​​​​​DHCS Stakeholder News - October ​28, 2022

​The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is providing this update of significant developments regarding DHCS programs.​

Top News

California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) Wave 1 Migration 

On October 31, 2022, Placer and Yolo counties will join the 40 counties that comprise the CalSAWS consortium. California's 58 counties are currently split between two eligibility and enrollment systems: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Information Network (CalWIN) and CalSAWS, with the expectation that the 18 CalWIN counties will migrate into CalSAWS by December 31, 2023. Placer and Yolo counties will be the first wave of CalWIN counties migrating to CalSAWS. Placer and Yolo counties will also migrate to the statewide application portal, BenefitsCal— residents of these counties can apply for benefits and create an account with BenefitsCal starting on October 31.

To complete the migration, CalWIN will be unavailable to these two counties beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, until Placer and Yolo counties are active in CalSAWS on Monday, October 31 at 8 a.m. During this downtime on Friday, October 28, social services offices in Placer and Yolo counties will be open and available to address emergency services. CalWIN counties will continue to have access to a CalWIN system environment, so county staff can see current case information and issue Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Cards. Additionally, the CalWIN web portal (MyBenefitsCalWIN) will direct applicants and beneficiaries to county websites and Covered California to apply for benefits. There should be no disruption to the other 16 CalWIN counties.

Program Updates

Coming Soon for Family PACT: Monkeypox (MPox) Vaccines and Orthopoxvirus Laboratory Test

DHCS will reimburse the administration of MPox vaccines and the orthopoxvirus laboratory test as Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) program benefits, effective for dates of service on or after August 17, 2022, through the end of the federal MPox public health emergency. MPox vaccine administration and the orthopoxvirus laboratory test are Family PACT benefits only when provided during a family planning visit as a family planning-related service.

For additional information, please view the following Medi-Cal bulletins: Coming Soon for Family PACT: Monkeypox Vaccine Reimbursement at the Medicare Rate and Coming Soon for Family PACT: Orthopoxvirus Laboratory Test.

California Hub and Spoke System (CA H&SS) Request for Application (RFA)

On October 31, DHCS will release a RFA totaling $51.3 million for the CA H&SS for project activities from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. CA H&SS will improve access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for marginalized populations; improve MAT provider infrastructure and expand service hours and appropriate telehealth services; and broaden the concept of the patient population from an individual to include the family to maximize recovery capital, support family resiliency, and destigmatize treatment.

Entities may apply to receive up to $1 million annually to fund prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of opioid and substance use disorders. Any Medi-Cal providers licensed to provide MAT services in California will be eligible to apply. This funding will be used to further the development and implementation of regional “Hubs" (Regional Centers of Excellence in MAT) and “Spokes" (any federally approved DATA-2000 waivered prescribers who prescribe or dispense buprenorphine) that collectively coordinate on outreach, patient services, and training and technical assistance to enhance the opioid and substance use continuum of care. The RFA will be posted on the Advocates for Human Potential website.

Statewide Transition Plan (STP) Public Comment Period

On October 14, DHCS posted the STP for a 30-day public comment period through November 13. The STP describes how the state will comply with the federal Home and Community-Based Settings Final Rule that became effective on March 17, 2014. Following the public comment timeline, DHCS will submit the STP to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for final approval. The STP and information about how to submit public comments are available on the STP webpage. For questions, please email STP@dhcs.ca.gov.

Safety Net Clinic (SNC) Dental Policy Training

On October 24, DHCS published FAQs for additional clarification and guidance to SNC providers regarding proper dental policy and billing practices. The FAQs were developed in collaboration with SNC providers through the California Primary Care Association from questions received during and after training webinars (slides available here) held in February and March.  

Join Our Team

DHCS is hiring! For opportunities to join our fiscal, human resources, legal, auditing, health policy, and information technology teams, along with other professions, 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 access to affordable, integrated, high-quality, and equitable 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

Tribal and Indian Health Program Representatives Meeting

On November 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., DHCS will virtually host the quarterly Tribal and Indian Health Program representatives' meeting. This meeting will include a discussion on DHCS programs and initiatives of interest to Tribal partners and provide a forum for Tribal representatives to offer feedback on DHCS initiatives that specifically impact Tribes, Indian health programs, and American Indian Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The next meeting will be held in February 2023. The invitation and webinar registration information are posted on the Indian Health Program webpage, and the meeting agenda and other materials will be posted closer to the meeting date.

Authorization to Share Confidential Medi-Cal Information (ASCMI) Form Webinar

On November 2, from 2 to 2:55 p.m., DHCS will host a webinar, focused on a pilot program (advance registration required), to assess the ASCMI Form and its use in a consent management service. The ASCMI Form is designed to facilitate the sharing of an individual's physical, mental, substance use, and social health information through a standardized consent process. A consent management service will be used to store and manage Medi-Cal member consent and can be accessed and amended by members and service providers via a website and/or their existing electronic health record (EHR) system. Each pilot applicant will be a collaborative partnership consisting of a health information exchange/community information exchange (HIE/CIE), a county health system, and managed care plans (MCPs), to provide support to enrolled providers (e.g., ECM providers, Community Supports providers, physical and behavioral health providers, hospitals).

The webinar will provide interested stakeholders with a detailed overview of the pilot and more information on an upcoming Request for Information from DHCS. There will also be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. All HIEs/CIEs, counties, MCPs, and providers interested in piloting the ASCMI Form in a consent management service are invited to attend.

CalAIM Behavioral Health Adult and Youth Screening and Transition Tools Informational Webinar

On November 3, from 3 to 4 p.m., DHCS will hold a webinar to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about the Screening and Transition of Care Tools, which will go live on January 1, 2023, as part of CalAIM. This initiative is focused on developing statewide screening and transition of care tools for both youth and adults for use by county mental health plans and Medi-Cal managed care plans to address beneficiary service needs across Medi-Cal mental health delivery systems, ensure all Medi-Cal beneficiaries receive coordinated services, and improve health outcomes.

The webinar (advance registration required) will include an overview of the initiative, provide an update on the robust stakeholder process underway to develop standardized tools, highlight draft guidance released for public comment, and preview upcoming milestones and plans for technical assistance. For questions, email BHCalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov.

Medi-Cal Consumer-Focused Stakeholder Workgroup (CFSW) Meeting

On November 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., DHCS will host the next monthly CFSW virtual meeting. The purpose of the CFSW is to provide stakeholders an opportunity to review and provide feedback on a variety of eligibility and enrollment-related activities and consumer messaging materials. The meeting agenda, conference line number, and other materials will be posted on the CFSW webpage closer to the meeting date.

CalAIM Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Carve-In Webinar

On November 4, from 1 to 2 p.m., DHCS will virtually host the second in a series of public educational webinars about the SNF carve-in to support MCPs and SNF providers as they prepare for MCPs' coverage of SNFs statewide beginning on January 1, 2023. The SNF webinar ​will provide stakeholders with an understanding of promising practices and lessons learned from plans and providers in Coordinated Care Initiative and County Organized Health System counties regarding the SNF carve-in transition. SNF providers and Medi-Cal MCP representatives are encouraged to attend. Additional details about upcoming webinars are available on the CalAIM LTC Carve-In transition webpage.

Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigators Project

On November 7, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the Health Enrollment Navigators Project is virtually hosting a joint stakeholder meeting with county and community-based organization partners, advocates, and other interested individuals. This meeting is intended to provide an introduction to the DHCS Navigators Project team, an overview of the project, and general information that will be available on the webpage, along with updates and discussions on topics of interest. In addition, this meeting will be a forum to address questions posed by various stakeholder groups. Information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigators Project webpage closer to the meeting date. Interested parties may also request to be added to the meeting notice by completing the following survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWYSCD8 or by emailing HealthNavigators@dhcs.ca.gov.

CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Support Data Sharing Webinar

On November 10, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., DHCS will virtually host an all-comers webinar on how CalAIM organizations are sharing data for ECM and Community Supports (advance registration required). Participants are invited to submit questions by November 7 to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the webinar. An additional “Office Hours" event will be held on December 1, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., for attendees to ask additional questions not covered during the webinar. For information about upcoming webinars and links to previous sessions, please see DHCS' Technical Assistance Events.

DHCS Medi-Cal Dental Los Angeles Stakeholder Meeting

On November 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., DHCS will virtually host the Medi-Cal Dental Los Angeles Stakeholder meeting (advance registration required). The purpose of the meeting is for Los Angeles County stakeholders to provide input on how DHCS can best  oversee and guide the dental program to improve dental utilization rates and the delivery of oral health and dental care services, including prevention and educational services within dental managed care and fee-for-service dental. Additional information is available on the DHCS website.
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