November 3, 2025
Program Updates
New Behavioral Health Brochure for Medi-Cal Members
DHCS is pleased to announce the release of a new brochure, “Your Guide to Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Services: What's Covered and How to Get Care," which is now available in both
English and
Spanish. This comprehensive, easy-to-read resource is designed to help Medi-Cal members understand and access behavioral health services available to them, including mental health and substance use disorder services, for both youth and adults. Key features include an overview of non-specialty mental health services for mild conditions like anxiety and stress, specialty mental health services for more serious conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder services, including counseling, withdrawal management, medications, and recovery services, for both mild and more serious conditions.
The brochure also includes information specific to providing culturally responsive care for American Indian/Alaska Native members, as well as helpful tools, such as crisis lines, mobile apps, and contact information to enable Medi-Cal members to connect with support more easily. Please email
Medi.Cal.Benefits@dhcs.ca.gov if you have any questions.
Mailing of Medi-Cal Notice to Certain Adult Immigrants
On November 7, DHCS will begin mailing a General Information Notice and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to Medi-Cal members who have no immigration status or an unverified immigration status, or certain non-immigrant visa holders who are active on full-scope Medi-Cal. The purpose of the notice is to inform members of changes to coverage affecting this population, including the elimination of dental services, effective July 1, 2026. Members will receive the General Information Notice and FAQ in their preferred language and alternative format, if applicable. Medi-Cal members can contact the Telephone Service Center at (800) 541-5555 if they have any questions.
Effective January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal members who enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal due to the Medi-Cal adult expansion will retain their full-scope coverage; however, new applicants who do not have satisfactory immigration status and are aged 19 and older and not pregnant or within the one-year postpartum will only be eligible for restricted-scope Medi-Cal. Applicants and members must provide proof of their immigration status to ensure the correct scope of Medi-Cal coverage is granted. Copies of the notices are available in
Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letter I 25-22.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:
- Chief, Managed Care Quality and Monitoring Division. The Chief is responsible for leading and overseeing compliance-related activities for Medi-Cal MCPs. Activities include, but are not limited to, partnering with health care professionals to develop and implement statewide MCP policies, processes, and change management efforts, as well as providing technical assistance and conducting risk analysis for audit and compliance programs related to MCPs. A higher salary range is available for a licensed physician. Applications must be submitted by November 7.
DHCS is also hiring for its Accounting, Health Care Financing, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
DHCS posts upcoming public meetings on the DHCS
Calendar of Events. DHCS provides free assistive services, including language interpretation, real-time captioning, and alternate formatting of meeting materials. To request services, please email DHCS at the appropriate contact email address at least ten working days before the meeting.
Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting
On November 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the quarterly MCHAP meeting at 1700 K Street, Sacramento, in the first floor conference room (17.1014) or via
public webinar. MCHAP advises DHCS on policy and operational issues that affect children enrolled in Medi-Cal. The meeting will provide information on several key topics, including improving preventive care services through Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens; Drug Medi-Cal and Drug Medi-Cal-Organized Delivery System: Penetration rate data and discussion; and the California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal (Cal-MAP). For more information, please email
MCHAP@dhcs.ca.gov.
Proposition 64 Advisory Group Meeting
On November 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the
Proposition 64 Advisory Group meeting. The meeting will be held in hybrid format at the Sierra Health Foundation Center for Health Program Management, 2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento. At the meeting, participants will hear presentations from the California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Social Services (CDSS), California Department of Public Health, and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation on progress achieved over the last year with their Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment (YEPEITA)-funded programs. DHCS will also provide an overview of the
2025 YEPEITA Legislative Report. Meeting information, including the agenda and other materials, will be posted on the
Proposition 64 Advisory Group webpage. Please email your questions to
DHCSProp64@dhcs.ca.gov.
CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup Meeting
On November 19, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM)
Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Duals Integration Workgroup meeting (advance registration required). The workgroup is a stakeholder collaboration hub for CalAIM MLTSS and integrated care for dual eligible members. It allows stakeholders to provide feedback and share information about policy, operations, and strategy for upcoming changes to Medi-Cal and Medicare. The meeting agenda includes updates on the 2026 Medi-Medi Plan expansion, Exclusively Aligned Enrollment (EAE) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) default enrollment pilot, and 2026 D-SNP State Medicaid Agency Contract and Policy Guide. It will also cover Medi-Medi Plan coordination with county behavioral health and duals data on Medicare Enrollment. More information, background materials, transcripts, and video recordings of previous workgroup meetings are posted on the
CalAIM MLTSS and Duals Integration Workgroup webpage. For questions or comments, please email DHCS at
info@calduals.org.
Coverage Ambassador Webinar Series
On November 20, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a
Coverage Ambassador webinar (advanced registration required). DHCS will share overviews of the Medi-Cal adult expansion enrollment freeze and asset limit reinstatement and upcoming changes to the Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy benefit. Coverage Ambassadors help spread the word about Medi-Cal benefits, enrollment information, and new projects focused on creating a healthy California for all. Please visit the
Coverage Ambassador website for more information, including how to
subscribe to receive regular updates.
In Case You Missed It
CalHHS Connect Webinar Posted: How Federal Policy Changes are Impacting a Healthy California for All
Earlier this year, the Republican majority in Congress and President Trump enacted H.R. 1. On October 27, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) leadership
shared the latest efforts to address H.R. 1's impact on safety-net programs in California. The session provided an update on the state's application for the Rural Health Transformation Program, the opportunity to strengthen health care access, quality, and outcomes in rural communities, and how DHCS is preparing to implement work requirements in the Medi-Cal program. Speakers included CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson, DHCS Director Michelle Baass, CDSS Director Jennifer Troia, and California Department of Health Care Access & Information Director Elizabeth Landsberg.
Smile, California: Mobile Dental Van Events (Modoc County)
On November 6 to 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, Mobile Dental Van events will be held in Modoc County to provide free dental services. The van will be located at 701 N Main Street, Suite 6, Alturas.
Smile, California will support the event with a custom flyer, social media posts, and a Smile Alert to notify members and partners of the upcoming event. Visitors are encouraged to call 1-888-585-3368 to pre-register and complete the consent forms before the events.
Proposed Amendment to Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities
DHCS is seeking input from members, providers, and other interested stakeholders on the proposed amendment to the Medi-Cal HCBS 1915(c) Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities (HCBS-DD waiver). DHCS plans to submit the proposed waiver amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by November 28, for a proposed effective date of March 1, 2026. Copies of the proposed amendment can be obtained, and comments may be submitted, by emailing Federal.Programs@dds.ca.gov. Please include “HCBS Waiver" in the subject line or message. To ensure consideration, comments must be received by November 12. While comments submitted after this date will still be accepted, DHCS may not be able to review them before submitting the HCBS-DD waiver amendment to CMS.
