group partner to ensure children in the CCS/Whole Child Model (WCM) program receive appropriate and timely access to quality care. Agenda topics include a post-transition update on the Kaiser Permanente January 1, 2024, WCM implementation and the WCM January 2025 expansion progress, as well as updates from Blue Shield Promise Health Care Plan on childhood lead poisoning prevention services; the CCS Compliance, Monitoring, and Oversight Workgroup; and the CCS Redesign Performance Measure Quality Subcommittee. Additional information and meeting details are available on the
CCS Advisory Group webpage.
Behavioral Health Task Force (BHTF) Webinar
On October 15, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PDT, the
BHTF will hold a
webinar on population-based prevention (advanced registration is required). Participants include Dr. Tomás Aragón, MD, DrPH, Director of CDPH and State Public Health Officer, and Julie Nagasako, Deputy Director of the Office of Policy and Planning at CDPH. This webinar will help prepare attendees for an in-depth discussion at the November 13 BHTF quarterly meeting. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the
BHTF website. For questions, comments, or to join the BHTF listserv, please email
BehavioralHealthTaskForce@chhs.ca.gov.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting
On October 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host the
SAC/BH-SAC meeting (advance registration required) at 1700 K Street (first floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento. SAC provides DHCS with valuable input on ongoing California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) implementation efforts and helps DHCS further its efforts to provide high-quality, equitable care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input regarding behavioral health activities and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. It incorporates existing groups that have advised DHCS on behavioral health topics. For more information, please email
SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or
BehavioralHealthSAC@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 promote harm reduction within California's substance use disorder (SUD) treatment system and create low-barrier, patient-centered care. DHCS encourages SUD treatment providers and staff (including social workers, peers, front desk staff, case managers, nurses, physicians, and all staff in SUD treatment settings) to attend and learn about best practices for incorporating the tenets of harm reduction into SUD treatment. Additional summits will be held in Fresno County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County in winter 2025. Register on the
event website.
Chosen Family Webinar: Contraception for Transgender and Gender Diverse People
On October 29, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PDT, DHCS and the California Prevention Training Center will host the
Chosen Family: Contraception for Transgender and Gender Diverse People webinar (advanced registration required). Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people represent a growing subset of patient populations, yet many continue to report a lack of provider knowledge when it comes to TGD health. This webinar will build upon TGD health terminology and competency essentials by reviewing evidence-based recommendations for contraceptive counseling. 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 at a later date.
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
register, please visit DHCS'
HACCP webpage.
HACCP Webinar for Families and Community Partners
On December 3, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a webinar to share guidance with families and community partners about applying for hearing aid coverage and maximizing HACCP benefits once enrolled. For more information and to
pre-register, please visit the
HACCP webpage.
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 must sign up for a pre-application consultation by October 15 in order to be eligible. Applications must be submitted by December 13. 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.
