December 9, 2024
Top News
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 2 Public Comment Period
On December 3, DHCS opened the public comment period for the
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 2 and will accept comments through December 23, 2024. The final Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual, set for release in early 2025, will guide counties in implementing Behavioral Health Transformation, California's initiative to improve mental health and substance use services statewide.
DHCS will use feedback from the Policy Manual Module 1 public comment period to inform the development of subsequent modules, ensuring the final manual is comprehensive and effective. Modules are being released in parts to allow timely access to materials based on stakeholder input. All modules are hosted on a new online platform that ensures version control, public access, and easy navigation, review, and feedback.
We invite you to review Module 2 and provide your input
here. Your feedback is crucial to shaping the future of behavioral health services and supports in California. To learn how to use the platform, please watch this
instructional training video. For public comment-related inquiries, please email
BHTPolicyFeedback@dhcs.ca.gov.
New Sites Opening to Bring Vital Behavioral Health Care Services to Teens and Adults
On December 5, DHCS
expanded residential services to treat substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health needs at two sites in California. Friends of the Mission hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Walter's House II, which will provide substance use disorder treatment for adults in Yolo County. Aspiranet hosted a groundbreaking for the Central Valley Transition Aged Youth Independence Program, which will provide a short-term residential therapeutic program and a substance use disorder outpatient treatment facility for youth ages 15 to 19.
DHCS awarded Friends of the Mission $12.4 million and Aspiranet $8.7 million through the
Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, which is part of California's ongoing commitment to expand behavioral health services for all Californians. With the passage of Proposition 1,
even more behavioral health treatment facilities will be funded and built in 2025 and 2026.
Program Updates
CARE Act Launched Statewide
On December 2, DHCS announced the statewide launch of California's
Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, a new pathway to safety and well-being for people with untreated or undertreated schizophrenia who are at risk of hospitalization, homelessness, and incarceration. CARE aims to help the system of care meet the needs of people who have fallen through the cracks with robust and comprehensive services, including behavioral health services, stabilization medications, and housing. Counties, families, first responders, behavioral health providers, homeless services providers, and others are able to connect clients to meaningful wraparound treatment and services. This short
video shares a recent success story from San Diego. Training, technical assistance, and other resources are available on the
CARE Act Resource Center. Please e-mail
CAREAct@chhs.ca.gov to join the CARE listserv to receive updates and information about future stakeholder events.
Providing Access and Transforming Health (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.
Transition to Medicare Part A Buy-In Agreement
On January 1, 2025, California will become a
Medicare Part A buy-in state, meaning eligible Medi-Cal members will receive Medicare Part A services for free if they are enrolled in Medicare Part B and they qualify for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program. For these members, Medicare, instead of Medi-Cal, will provide primary coverage for hospitalizations and other inpatient benefits covered through Medicare Part A. California's new Medicare Part A buy-in agreement with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will eliminate the conditional enrollment requirements for Medicare Part A at the Social Security Administration. As a Part A buy-in state, California can enroll eligible QMB members in Medicare Part A year-round through a streamlined enrollment process without any late enrollment penalties.
All eligible full-scope Medi-Cal members receiving Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A if they are enrolled in Medicare Part B and qualify for the QMB program. Non-SSI/SSP individuals can enroll in the QMB program once enrolled in Medicare Part B by applying at their county office. Following their QMB enrollment, DHCS will automatically enroll them in the Medicare Part A buy-in and pay their Part A premium.
Draft AB 988 Five-Year Implementation Plan
An updated version of the draft
Five-Year Implementation Plan is now available on the
CalHHS 988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group website. The posting of this updated draft comes at the start of the final public comment period, extended from November 26 through December 10. Please send written comments to
AB988Info@chhs.ca.gov. For all specific comments and/or feedback, please include the corresponding page number and location on the page. (Comments typed in a Word document or PDF format may be included as an e-mail attachment.)
Join Our Team
DHCS is seeking talented and motivated individuals to serve as:
- 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.
- Chief of the Managed Care Quality and Monitoring Division to lead compliance-related activities for the state's Medi-Cal managed care plans. These activities include, but are not limited to, developing and implementing policies, establishing standard operating procedures, engaging in continual improvement efforts, providing technical assistance, and conducting risk analysis for managed care plan audit programs in partnership with DHCS' Contract and Enrollment Review Division. Applications must be submitted by December 26.
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
Tribal and Indian Health Program Representatives Meeting
On December 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the
Tribal and Indian Health Program representatives meeting to provide updates on DHCS programs and initiatives. DHCS hosts these quarterly meetings to facilitate early engagement and discussion with Tribal partners on the development of DHCS policies that may affect health care for American Indians in California. These meetings are intended to allow Tribal and Indian Health Programs representatives to provide feedback on elements of DHCS initiatives with specific impact on Tribes, Indian Health Programs, and American Indian Medi-Cal members. Please see the
Indian Health Program webpage for more information, or email your questions to
TribalAffairs@dhcs.ca.gov.
Long-Term Care (LTC) Learning Series: Managed Care Resources for LTC Providers
On December 17, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. PST, DHCS will host the Managed Care Resources for LTC Providers session (
advanced registration required) as part of its educational LTC Learning Series. This session is aimed at skilled nursing facilities, subacute care facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled and includes an overview of newly developed resources that provide information and helpful tips on various managed care topics. Topics include Medi-Cal eligibility and managed care plan enrollment, LTC authorizations, and managed care billing and payment. The session will include discussions with MCP guest speakers.
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 details about the LTC Learning Series are available on the
CalAIM LTC Carve-In transition webpage.
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.
In Case You Missed It
2024 Legislative Summary Finalized
DHCS' Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs issued the final
2024 Legislative Summary. This comprehensive report of all policy and budget bills impacting DHCS highlights those signed or vetoed by the Governor. It also includes full copies of veto messages, offering valuable insights into the decision-making process shaping California's health care landscape.
This year's legislative activity addressed critical topics, such as behavioral health reforms, Medi-Cal enhancements, and innovative approaches to community health and pharmacy benefits, showcasing California's commitment to advancing health care for all.
