As 2024 comes to a close, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your partnership, advocacy, and collaboration. Together, we’ve made remarkable strides in transforming California’s health care system, advancing innovative programs, and ensuring that equitable, quality, and person-centered care reaches Californians who need it most.​​ 

Xyoo no tau txhais los ntawm kev ua siab loj, los ntawm cov ntawv sau keeb kwm ntawm Proposition 1, uas yog kev hloov pauv peb lub cev kho mob tus cwj pwm, mus rau kev nthuav dav ntawm Enhanced Care Management (ECM) thiab Community Supports raws li California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). Cov kev pabcuam tshiab no mus dhau qhov kev xav tau kev kho mob, daws cov teeb meem tseem ceeb ntawm kev noj qab haus huv hauv zej zog, xws li vaj tse, kev ruaj ntseg zaub mov, thiab kev thauj mus los, thiab xyuas kom meej tias muaj kev saib xyuas zoo dua rau cov neeg uas peb pabcuam.​​ 

A key focus for DHCS this year has been on building new systems of care that reflect urgency, accountability, and innovation. Through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), we are addressing long-standing gaps in behavioral health service treatment sites. The importance of funding and opening new behavioral health facilities and launching new bond-funded projects cannot be overstated. These new facilities, beds, and services are vital for meeting the needs of Californians facing mental health and substance use disorder challenges. Moving quickly and efficiently is not just a goal; it’s a necessity.​​ 

We also emphasized accountability across all initiatives to ensure resources are used effectively and outcomes improve. Whether through publishing quality ratings and imposing quality-related sanctions for Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) or implementing new initiatives like the Health Equity Roadmap, our focus remains on delivering quality care that is innovative, effective, and equitable.​​ 

Additionally, we completed a two-year public awareness campaign to educate diverse communities across the state about Medi-Cal enrollment and renewal, while highlighting the new and improved benefits and services available. This multi-faceted effort spanned across several counties, media markets, and formats to educate California’s historically hard-to-reach and underserved communities.​​ 

Hauv qab no, peb zoo siab qhia peb 10 Qhov Tseem Ceeb Tshaj Plaws ntawm xyoo 2024, qhia txog cov kev ua tiav tseem ceeb uas peb tau ua tiav ua ke xyoo no. Cov ntsiab lus tseem ceeb no tsis yog qhia txog lub zog ntawm kev koom tes xwb, tab sis kuj qhia txog qhov cuam tshuam uas peb tuaj yeem ua thaum peb ua haujlwm ua ke rau lub zeem muag sib koom.​​ 

1. P​​ txoj haujlwm 1/Kev Hloov Pauv Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv ntawm Tus Kheej​​ 

California made history with the passage of Proposition 1, a landmark initiative that paves the way for a massive overhaul of California’s behavioral health system. The measure, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, also allocates $4.4 billion in bond funding to DHCS to create new treatment beds and outpatient facilities. Together these investments will expand services for individuals with severe mental health and substance use disorders, including people experiencing homelessness, at risk of incarceration, and youth in foster care.​​ 

Txij li thaum qhov kev pib no tau dhau los thaum Lub Peb Hlis 2024, DHCS tau qhib thawj Daim Ntawv Thov (RFA) rau cov nyiaj tshiab no, hu ua Proposition 1 BHCIP Bond Round 1: Launch Ready, muab txog li $ 3.3 billion hauv kev pab nyiaj sib tw los nthuav dav cov kev tsim kho vaj tse tseem ceeb thoob plaws lub xeev. Cov lus teb tau dhau los ua qhov tsis txaus ntseeg, nrog cov neeg tau txais nyiaj pab, suav nrog cov nroog, cov nroog, cov koom haum hauv pab pawg neeg, thiab cov koom haum tsis muaj txiaj ntsig, npaj siv cov nyiaj no los tsim thiab kho dua tshiab cov chaw uas muab cov kev pabcuam xav tau rau lawv cov zej zog. DHCS kuj tau qhia txog cov modules ntawm Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual, uas, thaum ua tiav lawm, yuav muab cov lus qhia sib tham rau cov nroog los tsim thiab siv cov phiaj xwm kev noj qab haus huv uas tau txais kev qhia los ntawm cov lus tawm tswv yim ntawm pej xeem. Cov kev siv zog no hais txog kev lav ris thiab kev pom tseeb, kom ntseeg tau tias Proposition 1 muab kev txhim kho uas ntsuas tau hauv kev saib xyuas. Ua ke nrog cov kev pab tseem ceeb ntawm cov neeg koom tes hauv zos, cov kev pib no tsim lub hauv paus rau kev kho mob tus cwj pwm uas ncaj ncees dua, nkag tau yooj yim dua, thiab teb tau sai dua rau txhua tus neeg California.​​ 

2. BHCIP Groundbreakings thiab Ribbon Cuttings​​   

Xyoo no tau cim cov cim tseem ceeb hauv kev nthuav dav cov kev kho mob kev coj cwj pwm, vim DHCS thiab cov neeg koom tes hauv zos tau ua kev zoo siab rau kev tsim kho ntau lub chaw kho mob uas tau txais nyiaj los ntawm BHCIP cov nyiaj pab. Cov haujlwm BHCIP thawj zaug, txhawb nqa los ntawm $ 1.7 billion nyiaj txiag uas tau tso cai rau xyoo 2021, daws cov teeb meem tseem ceeb hauv lub xeev lub peev xwm los muab kev kho mob rau kev noj qab haus huv ntawm lub hlwb thiab kev siv tshuaj yeeb dej cawv. Txij Modesto thiab Oakland mus rau Los Angeles thiab Indio, cov chaw no tab tom pib tsim kho tshiab thiab qhib rau cov neeg California. Nrog rau kev pab nyiaj txiag ntawm Proposition 1, ntau lub chaw kho mob tau teeb tsa los pib tsim kho, nthuav dav kev nkag mus rau kev saib xyuas thiab tsim kom muaj lub hauv paus ruaj khov rau cov kev pabcuam kev noj qab haus huv thoob plaws California.​​ 

3. Kev Ncaj Ncees-Involved Reentry Initiative​​ 

California became the first state in the nation to implement a federally approved CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, providing essential Medi-Cal services to individuals in jails and correctional facilities during the 90 days before their release. This groundbreaking program aims to ensure smoother transitions back into the community while addressing significant health equity gaps. As of October 1, three counties—Inyo, Santa Clara, and Yuba—began delivering these services, with all counties required to implement the initiative by 2026. By focusing on preventive care and continuity of services, the program helps reduce recidivism and supports better health outcomes for justice-involved individuals.​​ 

4. BrightLife Kids thiab Soluna Apps Launch​​ 

To address youth mental health needs, Governor Newsom called for virtual platforms to ensure young people and their caregivers could more easily access mental health supports. In response, DHCS introduced two innovative apps: BrightLife Kids for children ages 0–12 and Soluna for teens and young adults ages 13–25. These apps provide a vital new way for families to access professional mental health support, offering services in English, Spanish, and other Medi-Cal threshold languages. The apps deliver coaching and resources tailored to the needs of young people and their caregivers, empowering families with tools to navigate mental health challenges and improve overall well-being.​​ 

5. Txhim Kho Kev Tswj Xyuas Kev Kho Mob (ECM) thiab Kev Pabcuam Zej Zog​​ 

Ua ib feem ntawm CalAIM, ECM thiab Cov Kev Pabcuam Hauv Zej Zog tab tom hloov pauv txoj kev uas Medi-Cal muab kev saib xyuas rau cov tswv cuab uas muaj kev xav tau nyuaj. Los ntawm kev daws teeb meem kev kho mob thiab kev sib raug zoo ntawm kev noj qab haus huv, xws li vaj tse, kev thauj mus los, thiab kev noj haus, cov txiaj ntsig thiab kev pabcuam no muab txoj hauv kev uas tsom mus rau tus neeg uas txhim kho cov txiaj ntsig kev noj qab haus huv tag nrho. Txij li thaum pib siv thaum Lub Ib Hlis Ntuj xyoo 2022, muaj 244,750 tus tswv cuab tau txais cov txiaj ntsig ECM, nrog rau kev nce 50 feem pua thaum Lub Plaub Hlis-Lub Rau Hli 2024 (127,024 tus tswv cuab) piv rau Lub Plaub Hlis-Lub Rau Hli 2023. Tsis tas li ntawd xwb, kwv yees li ntawm 239,500 tus tswv cuab tau nkag mus rau cov kev pabcuam Txhawb Nqa Hauv Zej Zog—uas yog 120 feem pua nce ntxiv txij li Lub Plaub Hlis-Lub Rau Hli 2023. Xyoo 2024, DHCS tau nthuav cov kev pabcuam no mus rau ntau lub nroog thiab nthuav kev tsim nyog ECM rau ob lub Populations of Focus tshiab: cov neeg cev xeeb tub thiab cov neeg tom qab yug menyuam thiab cov neeg koom nrog kev ncaj ncees.​​ 

6. p​​ roviding Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Peev Xwm thiab Infrastructure, Kev Hloov, Kev nthuav dav, thiab Kev Txhim Kho (CITED) Cov Nyiaj Pab​​ 

Lub koom haum PATH-CITED tau muab $ 146.6 lab rau 133 lub koom haum, uas yog ib qho tseem ceeb rau lub kaw lus xa khoom Medi-Cal. Cov nyiaj pab no tsom mus rau kev txhim kho cov neeg ua haujlwm, thev naus laus zis, thiab kev tsim kho vaj tse, txhawb nqa cov neeg muab kev pabcuam tshiab thiab cov neeg uas twb muaj lawm kom ua tau raws li CalAIM cov lus cog tseg ntawm kev sib koom tes, kev saib xyuas tus neeg. Txog niaj hnub no, DHCS tau muab ntau dua $ 390 lab rau ntau dua 300 lub koom haum thoob plaws lub xeev, txhim kho lawv lub peev xwm los muab kev saib xyuas tus kheej tag nrho. Lub sijhawm kawg ntawm kev pab nyiaj txiag yuav qhib rau thaum pib xyoo 2025, uas qhia meej tias California cog lus tias yuav nthuav kev nkag mus rau kev kho mob tseem ceeb.​​ 

7. Medi-Cal MCP Kev Ntsuas Zoo​​ 

DHCS continues to hold MCPs accountable for performance. In 2024, DHCS published the third annual quality ratings for MCPs and, for the first time, county behavioral health plans. DHCS imposed monetary sanctions on underperforming MCPs while also offering support to help them improve performance. These measures built on the new MCP standardized contract, effective January 1, 2024, which set goals for plans to meet or exceed national quality standards and enhanced health equity requirements. The ratings and sanctions are part of DHCS’ Bold Goals 50×2025 initiative, which aims to improve health outcomes in areas such as child health, behavioral health integration, and preventive care.​​ 

8. Health Equity Roadmap Initiative Ncig saib​​ 

In partnership with the California Health Care Foundation, DHCS launched the Health Equity Roadmap to address health disparities among Medi-Cal members, particularly Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. This initiative began with a statewide listening tour, during which DHCS experts heard directly from Medi-Cal members about their experiences and challenges with accessing care. The information gleaned during the listening tour will inform the design of a final Health Equity Roadmap, which will lay out specific, actionable items aimed at rooting out systemic racism and eliminating health inequities and disparities. By incorporating community feedback, the roadmap will prioritize culturally appropriate, patient-centered solutions, ultimately building a stronger, more inclusive health care system for all Californians.​​ 

9. T​​ Radictional Healers thiab Natural Helpers​​ 

Hauv ib qho keeb kwm tseem ceeb, Medi-Cal tam sim no them rau cov kev pabcuam kho mob siv tshuaj yeeb uas tsom mus rau kab lis kev cai uas muab los ntawm cov kws kho mob ib txwm muaj thiab cov neeg pab ntuj. Qhov kev hloov pauv tseem ceeb no ua rau California yog ib lub xeev ntawm plaub lub xeev uas muab kev them rov qab rau Medicaid rau cov kev kho mob ib txwm muaj. Cov zej zog Amelikas Qhab thiab Alaska Native yuav tau txais txiaj ntsig los ntawm kev nkag mus rau kev saib xyuas kab lis kev cai ntau ntxiv los ntawm cov chaw kho mob Tribal, cov koom haum Urban Indian, thiab lwm cov chaw muab kev pabcuam. Qhov kev hloov pauv no yog ib tshooj tshiab hauv kev koom ua ke cov kev coj ua ib txwm muaj rau hauv cov txheej txheem kev kho mob niaj hnub.​​ 

10. Lub Koom Haum Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Hauv Zej Zog Hauv Zej Zog ntawm Kev Saib Xyuas Kev Ncaj Ncees thiab Kev Kho Mob (BH-CONNECT)​​ 

Last but not least, DHCS wrapped up the year with federal approval of the BH-CONNECT initiative, reinforcing California’s effort to build a stronger, community-focused network of behavioral health care. BH-CONNECT fills critical service gaps, provides transitional rent to stabilize those with severe mental health and substance use needs, strengthens access to evidence-based services, rewards counties for expanding care and improving outcomes, and invests $1.9 billion to grow the behavioral health workforce. These reforms are key pillars of the broader behavioral health transformation, ensuring more Californians receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.​​ 

Tag nrho cov kev ua tiav no tsuas yog ua tau los ntawm kev mob siab rau thiab kev ua haujlwm hnyav ntawm Pab Pawg DHCS - ntau dua 4,000 tus neeg uas tau cog lus rau lawv cov peev xwm los pab cov neeg California. Raws li peb xav txog cov kev ua tiav no, peb tos ntsoov yuav txuas ntxiv peb txoj haujlwm ua ke hauv 2025 mus rau California noj qab haus huv rau txhua tus. Ua tsaug rau koj txoj kev koom tes thiab kev cog lus tsis tu ncua los hloov lub neej.​​