​November 25, 2024

Program Updates

DHCS Major Program Initiatives - Go-Live Dates (Updated)

From California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) to transforming the state's behavioral health programs, DHCS' initiatives provide equitable access to quality health care, leading to a healthy California for all. The links below reflect DHCS' major program initiatives and anticipated go-live dates, pending readiness and federal approvals. This useful resource available on the DHCS website has been updated, as of November 22, and new information will be added as needed:
DHCS Major Program Initiatives – Go-Live Dates.

New Family PACT Portal Coming in January 2025

On January 13, 2025, the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) program's client eligibility and enrollment transaction services will transition from the Health Access Programs Client Eligibility System to a new Family PACT portal. To access the new portal, existing users must confirm their site certifier contact information in the Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) portal to ensure it is up to date. If Family PACT providers do not have a current site certifier in PAVE, they must email the site certifier information (National Provider Identifier, first and last name, and email address) to providerservices@dhcs.ca.gov by December 13. Detailed instructions for accessing the Family PACT portal will be emailed to all enrolled and actively billing Family PACT site certifiers on January 12, 2025.

To support Family PACT providers during this transition, beginning in December 2024, providers will have access to comprehensive training materials and webinars through the Family PACT Online Training Center Learning Management System. These resources will ensure that providers are equipped to use the Family PACT portal effectively before it launches.

Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Round 5 Vendor Procurement

On January 1, 2025, DHCS will open the PATH TA Marketplace Round 5 vendor application. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2025. Round 5 will be a targeted procurement for new and existing hands-on service offerings that address TA Marketplace gaps. The Round 5 procurement will seek TA vendor applications for all seven TA domains, but will focus on services for the following provider types: rural providers, Medi-Cal Tribal and Designee of Indian Health Program providers, maternal and child-serving providers, and transitional rent providers.

DHCS will not accept submissions for new off-the-shelf projects or changes to existing off-the-shelf projects during the Round 5 procurement period. Instead, the Round 5 application will solicit on-demand resources from existing TA vendors. The resources must be already fully developed, meet the needs of the TA Marketplace, and include a final cost. Organizations interested in applying to qualify as a TA vendor are encouraged to review the guidance document. Please submit questions to ta-marketplace@ca-path.com.

PATH Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) Round 4 Application

On January 6, 2025, DHCS will open the PATH CITED Round 4 application window. The PATH CITED initiative provides funding to build the capacity and infrastructure of on-the-ground partners, including community-based organizations, hospitals, county agencies, Tribes, and others, to successfully participate in Medi-Cal. The deadline to apply for CITED Round 4 funding is 11:59 p.m. PST on March 7, 2025. Interested organizations are encouraged to access the application outline and guidance document to help prepare their application. Please submit questions to cited@ca-path.com.

PATH On-Demand Resource Library

The PATH On-Demand Resource Library provides free, static resources made available directly through the PATH website for organizations seeking to learn more about PATH and build their understanding and capacity to successfully contribute to Medi-Cal's transformation. On-demand resources are suitable for organizations at all levels of readiness for Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and/or Community Supports, including for the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative. Organizations do not need to register as TA recipients or apply to access on-demand resources. New on-demand resources will be available in late 2024. These offerings will include CalAIM navigator and Medi-Cal Managed Care 101 resources.

Updated Long-Term Care (LTC) Carve-In Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In October 2024, DHCS released three updated FAQs to help stakeholders navigate the ongoing transition of LTC services to Medi-Cal managed care. The updated FAQ documents further clarify updates that were made in the recently revised All Plan Letters (APL) for each LTC benefit type: Skilled Nursing Facilities (APL 24-009), Subacute Care (APL 24-010), and Intermediate Care Facility for Developmentally Disabled (ICF/DD) Homes (APL 24-011). Additional information and resources related to the LTC Carve-In are available on the CalAIM LTC Carve-In Transition website, Subacute Care Carve-In website, and ICF/DD Carve-In website.

Join Our Team

DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:

• Chief of the Contract and Enrollment Review Division (CERD) within Audits and Investigations. The Chief is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities for compliance reviews of health plans, providers, and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery Systems. The Chief also leads the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to program integrity of Medi-Cal and other DHCS programs. Applications must be submitted by December 6.
  

• Assistant Deputy Director for the Office of Strategic Partnerships to help lead the planning, development, and implementation of large-scale DHCS initiatives that build new cross-sector strategic partnerships beyond Medi-Cal, including those with other departments, commercial insurers, and innovators in technology and philanthropy, such as the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, CalHOPE, Medi-Cal School-Based Services, and Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative. Applications must be submitted by December 13.

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

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars

DHCS Harm Reduction Summits

DHCS aims to collaborate with communities across the state to promote harm reduction within California's substance use disorder treatment system and 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. Summits will be held in Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties in winter 2025. Register on the event website.

Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program Webinar

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 Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program benefits once enrolled. For more information and to pre-register, please visit the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program webpage.