​​October 28, 2024 - Stakeholder Update​​

Program Updates

Assembly Bill (AB) 988 Five-Year Implementation Plan

The California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) is inviting public comment on the draft AB 988 Five-Year Implementation Plan from November 4 to 14. CalHHS is required to prepare the plan as part of AB 988 (the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act). The plan provides recommendations to support the implementation of a comprehensive 988 crisis system. The draft AB 988 Five-Year Implementation Plan will be available on the CalHHS 988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group website on November 4. Please send written comments to AB988Info@chhs.ca.gov before November 14.

Additionally, on November 4, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. PST, CalHHS will host an informational webinar on the plan (advance registration required). The webinar recording and materials will be posted on the CalHHS 988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group website within one week following the webinar. Please email any questions to AB988Info@chhs.ca.gov.

Join Our Team

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

• Deputy Director (DD), Health Care Benefits and Eligibility (HCBE) to lead all aspects of developing, implementing, and evaluating Medi-Cal benefits and eligibility, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Family Planning Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Program, and other specified programs. The DD for HCBE also ensures adherence to state and federal requirements related to Tribal engagement and consultative activities and plays a key role in fulfilling DHCS' organizational purpose to provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all. (Final filing date: November 8)
  

DHCS is hiring for its auditing, health policy, information technology, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars

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 (advance registration required) for providers. 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 review 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.

Behavioral Health Transformation Public Listening Sessions

On October 30, from 12 to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will host a public listening session on Full Service Partnership programs under the Behavioral Health Services Act. During this session, which is open to the public, attendees may comment on the guidance DHCS is developing for Full Service Partnership programs. On November 4, from 3 to 4 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a public listening session on behavioral health services and support under the Behavioral Health Services Act. During this session, which is open to the public, attendees may comment on the guidance DHCS is developing for behavioral health services and support.

Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for more information about the public listening sessions and additional resources. Please send questions related to Behavioral Health Transformation and/or the public listening sessions to BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov. Additionally, please sign up on our website to receive Behavioral Health Transformation updates.

Behavioral Health Services Act Revenue and Stability Workgroup Meeting

On October 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT, DHCS will hold the Behavioral Health Services Act Revenue and Stability Workgroup meeting. The purpose of the workgroup is to assess year-over-year fluctuations in tax revenues generated by the Behavioral Health Services Act, in recognition of the need for a reliable strategy for short-term and long-term fiscal stability. Registered participants will be able to make written comments during the public comment period. Please note that although there is an in-person conference room available, the DHCS presenters for the meeting will be presenting virtually. Please email your questions to BHTInfo@dhcs.ca.gov.

Long-Term Care (LTC) Learning Series: LTC Policy Update

On November 4, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a LTC Policy Update session (advance registration required) as part of the educational LTC Learning Series. The LTC Policy Update will provide a dedicated forum for DHCS to engage with institutional LTC stakeholders, including intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled, skilled nursing facilities, and subacute care providers, as well as Medi-Cal managed care plans, on updates to LTC guidance, relevant California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiatives, and other important LTC policies that provide a comprehensive approach to supporting LTC members. 

LTC Learning Series participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance when registering for the session or by emailing them to LTCtransition@dhcs.ca.gov. Additional information about the LTC Learning Series is available on the CalAIM LTC Carve-In transition webpage.

Skilled Nursing Facility Workforce Standards Program

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 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Workforce Standards Program (WSP) opt-in process launched by DHCS on October 1. Providers can send questions they would like answered during the webinar to SNFWSP@dhcs.ca.gov by October 30.

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. 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.

California Children's Services (CCS) Redesign Performance Measure Quality Subcommittee Meeting

On November 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. PST, DHCS will virtually host the CCS Redesign Performance Measure Quality Subcommittee meeting in accordance with AB 118 (Chapter 42, Statues of 2023). DHCS and the subcommittee are working to operationalize utilization and quality measures to be reported on an annual basis that relate to CCS specialty care and report measures for both Whole Child Model and Classic CCS counties. Agenda topics for this meeting include a recap of the May 2024 meeting, preview of the demographic dimension dashboards, discussion of the measure approach and specifications, and review of stratification by CCS-eligible conditions. Additional information and meeting details are available on the CCS Redesign Performance Measure Quality Subcommittee webpage.

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

On November 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the quarterly MCHAP meeting at 1500 Capitol Avenue, Building 172/Room 168, Sacramento, 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 Behavioral Health Transformation, Medi-Cal's Strategy to Support Health and Opportunity for Children and Families, and Medi-Cal dental.

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinars

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. 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.

DHCS Harm Reduction Summits

Registration is currently open for the DHCS Harm Reduction Summit in San Mateo County on 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.

In Case You Missed It

Medi-Cal Coverage of Traditional Healers and Natural Helpers

On October 16, DHCS announced that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the state's request to cover Traditional Healer and Natural Helper Services in the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, which will expand access to culturally based SUD treatment services for American Indian and Alaska Native Medi-Cal members. This policy change is years in the making and provides eligible Medi-Cal members access to this care through Indian Health Services facilities, Tribal health clinics, and Urban Indian organizations. Read what they're saying about this historic approval.

Enhanced Care Management for LTC Populations

DHCS is spotlighting how Enhanced Care Management (ECM) is transforming care for adults in or at risk of entering LTC settings. The ECM Population of Focus Spotlight shows how providers can deliver life-changing, intensive care management to help Medi-Cal members safely remain in their homes and communities. With practical tips and real-life stories, this resource offers a roadmap for current and future ECM providers, including how to tap into vital Community Supports services that make a real difference in member lives.​