DHCS Stakeholder News - July 28, 2023
Top News
Coming Soon: Enhanced Care Management (ECM)/Community Supports Year-One Report
On August 1, DHCS will release a new report that highlights the number of Californians accessing and utilizing the wide array of services and benefits provided by Medi-Cal's new ECM and Community Supports, the foundational components of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). DHCS launched ECM and Community Supports in January 2022.
The report outlines the impact of ECM, which provides accessible and better-coordinated health-related services to members with the highest clinical and non-clinical needs, and Community Supports services. The report will be posted on the
ECM and Community Supports webpage.
Additionally, DHCS recently introduced policy refinements and reinforcement for
ECM and
Community Supports to
standardize processes and reduce administrative burden for providers and members, with the goal of expanding the reach of ECM and Community Supports in 2023 and beyond. DHCS also published a presentation, “Enhanced Care Management/Community Supports: A Policy "Cheat Sheet", summarizing key ECM and Community Supports policies, including the difference between state-standardized and MCP-defined policies, targeting providers.
Program Updates
Coming Soon: California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Public Comment Period and Hearings
On August 1, DHCS will solicit input on the Section 1115 BH-CONNECT demonstration application. A full draft of the proposed BH-CONNECT demonstration application and initial notice of public interest will be posted on the
BH-CONNECT webpage. Two public hearings will be held on August 11 and 24; additional details will be announced on August 1.
Join Our Team
DHCS has immediate openings for two executive roles:
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Assistant Chief Counsel, Program Integrity and Compliance: This position is responsible for complex legal counsel and litigation strategy formulation pertaining to audits and investigations, privacy, compliance, and administration.
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Chief, Medi-Cal Eligibility Division: This position provides leadership, direction, and coordination of eligibility policy and operations among DHCS, California counties, and the federal government regarding Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Candidates who previously applied for this position do not need to re-apply.
DHCS is also hiring for our fiscal, human resources, legal, auditing, health policy, and information technology teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
DHCS is dedicated to preserving and improving the overall health and well-being of all Californians. DHCS' mission is to provide the most vulnerable residents with equitable access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, and is currently transforming the Medi-Cal program to make sure it provides the care Californians need to live healthier, happier lives.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Consumer Focused Stakeholder Workgroup (CFSW) Meeting
On August 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., DHCS will host the next virtual CFSW meeting. Meeting materials and how to join the meeting will be posted on the
CFSW webpage no later than noon on August 2.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Webinar
On August 7, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., DHCS will virtually host a
CYBHI webinar (advance registration required) to keep stakeholders apprised of DHCS' progress in implementing various CYBHI work streams. Key attendees include youth, parents, family members, behavioral health providers, Medi-Cal managed care plans, county behavioral health departments, commercial health plans, education, and other cross-sector partners.
Medi-Cal Renewal Data Webinar
On August 7, from 3 to 4 p.m., DHCS will virtually host a webinar on the new
DHCS unwinding data dashboard (advance registration required) to discuss data for June 2023 Medi-Cal renewals, the first month of California's redeterminations since the end of the federal continuous coverage requirement on March 31. These data will include initial disenrollments from Medi-Cal eligibility renewals that occurred on July 1. Annual renewals will continue monthly, with the last eligibility renewal under the continuous coverage requirement occurring in May 2024, followed by a return to the normal annual renewal process.
ECM and Community Supports Webinars
DHCS will host two virtual webinars (advance registration required) for all stakeholders to provide an overview of the progress on ECM and Community Supports implementation and to discuss important policy refinements and areas of reinforcement. The webinars will cover a range of topics, including eligibility, referrals and authorizations, provider networks, payment, market awareness, and data exchange. Key insights from the ECM and Community Supports calendar year (CY) 2022 implementation report will also be unveiled:
For more information, visit the
ECM and Community Supports webpage. For questions, please email
CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov.
Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) Webinar for Medical Providers and Hearing Professionals
On September 14, from 12 to 1 p.m., DHCS will host a
HACCP webinar (advance registration required) to share information with providers to help pediatric patients and their families maximize HACCP benefits. The training session will address program requirements for families to apply for coverage and the claims submission process for audiologists, otolaryngologists, physicians, and their office staff.
In Case You Missed It
CLOSING SOON: Public Comment Period for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Telehealth Amendment
DHCS posted the HCBS waiver telehealth amendment on June 30, initiating a 30-day public comment period with a deadline to submit comments by July 30. DHCS requested and received federal approval to implement temporary operational flexibilities under different emergency authorities due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Flexibilities to four of California's 1915(c) HCBS waivers were authorized through temporary amendments that allowed states to extend emergency flexibilities for up to six months after the end of the COVID-19 PHE to November 11, 2023. One of the flexibilities approved during the COVID-19 PHE was the ability to provide waiver services via telehealth. To align with DHCS policy and to expand access to select waiver services, when appropriate, DHCS is submitting waiver amendments to make telehealth a permanent option for the following 1915(c) HCBS waivers:
- Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver
- Assisted Living Waiver
- Multipurpose Senior Services Program Waiver
- Medi-Cal Waiver Program
DHCS invites all interested parties to review the amendments and comment instructions on the
HCBS Waiver webpage. For questions, please email
HCBAlternatives@dhcs.ca.gov.
CLOSING SOON: Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Justice-Involved Program Round 3 Application
On July 31, the
PATH Justice-Involved Program Round 3 application window closes at 11:59 p.m. Round 3 funding supports correctional agencies, county behavioral health agencies, and other justice-involved stakeholders as they implement personnel, capacity, and/or IT systems that are needed for collaborative planning and implementation to effectuate pre-release service processes. For more information and to apply, visit the
Justice-Involved Program website.
On July 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., DHCS will host a virtual
office hour session (advanced registration required) to provide application support for prospective applicants.
Please contact
justice-involved@ca-path.com with any questions.
Introducing the Medi-Cal Communications Cohort
Join DHCS in spreading the word about the Medi-Cal transformation and the vital importance of Medi-Cal to millions of Californians. We invite your organization to join the Medi-Cal Communications Cohort, a new group of dedicated communicators. Together, we will work to promote the value of Medi-Cal to members, providers, and communities across California.
To join us and learn more about the Medi-Cal Communications Cohort, please email DHCSGetInvolved@dhcs.ca.gov. We look forward to collaborating with you.
