December 8, 2025
Program Updates
Draft Evidence-Based Practices Resource Guide: Public Comment Period
On December 8, DHCS released the Draft Evidence-Based Practices and Community-Defined Evidence Practices (EBP/CDEP) Resource Guide for public comment, which will remain open through January 16, 2026. This guide serves as a centralized resource to help current and prospective EBP/CDEP providers, including community-based organizations, schools, and counties, navigate new state tools and Medi-Cal billing pathways as they provide culturally responsive, evidence-informed behavioral health services tailored to the values, beliefs, and needs of the diverse communities they serve. It is especially relevant for those funded through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), and Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) initiative, a key component of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). The guide includes an overview of 43 EBPs, reimbursement considerations for CDEPs, and strategies for leveraging existing Medi-Cal authorities to fund and sustain services.
On December 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a webinar to share the guide with providers and encourage public comment. The webinar will walk through the guide's contents and explain how it supports implementation and sustainability of EBPs/CDEPs. Stakeholders may submit written comments here or by emailing CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov with the subject line “Public Comment: EBP/CDEP Guidance Manual." Please include in the email the section you are proposing edits to, the recommended edit, and the reason for the change.
Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual Module 4: Public Comment Period
On December 1, DHCS opened the public comment period for draft Module 4 of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Policy Manual. Comments will be accepted through December 19. Module 4 provides counties and behavioral health partners with practical guidance on:
- EBPs: Services proven effective through research and data.
- CDEPs: Approaches rooted in community experience and cultural relevance.
- Full Service Partnership (FSP) requirements: Standards for intensive, wraparound care for people with the most significant behavioral health needs.
- Oversight and accountability: Clear expectations for reporting, compliance, enforcement, and provider monitoring.
The BHSA is California's updated framework for behavioral health care, created to expand access to mental health and substance use treatment, increase housing and workforce capacity, and improve accountability. The County Policy Manual helps counties implement the BHSA by providing clear, phased guidance. This effort is part of Mental Health for All, California's bold initiative to expanding treatment, housing, and culturally responsive care while strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
DHCS will review all feedback and update the County Policy Manual, which will be published online and organized by topic. Submit your comments. For guidance on the feedback process, view the instructional training video. For questions about the County Policy Manual, contact BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov. For public comment-related inquiries, contact BHTPolicyFeedback@dhcs.ca.gov.
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking a talented and motivated individual to serve as:
- Chief, Financial Management Division: The Chief develops policies and procedures to ensure the fiscal integrity, transparency, and accountability of approximately $202 billion in annual state and federal funding for DHCS. The Chief is also responsible for accounting; budget development, enactment, and administration; and financial reporting. Applications must be submitted by December 26.
DHCS is also hiring for its Accounting, Medi-Cal Eligibility, Managed Care, 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.
Updated Medi-Cal Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Provider Requirements
DHCS has updated the Medi-Cal provider enrollment requirements and procedures for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) providers. These changes are being made in accordance with the passage of Assembly Bill 471 (Chapter 372, Statutes of 2021). Currently, applicants or providers offering NEMT services using litter vans or wheelchair vans must include a standard brake and light certificate issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs as part of their enrollment application. However, due to the termination of the standard brake and light certificate program, effective September 27, 2024, DHCS no longer accepts these certificates for NEMT applications received after March 27, 2025. Certificates issued prior to the program's end remain valid for six months, through March 27, 2025. Beginning on that date, NEMT providers must instead submit a valid Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection certificate issued by the Bureau of Automotive Repair with their enrollment application.
To discuss these changes, DHCS will host a public hearing via webinar on December 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PST. Advance registration is required to participate in the webinar and provide verbal public comments. Written comments, questions, or suggestions may be submitted during the hearing via the webinar chat. For those unable to attend, written comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. PST on December 9 to be considered for publication. All written comments must clearly identify the commenter and their organization or association, if affiliated with one. Comments should be submitted to DHCSPEDStakeholder@dhcs.ca.gov. DHCS will review all public input and publish the final bulletin on the Medi-Cal and DHCS Provider Enrollment Division websites.
In Case You Missed It
DHCS Awarded $145.5 Million to Providers to Transform California's Medi-Cal System
On November 18, DHCS awarded $145.5 million to 153 organizations providing Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports services to Medi-Cal members. ECM and Community Supports are core components of CalAIM, DHCS' broad transformation of Medi-Cal to create a more coordinated, person-centered, and equitable health system that works for all Californians. This funding is part of the Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) initiative, and serves to enhance community providers' capacity to partner with managed care plans and participate in the Medi-Cal delivery system. Since its launch in 2022, DHCS has awarded more than $1.66 billion to more than 2,200 organizations through its PATH initiatives, including CITED, Collaborative Planning and Implementation, and the Technical Assistance Marketplace to support the expansion of ECM and Community Supports. Recent data show these major upfront investments are resulting in long-term savings, as Community Supports have proven to be cost-effective by reducing avoidable emergency visits, hospitalizations, and long-term care use.
Skilled Nursing Facility Value Strategy Workgroup: Call for Nominations
DHCS is seeking nominations for a new workgroup to support the development and implementation of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value Strategy. This workgroup will provide input on program design and implementation to inform the reauthorization of the Medi-Cal Long-Term Care (LTC) Reimbursement Act (Welfare & Institutions Code §14126 et seq.) for services provided on or after January 1, 2027. The Act governs Medi-Cal financing for Freestanding SNFs and presents a key opportunity to build upon initiatives, such as the CalAIM LTC Carve-In [RC1] and AB 186 Nursing Facility Financing Reform.[RC2] The SNF Value Strategy will include an analysis of payment methodologies used by Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other payers, and will outline a five-year roadmap for system transformation and integration. To nominate yourself or a colleague, please complete this form [RC3] by 8 p.m. PST on December 8. Selected members should plan to attend meetings approximately monthly beginning in January 2026 and through the implementation period. If you have any questions, please email SNFValueStrategy@dhcs.ca.gov, and visit the DHCS SNF Value Strategy webpage for more information.
Assisted Living Waiver Amendment Application: Public Comment Period
On November 24, DHCS posted a draft amendment to the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) for a 30-day public comment period, prior to submitting the final version to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for reauthorization. This amendment applies to the current waiver term through February 28, 2029. The ALW provides personal care, homemaker services, and health aid support in community settings, and reduces reliance on institutional care by supporting individuals in more independent environments. The goal of the amendment is to clarify guidance and expectations for the provision of residential habilitation, care coordination services through telehealth, and medication management. The ALW amendment application and comment instructions are posted on the DHCS ALW webpage. All comments must be received by December 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST. If you have any questions, please email ALWP.IR@dhcs.ca.gov.
