Lub vas sab hauv internet ntawm lub Xeev California
Txhais
SACRAMENTO — Ua ib kauj ruam loj mus tom ntej hauv kev tsim txoj cai uas suav nrog txhua tus, Lub Tsev Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv (DHCS) tau tshaj tawm Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council, uas yog thawj pab pawg neeg pab tswv yim uas coj cov tswv cuab Medi-Cal, cov neeg saib xyuas, cov neeg muab kev pab, cov koom haum hauv zej zog, cov pab pawg tawm tswv yim, thiab cov neeg koom tes hauv nroog los tsim lub neej yav tom ntej ntawm Medi-Cal cov cai, cov kev pab cuam, thiab kev siv. Los ntawm kev muab kev paub dhau los tso rau hauv cov txheej txheem tsim cai, pawg sab laj ua kom ntseeg tau tias cov cai thiab cov kev pab cuam Medi-Cal yog raws li cov kev xav tau tiag tiag ntawm cov neeg uas lawv pabcuam thiab txhim kho los ntawm kev koom tes nrog cov kws tshaj lij kev kho mob thiab cov thawj coj ntawm lub cev.
The Voices and Vision Council held its inaugural meeting alongside the established Medi-Cal Member Advisory Committee to launch a new collaborative structure that brings together lived experience and system expertise to shape Medi-Cal policy.
“The Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council is a vital platform for ensuring that Medi-Cal members and community partners help shape how we deliver care,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We are committed to strengthening our Medi-Cal program so it is more equitable, responsive, and grounded in the voices of the people we serve. This council reflects our belief that meaningful change and innovation begin with listening and acting on what people tell us they need.”
“Medi-Cal provides the nursing care that keeps my son healthy and safe at home with our family,” said Jenny McLelland, a parent and member of the Voices and Vision Council. “The council gives me the opportunity to share my experiences as a caregiver and ensures that families like mine have a voice in making Medi-Cal better for all Californians.”
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The Voices and Vision Council and the Medi-Cal Member Advisory Committee help ensure that Medi-Cal members remain at the heart of policy development and program administration. These two advisory bodies work in close partnership with DHCS leaders and policy experts to co-design equity-centered programs and policy solutions that reflect the real needs of members.
Los ntawm kev koom tes ncaj qha nrog cov tswv cuab thiab cov neeg koom nrog, DHCS tab tom tsim cov hauv paus los ua haujlwm rau yam tseem ceeb tshaj plaws rau cov neeg uas nws pabcuam. Txhua lub rooj sib tham txhua peb lub hlis yog hais txog cov kev nkag siab uas cov tswv cuab thiab cov neeg saib xyuas tau qhia. Cov kev sib tham no pab DHCS txhais cov lus taw qhia rau hauv kev txhim kho kom pom tseeb, txhawb nqa Medi-Cal txhawb nqa cov zej zog thoob plaws California li cas.
KEEB KWV YAV DUAJ: Xyoo 2023, DHCS tau tsim tsa Pawg Neeg Saib Xyuas Cov Tswv Cuab Medi-Cal, yog ib pawg neeg saib xyuas thawj zaug hauv lub tebchaws uas muaj cov tswv cuab Medi-Cal thiab cov neeg uas txhawb nqa lawv, xws li cov tswv cuab hauv tsev neeg thiab cov neeg saib xyuas. Xyoo 2024, Lub Chaw Pabcuam Medicare & Medicaid hauv tebchaws tau tshaj tawm Txoj Cai Nkag Mus Rau Medicaid Cov Kev Pabcuam, uas yuav tsum tau kom txhua lub xeev tsim ob lub koom haum pab tswv yim: Pawg Neeg Pab Tswv Yim rau Cov Neeg Tau Txais Txiaj Ntsig uas muaj cov tswv cuab thiab cov neeg saib xyuas, thiab Pawg Neeg Pab Tswv Yim Medicaid uas suav nrog cov neeg muab kev pabcuam thiab rub tsawg kawg 25 feem pua ntawm nws cov tswv cuab los ntawm Pawg Neeg Pab Tswv Yim rau Cov Neeg Tau Txais Txiaj Ntsig thaum Lub Xya Hli 10, 2027.
To meet this requirement, California designated its existing Medi-Cal Member Advisory Committee as the state’s Beneficiary Advisory Council and created the Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council as its Medicaid Advisory Committee. Together, these groups are designed to create a continuous feedback loop: The Medi-Cal Member Advisory Committee will meet first each quarter to surface themes and priorities from members and caregivers, which will then inform the Voices and Vision Council’s policy and operational discussions. Potential topics include access to care, service delivery, communication, and other issues that influence how Medi-Cal works for the people it serves.
WHAT’S NEXT: The first public meeting of the Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council will be held on March 18, 2026. Meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and membership lists for both groups will be publicly available. For more information, including how to register for the first public meeting, please visit the Voices and Vision Council webpage.
ABOUT THE VOICES AND VISION COUNCIL MEMBERS: The Voices and Vision Council is made up of 16 Medi-Cal members and leaders from across California who bring experience from advocacy groups, community-based organizations, health centers, county health and social services departments, managed care plans, and health plan associations.
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Medi-Medi Plans yog cov phiaj xwm kho mob tshwj xeeb rau cov neeg uas muaj Medicare thiab Medi-Cal
SACRAMENTO — As Medicare open enrollment begins on October 15, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is expanding access to Medi-Medi Plans––integrated health plans for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal—to 29 additional counties. This expansion brings the total to 41 counties that offer Medi-Medi Plans, nearly quadrupling access to these plans. This means Californians who are eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal will have the option to enroll in a Medi-Medi Plan to receive additional support to help manage chronic conditions, disabilities, or long-term care needs. Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, with coverage starting on January 1, 2026.
“California is building upon the success of Medi-Medi Plans that have already made a real difference in people’s lives,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “By expanding access to these plans, we’re helping more Californians with complex health needs get the care they need—more easily, more consistently, and with greater support. This is about making health care work better for the people who rely on it most.”
The 29 new counties are: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Placer, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba.
These 29 counties will join the 12 counties where Medi-Medi Plans are currently available: Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tulare. For more details, visit the Medicare Medi-Cal Plan List webpage, Joining a Medi-Medi Plan information sheet, and the Medi-Medi Plan Expansion Fact Sheet.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: For the first time, Californians who qualify for both Medicare and Medi-Cal will have access to Medi-Medi Plans in 29 additional counties. Members with both Medicare and Medi-Cal often face serious health challenges, need help with daily activities, and deal with barriers like low income or limited transportation. They typically rely on many different services, but must navigate two separate systems to get care.
“This expansion is about making health care work better for the people who need it most,” said Lauren Solis, Chief of DHCS’ Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration.
Medi-Medi Plans combine Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits into one plan and provide specialized care coordination and wraparound Medi-Cal services. This model simplifies care with one card, one care team, and integrated services across medical, behavioral health, and long-term services and supports.
Currently, about 330,000 people are enrolled in these plans across 12 counties. As a result of this expansion, an additional 461,000 Californians will now have the choice to enroll in a Medi-Medi Plan. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of Medicare members in California – 1.7 million people – also have Medi-Cal.
ABOUT MEDI-MEDI PLANS: Medi-Medi Plans are available to individuals who have both Medicare Part A and B, are enrolled in Medi-Cal, are 21 or older, and live in a participating county. Medi-Medi Plans coordinate all services across both Medicare and Medi-Cal, including:
Cov tswv cuab kuj tau txais txiaj ntsig los ntawm:
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Eligible Californians can enroll in a Medi-Medi Plan during Medicare open enrollment from October 15 to December 7. Coverage will begin January 1, 2026. For more information about Medi-Medi Plans and how to enroll, visit the Medi-Medi Plan webpage.
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SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today released new data showing continued growth and impact from Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports as part of the state’s Medi-Cal transformation under California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). These services help Medi-Cal members stay healthier and avoid other, costlier health care services, such as emergency department visits and hospital stays.
Tsuas yog thawj peb lub hlis ntawm lub xyoo no:
Michelle Baass, Tus Thawj Coj ntawm Lub Tsev Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv tau hais tias "Qhov no yog qhov kev hloov pauv ntawm Medi-Cal zoo li. “Peb tsis yog tsuas yog nthuav cov kev pabcuam xwb. Peb tab tom ncav cuag tib neeg ntau dua li qhov qub. "
ECM pab cov neeg muaj kev noj qab haus huv thiab kev xav tau kev sib raug zoo, suav nrog kev tsis muaj tsev nyob, mob hlwb loj, lossis mus ntsib tsev kho mob ntau zaus, tau txais kev saib xyuas lawv xav tau, txawm lawv nyob qhov twg. Tus Thawj Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv pab tswj xyuas txhua yam ntawm kev saib xyuas, los ntawm kev mus ntsib kws kho mob thiab kev pabcuam kev puas hlwb mus rau vaj tse thiab khoom noj khoom haus. Txij li thaum pib thaum Lub Ib Hlis 2022, ECM tau txuas ntau dua 372,000 Medi-Cal cov tswv cuab rau kev saib xyuas tus neeg mob siab.
Community Supports are also growing rapidly. These services offer cost-effective, community-based alternatives to traditional medical care, addressing housing, nutrition, and other social drivers of health. As of early 2025:
"Tom qab txhua tus lej yog ib zaj dab neeg: niam txiv uas pom cov tsev nyob ruaj khov, tus hluas uas tau txais kev kho mob hlwb, cov laus uas tau txais zaub mov raws li lawv tus mob," said State Medicaid Director Tyler Sadwith. "Qhov no yog qhov peb tsim kom muaj kev noj qab haus huv hauv California."
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The growth in ECM and Community Supports comes as California rolls out historic policies under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), aimed at reducing homelessness and expanding behavioral health care. ECM and Community Supports are proving to be vital tools to help people navigate housing, nutrition, and health systems with dignity and support. From ECM and Community Supports to Transitional Rent and permanent housing, California is building a continuum of care that supports people across every stage of their recovery journey.
To support this expansion, DHCS has awarded more than $1.43 billion through its Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) initiatives, including Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED), Collaborative Planning and Implementation, and the Technical Assistance Marketplace. These funds help community-based organizations, clinics, and local agencies grow their capacity to deliver ECM and Community Supports by hiring staff, upgrading systems, and improving care coordination. The final round of CITED funding closed in May 2025, with new awardees to be announced later this year.
WHAT’S NEXT: DHCS will continue listening to Medi-Cal members who use ECM and Community Supports. Member feedback, gathered through surveys, focus groups, and other outreach, will help improve how these services are delivered, making them easier to access, more effective, and more responsive to different cultures and communities.
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Lub Tsev Kawm Ntawv Qib Siab Yuav Pab 72,000 Tus Neeg Txhua Xyoo
SACRAMENTO — On September 10, 2025, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services Department celebrated the groundbreaking of the Be Well Campus, a new facility in French Camp that will expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment in the Central Valley. The campus will include 10 facility types, with 116 behavioral health treatment beds and 1,205 outpatient slots, enabling care for more than 72,000 individuals annually.
"Qhov project no yog ib qho piv txwv zoo ntawm California txoj kev cog lus los tsim kom muaj ib lub system kev noj qab haus huv uas haum rau tib neeg qhov chaw uas lawv nyob," tus thawj coj ntawm DHCS, Michelle Baass, hais. Los ntawm Qhov Kev Pab Cuam Txog Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Txog Kev Coj Tus Cwj Pwm, peb tab tom nqis peev rau hauv cov chaw hauv zos thiab pab cov zej zog kom nthuav dav kev nkag mus rau kev saib xyuas.
This transformative project is supported by more than $149 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), including Round 5: Crisis and Behavioral Health Continuum and Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready (a conditional award made possible by the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act), part of California’s voter-approved reform to expand behavioral health care and housing. This project is one of several in California that will combine earlier BHCIP rounds with bond funds to support both immediate needs and long-term infrastructure.
BHCIP is a key component of Mental Health for All, California’s ongoing commitment to build a stronger and more equitable behavioral health system. With the passage of Proposition 1, even more behavioral health treatment facilities will be funded and built in 2025 and 2026.
“We are pleased to see the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act in action,” said DHCS Community Services Division Chief Marlies Perez. “San Joaquin County is building a model that brings together multiple levels of care in one place, making it easier for people to get the care they need when they need it.”
INVESTING IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE CAPACITY: More than 1.2 million adults in California live with a serious mental illness, and 1 in 10 residents meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. Additionally, shortages of behavioral health treatment sites contribute to rising rates of homelessness and incarceration among people with mental health disorders.
To address this, DHCS launched BHCIP to fund the construction, acquisition, and expansion of behavioral health facilities and mobile crisis services. Since 2021, the state has awarded more than $2.2 billion through BHCIP Rounds 1–5, including $430 million in Round 5 to expand crisis care statewide. California is investing billions more through Bond BHCIP to build long-term behavioral health and housing infrastructure. In May 2025, DHCS conditionally awarded $3.3 billion through Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready to 121 projects across 42 counties, supporting 4,895 residential beds and 21,402 outpatient slots.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Be Well Campus project received a conditional award through Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready, and the next step is to finalize that funding. San Joaquin County will work with DHCS to complete a Program Funding Agreement, confirm matching funds and property ownership, and wrap up other required documentation before the award becomes final.
Meanwhile, DHCS is preparing to award more than $800 million through Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs. This round is open to eligible applicants statewide, with applications due on October 28, 2025, and awards expected in spring 2026.
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Cov nyiaj pab yuav tsim kev koom tes hauv zej zog thiab nce kev nkag mus rau kev kho mob
SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded $26 million to more than 70 organizations to combat the opioid crisis in California. These grants are designed to expand access to treatment, strengthen community partnerships, and save lives. The grants represent a critical part of the State’s Opioid Response (SOR) initiative.
“Addressing the opioid crisis requires a comprehensive, compassionate, and community-driven approach. That’s why DHCS is pleased to partner with so many organizations to offer access to this life-changing care,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We must expand access to treatment, invest in prevention, and dismantle the stigma surrounding addiction. Lives are at stake, and we are committed to doing everything we can to support recovery.”
REDUCING UNMET NEEDS AND OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSES IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: DHCS awarded $2.1 million to 12 organizations to implement the SOR IV Tribal Local Opioid Coalition (TLOC) program. TLOC supports Tribal and Urban Indian communities by increasing access to treatment, providing culturally rooted recovery services, and reducing overdose-related deaths through prevention and care. The program strengthens recovery efforts for opioid and stimulant use disorder by building partnerships among community members, stakeholders, and service providers.
“DHCS is pleased to support Tribal communities with resources that reflect their unique needs and strengths. The TLOC program empowers local partnerships to expand treatment, prevent substance use, and promote culturally grounded healing,” said Baass.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT: DHCS also awarded nearly $3 million to four DHCS-licensed Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTP) to create satellite facilities, called medication units, that provide access to addiction treatment. These medication units will serve people who otherwise struggle to access care, including people in rural areas, justice-involved communities, and people without reliable transportation, and support care integration.
“Geographically isolated communities often face compounded challenges to accessing care, including transportation barriers and systemic inequities. Establishing medication units addresses these gaps by improving access, enhancing retention, and advancing health equity in the areas that need it most,” said Sarah Khawaja-Laljiani, Senior Director of Grants and Patient Services of Pinnacle Treatment Center, a recipient of funding to expand access to Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT).
“This funding opportunity aligns with our commitment to expanding access to evidence-based treatment in underserved communities, said Evelyn Sosa, Senior Vice President of BayMark Health Services. “This support will help us meet patients where they are, removing barriers to care and improving outcomes for people most at risk of overdose.”
EXPANDING ACCESS TO MAT: Additionally, DHCS awarded more than $21 million to 59 DHCS-licensed residential substance use disorder treatment programs to launch or expand the onsite evidence-based MAT services to individuals with an opioid use disorder.
“As the opioid and fentanyl crisis continues to devastate lives across the country, expanding access to MAT services in residential programs is not only a clinical necessity, but a moral imperative,” said Dr. BJ Davis, Executive Director, Gateway House for Women and Sacramento Recovery House for Men. “This funding allows us to meet people where they are with the full continuum of evidence-based care.”
“Our clients require timely access to MAT to manage cravings and begin their journey toward recovery and stability,” said Lindsey Purdie, MBA, Executive Director of The Crossroads Foundation. “Through our partnership with DHCS, we have been given the opportunity to expand our services and better meet the needs of the people we support. We are deeply grateful for this funding and for the ongoing collaboration.”
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: In 2023, there were 11,359 drug-related overdose deaths. Of those, 8,000 were opioid-related, with 7,000 related to specifically to fentanyl. While a significant portion of Californians meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, only a small percentage receive treatment, often due to limited access to services like MAT and naloxone in rural areas.
BIGGER PICTURE: These grants are part of DHCS’ Opioid Response, a key element of Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis. For more information about opioids and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, visit Opioids.ca.gov, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources around prevention and treatment.
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SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today shared new data showing how Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports are increasing and helping more people as part of the state’s Medi-Cal transformation under California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM).
“The trends reflected in the data demonstrate the real and growing impact of CalAIM in supporting the health and well-being of Medi-Cal members,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We’re seeing especially strong progress in reaching children and youth, expanding access to critical supports like housing and food, and growing the provider networks needed to deliver these services. Together, these efforts are helping more Californians live healthier, more stable lives.”
WHAT THE NUMBERS SHOW: Since ECM launched in January 2022, more than 326,000 unique Medi-Cal members have enrolled in this benefit that provides comprehensive, person-centered care coordination for members with complex needs. In the last three months of 2024 alone, more than 149,400 members received ECM services, including more than 31,000 children and youth under 21, nearly four times more than when ECM launched for these groups in July 2023.
Cov Kev Pabcuam Hauv Zej Zog kuj tau txais cov tswv cuab Medi-Cal ntau dua. Thaum kawg ntawm 2024, kwv yees li 368,400 tus tswv cuab tau siv cov kev pabcuam no, nrog ntau dua 920,000 tag nrho cov kev pabcuam xa tuaj. Cov kev txhawb nqa no muab cov txiaj ntsig zoo, kev hloov hauv zej zog rau kev kho mob ib txwm muaj, hais txog kev cuam tshuam txog kev noj qab haus huv. Ntawm cov neeg uas tau nkag mus rau Community Supports hauv Q4 2024:
WHY THIS MATTERS: More Medi-Cal members with complex medical and social needs are accessing ECM and Community Supports. Key drivers of growth include:
PROVIDER NETWORKS ARE GROWING: The number of providers delivering ECM and Community Supports has grown significantly. Managed care plans now hold approximately 2,600 provider contracts for Community Supports alone, up from about 750 in early 2022. This reflects a strong commitment from community-based organizations, housing providers, and local health systems to support CalAIM’s goals.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ARE COST-EFFECTIVE: DHCS’ June 2025 cost-effectiveness report shows that Community Supports help reduce overall health care costs by preventing avoidable hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and long-term institutional care, while improving health outcomes.
WHAT’S NEXT: Starting January 1, 2026, Transitional Rent will become a mandatory Community Support and will be available to provide up to six months of rental assistance to members who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, are experiencing significant behavioral health needs, and meet certain risk factors. This is another important step in making sure Medi-Cal members have the support they need to live healthy, stable lives in their communities.
DHCS will continue to center feedback from Medi-Cal members to ensure ECM and Community Supports are responsive, accessible, and equitable. By listening closely to people who are directly impacted, California aims to enhance the effectiveness of these programs and better support members’ health and well-being.
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SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) remains committed to protecting the privacy and well-being of all Medi-Cal members. Recent reports and legal developments have raised serious concerns about how federal agencies use Medicaid data, including personal information for the more than 14 million Californians covered by Medi-Cal. We want to share what we know.
Thaum Lub Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj hnub tim 29, 2025, lub tsev hais plaub hauv tebchaws tau txiav txim siab tias Lub Chaw rau Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) tsuas yog yuav qhia cov ntaub ntawv tsawg tsawg rau Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rau cov tib neeg uas tsis "nyob raws cai" hauv Tebchaws Meskas xwb. Txawm li cas los xij, qee qhov kev tsis paub meej tseem muaj vim tias tsoomfwv tseem tsis tau muab cov ntaub ntawv rau California txog nws txoj kev npaj yuav ua raws li lub tsev hais plaub qhov kev txiav txim li cas. Peb yuav hloov kho nplooj ntawv no nrog cov ntaub ntawv ntxiv thaum nws muaj.
Information that may be shared about people who are not “lawfully residing” in the United States includes citizenship or immigration status, address, phone number, date of birth, and Medicaid ID. CMS must exclude anyone who is “lawfully residing” in the United States. If data of individuals who are not lawfully residing in the United States cannot be separated from the data that is still protected (e.g., data of lawful permanent residents, U.S. citizen data, sensitive health records, etc.), CMS cannot share the data with ICE. These restrictions remain in place while the multistate lawsuit is ongoing.
DHCS raug cai lij choj hauv tebchaws yuav tsum xa cov ntawv qhia txhua hli rau CMS los ntawm Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS). Cov ntawv qhia no suav nrog cov ntaub ntawv tseem ceeb txog cov pej xeem thiab cov neeg tsim nyog, xws li lub npe, chaw nyob, hnub yug, Tus lej Social Security (yog muab) lossis Medicaid ID, thiab xwm txheej nkag tebchaws, rau txhua tus tswv cuab Medi-Cal. Txawm hais tias lub tsev hais plaub tso cai rau CMS qhia cov ntaub ntawv tsawg tsawg hauv qab qee yam mob, DHCS tseem cog lus tias yuav tiv thaiv kev ceev ntiag tug ntawm cov tswv cuab thiab tab tom saib xyuas kev txhim kho ze.
In sharing data for immigration enforcement purposes, CMS has broken a 60-year commitment to protect the health and well-being of millions of families. Make no mistake: This is a grave breach of public trust. No one should be forced to live in fear of seeing the doctor or going to the emergency room.
Kev tshem tawm kev pab them nqi Medi-Cal hnub no tsis tshem tawm cov ntaub ntawv uas twb tau xa mus rau cov tub ceev xwm nkag tebchaws lawm. Rau cov tib neeg uas txhawj xeeb txog seb tsoomfwv tebchaws yuav siv lawv cov ntaub ntawv tus kheej li cas rau kev nkag tebchaws, thov nrog ib tus kws lij choj tsim nyog lossis lub koom haum pabcuam kev cai lij choj tsim nyog tham.
Peb cog lus tias yuav ua kom pom tseeb, tsis pub lwm tus paub, thiab xyuas kom txhua tus neeg California, txawm lawv yog neeg tsiv teb tsaws chaw los xij, xav tias muaj kev nyab xeeb thaum lawv mus nrhiav kev kho mob uas lawv xav tau. Peb yuav txuas ntxiv koom tes nrog cov neeg koom tes hauv zej zog, qhia cov xov xwm tshiab, thiab tiv thaiv kev noj qab haus huv, kev nyob zoo, thiab kev ceev ntiag tug ntawm txhua tus tswv cuab Medi-Cal.
HLOOV TSHIAB LUB IB HLIS 2, 2026
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Txoj Haujlwm Yuav Pab 7,665 Cov Neeg Txhua Xyoo
SACRAMENTO — As California continues to strengthen its behavioral health care system, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Safe Passages today celebrated the ribbon cutting of a new Community Wellness and Youth Prevention Wellness Center in Oakland. Funded by almost $9 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 4: Children and Youth, the center will offer community-derived models of mental health services to a projected 7,600 individuals annually in an outpatient setting.
Qhov kev qhib lub Chaw Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv thiab Kev Tiv Thaiv Hauv Zej Zog Safe Passages yog ib qho kev nqis peev muaj zog rau yav tom ntej ntawm peb cov menyuam yaus thiab cov hluas. Txhua tus menyuam muaj cai tau txais cov cuab yeej uas lawv xav tau los ua kom tiav lawv lub peev xwm, tsis hais haiv neeg twg, kev lag luam hauv zej zog, lossis kev tsis taus, " Tus Thawj Coj DHCS Michelle Baass hais. Peb txhawb nqa cov kev siv zog ntawm zej zog uas tsim kom muaj kev nyab xeeb, kho qhov chaw uas cov tub ntxhais hluas tuaj yeem tau txais kev saib xyuas, kev txhawb nqa, thiab cov cib fim uas lawv xav tau kom vam meej. Lub chaw no yuav ua lub hauv paus tseem ceeb rau kev pab thaum ntxov thiab kev tiv thaiv, pab cov menyuam yaus thiab tsev neeg tsim kom
kev ywj
thiab kev noj qab haus huv uas kav ntev mus ib txhis.CHAW UA HAUJ LWM KEV NOJ QAB NYOB ZOO THIAB KEV TIV THAIV KEV NYAB XEEB HAUV ZEJKHUAM: Lub chaw no yuav muab kev pabcuam kev noj qab haus huv rau cov menyuam yaus thiab cov hluas hauv Alameda County txij thaum yug los txog rau cov hluas, nrog rau kev tsom mus rau cov pej xeem uas muaj kev pheej hmoo siab. Lub chaw uas tau nthuav dav no yuav muaj cov kev pab cuam kev loj hlob ntawm menyuam yaus thaum ntxov uas muab kev pabcuam rau niam thiab kev kawm txog kev ua niam ua txiv uas cov kws tshaj lij txog kev noj qab haus huv ntawm menyuam yaus thaum ntxov tau siv, uas yog los ntawm zej zog, raws li kev tshawb fawb, thiab tau ua pov thawj tias yog cov kev coj ua zoo tshaj plaws. Cov kev pab cuam no suav nrog Kev Pab Qhia Lub Neej, cov kev pab cuam kev noj qab haus huv ntawm lub hlwb thaum yug menyuam thiab thaum yau, kev kho mob hlwb rau niam txiv thiab menyuam, cov kev pab cuam cev xeeb tub thiab tom qab yug menyuam, cov kev pab cuam niam txiv, cov kev pab cuam kev loj hlob ntawm cov tub ntxhais hluas, kev sab laj rau tus kheej thiab pab pawg, thiab kev tshawb nrhiav haujlwm.
"Tau ntau tshaj 29 xyoo, Safe Passages tau cog lus tias yuav rhuav tshem lub voj voog ntawm kev txom nyem hauv peb cov zej zog thiab txhawb nqa tsev neeg thiab cov tub ntxhais hluas kom koom nrog kev txhim kho peb cov kev daws teeb meem thiab txoj kev," said Safe Passages CEO Josefina Alvarado Mena. Lub chaw noj qab haus huv no yog qhov chaw sib sau ua ke thiab yog qhov chaw nyab xeeb uas peb tuaj yeem tsim lub zej zog, sib qhia, thiab loj hlob ua ke.
VIM LI CAS QHOV NO TSEEM CEEB: Yuav luag 1 ntawm 13 tus menyuam yaus thiab cov hluas hauv California ntsib kev puas siab puas ntsws loj heev. Los ntawm BHCIP, DHCS muab nyiaj pab rau cov chaw tsim nyog los tsim, yuav, thiab nthuav cov vaj tse thiab nqis peev rau hauv cov chaw tsim kho vaj tse thaum muaj xwm txheej ceev, pab cov zej zog kom tau raws li qhov xav tau nce ntxiv thiab kaw cov kev pabcuam qub. Cov kev nqis peev no tseem ceeb heev rau cov zej zog nyob deb nroog, kom ntseeg tau tias tib neeg tuaj yeem tau txais kev kho mob raws sijhawm, cawm txoj sia yam tsis tas yuav mus deb.
BHCIP is part of California’s ongoing commitment to expand behavioral health services for all Californians. DHCS has awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP competitive grants. In addition, DHCS is distributing up to $4.4 billion in competitive Bond BHCIP funding, including $3.3 billion for Round 1: Launch Ready grants as part of Behavioral Health Transformation, DHCS’ work to implement Proposition 1. DHCS recently released the Proposition 1 Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs Request for Applications (RFA). Eligible organizations can apply for funding to construct, acquire, or rehabilitate properties that expand behavioral health services for Medi-Cal members and other Californians in need. DHCS will award more than $800 million in grants to support community-based facilities for mental health and substance use disorder care.
Hais txog BHCIP Round 4: Cov Me Nyuam thiab Cov Hluas: BHCIP Round 4, ib feem ntawm Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, tsis yog tsuas yog tsom mus rau cov menyuam yaus thiab cov hluas xwb, tab sis txhua tus neeg California hnub nyoog 25 xyoo thiab qis dua, suav nrog cov poj niam cev xeeb tub thiab cov poj niam tom qab yug me nyuam thiab lawv cov menyuam thiab cov hluas hnub nyoog hloov pauv hnub nyoog 16-25, nrog rau lawv tsev neeg. Cov nyiaj pab 52 uas muaj tag nrho $480.5 lab no pub rau kev tsim kho tshiab thiab nthuav dav ntau hom chaw kho mob sab nraud thiab chaw nyob, suav nrog cov kev pab cuam kho mob rau menyuam yaus thaum muaj teeb meem, cov chaw kho mob thaum cev xeeb tub uas muaj teeb meem siv tshuaj yeeb, cov chaw kho mob hauv zej zog/chaw tiv thaiv cov tub ntxhais hluas, thiab kev kho mob rau cov neeg mob sab nraud rau cov teeb meem siv tshuaj yeeb. Thov mus saib lub vev xaib BHCIP kom paub ntxiv txog cov neeg tau txais nyiaj pab thiab cov ntaub ntawv ntxiv txog txhua qhov kev pab nyiaj txiag ntawm BHCIP.
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SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today announced the availability of data showing that Medi-Cal Community Supports are successful and cost-effective. The data show that Community Supports are delivering on their promise to address Medi-Cal member needs—reducing avoidable emergency department visits, hospital stays, and long-term care use while showing strong early signs of cost savings. All 12 Community Supports studied are reducing costs, and of these, nine have already demonstrated cost-effectiveness within the initial study period. The remaining three are projected to reach that threshold over a longer study period, consistent with federal rules for evaluating cost-effectiveness.
“Community Supports represent a fundamental shift in how we deliver health care to Californians, enhancing quality of care for Medi-Cal members and strengthening the overall efficiency and equity of our health care system,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “These findings confirm that these services are not only improving lives, but also reducing avoidable health care costs. By scaling these supports statewide, we’re making meaningful progress toward a person-centered Medi-Cal system that meets members where they are and prioritizes prevention, dignity, and value.”
California’s Community Supports were approved in the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) waivers and phased in by Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) beginning in 2022. CalAIM is the state’s initiative to transform Medi-Cal to improve care quality, reduce complexity, and advance equity through data-driven, whole-person care initiatives.
WHY THIS MATTERS: Medi-Cal currently offers 14 Community Supports. These services promote housing stability, ease transitions from institutional settings, support in-home care, provide healthy meals, and offer caregiver relief, helping members avoid costlier hospital or emergency care. The report analyzed 12 of these supports to assess their impact on health and cost outcomes. These 12 out of 14 Community Supports were studied because they are authorized under California’s 1915(b) CalAIM waiver, which California is required to report on each year to the federal government.
DHCS submitted its annual 2024 report to the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services. It analyzes the impact of 12 Community Supports on member health care, including a new cost-effectiveness analysis for calendar year 2023. Key highlights from the report include:
COST-EFFECTIVE ANALYSIS: Research showed that 9 of the 12 Community Supports studied are already demonstrably cost-effective, and three are likely to be proven so over time, consistent with federal rules. Members using these services typically saw net reductions in (or offsets of) applicable service costs. Examples include:
The cost-effectiveness analysis may be understated due to the short evaluation period, resulting in immediate costs being fully captured but not longer-term savings. DHCS acknowledges that broader initiatives, like Enhanced Care Management, may influence these results. Future evaluations may refine these methods as more data become available, and an independent evaluation will be conducted in line with waiver requirements.
IMPACT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTS: The expansion of Community Supports has increased access in rural and underserved areas, with health plans such as Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, and Partnership HealthPlan of California leading efforts to introduce new services in both urban and rural counties. These three plans are among the largest in the state and demonstrated significant expansion of Community Supports in 2024, both in terms of the number of new services elected and geographic spread, particularly in rural counties. As a result, Medi-Cal members in all 58 California counties now have access to a broad array of Community Supports.
WHAT’S NEXT: DHCS released an updated Community Supports Policy Guide that is aligned with the Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Action Plan. On July 1, 2025, the new Transitional Rent benefit will be optional for MCPs to offer, and will become the first mandatory Community Support on January 1, 2026.
DHCS tseem cog lus tias yuav nthuav dav thiab ntxiv dag zog rau Community Supports kom tau raws li kev noj qab haus huv txog kev noj qab haus huv ntawm Medi-Cal cov tswv cuab thoob plaws lub xeev. California tab tom txhim kho nws cov kev siv zog hauv keeb kwm los hais txog kev saib xyuas tag nrho ntawm tib neeg los ntawm kev tiv thaiv, meej mom, thiab kev ruaj ntseg, thaum saib xyuas cov kab hauv qab. Txoj hauv kev no twb tau ua qhov sib txawv, tshwj xeeb hauv kev txo qis kev siv kev saib xyuas kev noj qab haus huv thiab txhim kho kev paub ntawm cov tswv cuab nrog ntau yam kev xav tau kev noj qab haus huv.
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Txoj Haujlwm Yuav Pab Tau 3,650 Cov Hluas Cov Hluas Txhua Xyoo
SACRAMENTO — On May 16, 2025, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Sycamores celebrated the groundbreaking of Sycamores’ Children’s Crisis Continuum Program, a new behavioral health facility in Altadena. This transformative project will target gaps in the crisis continuum for foster youth across Los Angeles County, with the aim of addressing crises early to avoid escalation in care. DHCS awarded Sycamores more than $2 million for the project through Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), Round 5: Crisis and Behavioral Health Continuum.
BHCIP is a key component of Mental Health for All, 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.
Just days earlier, on May 12, DHCS awarded $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding through the Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready awards. This historic investment is funding 124 projects across 42 counties to create or expand 214 behavioral health facilities across California. This investment will result in 5,077 new residential treatment beds and 21,882 new outpatient slots for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, bringing essential behavioral health services closer to the Californians who need them most, including those in the foster care system.
“We’re working to ensure foster youth with significant mental health needs are supported with the services they need,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “Organizations like Sycamores are essential to transforming how we respond to urgent behavioral health challenges. By bringing compassionate, community-based care directly to children and youth in need, they exemplify a behavioral health system that meets people where they are with dignity, support, and hope.”
SYCAMORES’ CHILDREN’S CRISIS CONTINUUM PROGRAM: This project will target gaps in the crisis continuum specifically for foster youth by creating a psychiatric health facility with eight beds and a crisis stabilization unit with 10 slots, projected to serve 3,650 individuals annually in an outpatient setting. This project will help support youth living in the community who are experiencing a crisis to avoid the need for a higher level of care in more restrictive settings. The programs are designed to give youth and caregivers tools to manage their crisis, including skill-building, psychiatric monitoring, psychiatry, therapy, case management, and medication management.
“With the groundbreaking of Sycamores’ new children’s crisis programs, our organization will be in the unique position of meeting the urgent mental health needs of thousands of children and youth in crisis throughout Los Angeles County,” said Debra Manners, Sycamores’ President and CEO. “Considering Sycamores’ long-standing reputation for providing compassionate, life-changing care, we are honored to be able to expand our services with the opening of our programs.”
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: More than 1.2 million adults in California live with a serious mental illness, and 1 in 13 children has a serious emotional disturbance. Also, 82 percent of Californians experiencing homelessness reported having a serious mental health condition, and 1 in 10 Californians meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. Additionally, shortages of behavioral health treatment sites contribute to rising rates of homelessness and incarceration among people with mental health disorders.
Through BHCIP, DHCS awards eligible entities funding to construct, acquire, and expand properties and invest in mobile crisis infrastructure to further expand the range of community-based behavioral health treatment options for people with co-occurring mental health treatment needs and substance use disorders. BHCIP is addressing historic gaps in the behavioral health care system to meet the growing demand for services and supports throughout the lifespan of people in need. DHCS has awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP competitive grants.
ABOUT BHCIP ROUND 5: CRISIS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM: BHCIP Round 5: Crisis and Behavioral Health Continuum was developed, in part, through a statewide needs assessment that identified significant gaps in available crisis services. This assessment showed the need for a better system of crisis care to reduce emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and incarceration. The 33 awards, totaling $430 million, are being used to build and expand crisis care and behavioral health facilities statewide and will serve vulnerable Californians of all ages, including Medi-Cal members. Please see the BHCIP website for more information about grant recipients and additional details about all BHCIP funding rounds.
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