DHCS Stakeholder News – August 19, 2022
Nyob zoo cov neeg muaj feem xyuam,
Lub Tsev Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv (DHCS) tab tom muab qhov hloov tshiab no ntawm kev txhim kho tseem ceeb ntawm DHCS cov kev pabcuam.
Xov xwm tshaj plaws
Governor Unveils California’s Strategy to Support Youth Mental Health; Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is a Key Component
On August 18 in Fresno, Governor Gavin Newsom discussed California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health. He said, “Mental and behavioral health is one of the greatest challenges of our time…The Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health is premised on a very simple belief: every single kid deserves to have their mental health supported.”
One of the key components of the Master Plan is CYBHI, a multiyear, multi-department package of investments that reimagines the systems that support behavioral health for all California’s children, youth, and their families. Efforts focus on promoting social and emotional well-being, preventing behavioral health challenges, and providing equitable, appropriate, timely, and accessible services for emerging and existing behavioral health needs for children and youth ages 0-25.
The $4.7 billion investment of state General Funds for CYBHI will improve access to behavioral health services for all children and youth in California, regardless of payer. Moreover, it will have significant implications for the Medi-Cal program since 5.4 million (approximately 54 percent) children and youth are enrolled in Medi-Cal. CYBHI will improve and change the way Medi-Cal’s children and youth access behavioral health service—virtually, through their communities and schools, and through their existing relationships with Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) and County Behavioral Health Plans.
As a component of CYBHI, DHCS will build and drive adoption of the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform for all children, youth, and families in California, regardless of payer. The platform will support the delivery of equitable, appropriate, and timely behavioral health services from prevention to treatment to recovery, and provide an e-Consult platform for pediatric and primary care providers to connect with BH providers.
CYBHI also includes statewide efforts that will make it easier for children, youth, and young adults to access behavioral health services in California’s schools. By January 1, 2024, DHCS, in collaboration with the California Department of Managed Health Care (DHMC), will develop and maintain:
- Ib lub sijhawm them nqi kawm ntawv thoob plaws lub xeev los them rov qab rau cov neeg mob sab nraud kev puas siab puas ntsws thiab kev siv tshuaj yeeb dawb uas muaj rau cov tub ntxhais kawm, hnub nyoog 25 xyoos lossis qis dua, ntawm lossis ze ntawm lub tsev kawm ntawv;
- Ib lub tsev kawm ntawv txuas nrog lub xeev tus kws kho mob network ntawm tsev kawm ntawv cov kws pab tswv yim kev noj qab haus huv.
Daim ntawv teev nqi them tag nrho hauv lub xeev rau cov kev pab cuam BH hauv tsev kawm ntawv yuav muab ib qho kev tshwj xeeb ntawm cov txiaj ntsig thiab cov kev xav tau ntawm cov phiaj xwm kev noj qab haus huv kev lag luam thiab Medi-Cal cov txheej txheem xa khoom, uas yuav tsum tau them nyiaj rov qab rau cov kws kho mob ntawm tus nqi tsim los muab kev pabcuam rau cov menyuam kawm ntawv. Tsim kom muaj lub sijhawm them nqi yuav ua kom yooj yim dua thiab pab txhawb kev them nyiaj rov qab rau tsev kawm ntawv cov kev pabcuam kev coj tus cwj pwm kev noj qab haus huv, yog li nthuav dav cov kev pabcuam kev coj tus cwj pwm rau cov menyuam kawm ntawv ntawm, lossis nyob ze, cov tsev kawm ntawv, thiab txhim kho kev nkag mus rau cov kev pabcuam thiab cov txiaj ntsig rau menyuam yaus, hluas, thiab cov hluas.
DHCS yog tus thawj coj hauv qab no ntxiv dag zog los nthuav kev nkag mus rau tsev kawm ntawv-txuas kev pabcuam kev coj tus cwj pwm:
- Qhov Kev Pabcuam Tub Ntxhais Kawm Tus Cwj Pwm Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv (SBHIP) muab nyiaj txhawb siab, tag nrho $389 lab hauv peb lub xyoos (Lub Ib Hlis 1, 2022 - Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 31, 2024), rau Medi-Cal MCPs los tsim kev sib koom tes ruaj khov thiab kev tsim vaj tsev ntawm MCPs, Cov Chaw Saib Xyuas Kev Kawm Hauv Zos (LEAs), thiab cov nroog
- Txhim kho kev sib koom tes ntawm cov tub ntxhais kawm tus cwj pwm kev noj qab haus huv (BH) kev pabcuam;
- Txhim kho kev tiv thaiv thiab kev cuam tshuam ntxov BH cov kev pab cuam hloov pauv qib kindergarten mus rau cov tub ntxhais kawm qib 12;
- Ua kom cov kev pabcuam kev puas siab puas ntsws uas tsis yog tshwj xeeb ntawm / ze ntawm tsev kawm ntawv cov tsev kawm ntawv;
- Nce kev nkag mus rau BH cov kev pab cuam ntawm / ze lub tsev kawm ntawv cov tsev kawm ntawv thiab / lossis los ntawm cov tsev kawm ntawv koom nrog BH cov kws kho mob.
- DHCS yuav muab kev koom tes ncaj qha rau Tsev Kawm Ntawv Kev Sib Koom Tes thiab Cov Nyiaj Pab Muaj Peev Xwm los txhawb cov kev pabcuam tshiab rau cov tib neeg hnub nyoog 25 xyoos thiab qis dua los ntawm cov tsev kawm ntawv, cov chaw muab kev pabcuam hauv tsev kawm, cov koom haum hauv zej zog hauv tsev kawm ntawv (CBOs), lossis cov chaw kho mob hauv tsev kawm ntawv. Los ntawm kev txhim kho kev muaj peev xwm, kev sib koom tes, thiab kev tsim kho vaj tse, DHCS yuav txuas ntxiv mus txuas ntxiv kev nkag mus rau cov kev pabcuam hauv tsev kawm ntawv rau cov menyuam kawm ntawv. Cov nyiaj pab yuav raug tsim los txhawb kev ua raws li lub xeev tus nqi them tag nrho hauv 2024.
- Los ntawm nws txoj haujlwm CalHOPE, DHCS tab tom nqis peev hauv kev kawm txog kev sib raug zoo thiab kev xav (SEL) ib puag ncig rau cov menyuam yaus thiab cov hluas hauv tsev kawm ntawv. Lub Tsev Haujlwm tau cog lus nrog Sacramento County Office of Education (COE), uas muaj kev nkag siab nrog tag nrho 57 lwm COE thoob plaws lub xeev, los coj kev siv zog, suav nrog tsim kom muaj lub xeev SEL Community of Practice. Txhua COE tab tom tsim cov kev ntsuas xav tau thiab kev npaj ua kom nthuav dav SEL cov tswv yim.
Effective January 2023, Medi-Cal will cover integrated physical and behavioral health screenings and services for the whole family, not just the child who is the identified patient. This expansion is especially important for families in which the child is enrolled in Medi-Cal but the parent or caregiver is uninsured, and yet there is a need for dyadic treatment. Dyadic services involve simultaneous treatment for the child and parent/caregiver, with studies showing significant improvements in child behavior issues and increases in positive parent/child attachment. These services will include a number of screening, assessment, evaluation, and case management, in addition to integrated BH services, tobacco cessation counseling, and alcohol and/or drug use Screening, Brief Interventions and Referral to Treatment.
In addition, with input from stakeholders, DHCS will select a limited number of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and community-defined practices (CDPs) to scale throughout the state based on robust evidence for effectiveness, impact on racial equity, and sustainability. Medi-Cal MCPs, county BH plans, Medi-Cal providers and Indian Health programs would then be eligible to receive funding for scaling up these practices. By scaling EBPs and CDPs throughout the state, DHCS aims to improve access to critical BH interventions, including those focused on prevention, early intervention and resiliency/recovery, for children and youth, specifically focused on children and youth from Black, Indigenous, and people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex+ communities.
To provide comments, make recommendations, or obtain additional information about the CYBHI, please email CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov.
Contingency Management (CM) Thov Kev Pom Zoo (RFP)
On August 19, 2022, DHCS issued a RFP to support implementation of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) CM pilot program. Through the pilot, DHCS is committed to expanding access to evidence-based behavioral treatment to address the stimulant use disorder crisis that persists in California. CM, which provides motivational incentives to reduce the use of stimulants, is the only treatment that has demonstrated strongly positive outcomes for individuals with stimulant use disorder, including a reduction in or cessation of drug use and longer retention in treatment.
DHCS will implement the CM pilot program using an incentive manager vendor. The RFP seeks a vendor that would support the, management, tracking, and distribution of incentives. The pilot was scheduled to begin on July 1, 2022, but the inability to procure an incentive manager delayed implementation. Therefore, the new incentive manager vendor will likely onboard in November, and the anticipated CM pilot program start date will be in December or January 2023.
Yog xav paub ntxiv, thov mus saib ntawm DHCS CM qhov webpage.
Kev hloov kho tshiab
Muab Kev Nkag Mus Nkag thiab Hloov Kho Kev Pab Nyiaj Txiag rau Kev Ncaj Ncees Koom Tes (PATH JI) Txoj Haujlwm Txhim Kho Lub Peev Xwm
On August 9, DHCS launched an online application for round two of the PATH JI Capacity Building Program to support activities focused on pre-release Medi-Cal eligibility and enrollment for justice involved Californians.
PATH JI Capacity Building Program funding supports collaborative planning as well as information technology (IT) system modifications necessary to implement pre-release Medi-Cal application and suspension processes. This program is providing a total of $151 million for correctional agencies and institutions and county social service departments, including sheriff’s offices, county probation departments, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Applications for round two must be submitted through the online application portal no later than December 31, 2022.
Visit the CalAIM PATH webpage for more information on PATH and the JI initiative. Please email justice-involved@ca-path.com with any questions about the application process.
Daim Ntawv Thov Kev Pabcuam thiab Kev lees paub rau Kev Sau Npe (PAVE) Portal rau Family PACT Cov Chaw Pabcuam
On August 15, DHCS launched the PAVE portal for Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment) providers. The PAVE portal is a web-based application designed to simplify and accelerate enrollment processes, it is a new mode for submitting Family PACT provider enrollment applications and required documentation to DHCS. Beginning January 1, 2023, DHCS will no longer accept paper applications from providers seeking to enroll as a Family PACT provider.
CMS Kev Pom Zoo ntawm Peb Lub Xeev Txoj Kev Hloov Kho (SPA) rau cov txiaj ntsig
- On August 5, CMS approved SPA 22-0044 to allow “licensed practitioners” to prescribe physical therapy. This revision allows physician assistants and nurse practitioners to prescribe physician therapy, in addition to physicians, dentists, and podiatrists.
- Thaum Lub Yim Hli 10, CMS tau pom zoo SPA 22-0003 ntxiv cov kev pabcuam tiv thaiv kab mob hawb pob. Qhov txiaj ntsig tshiab no tso cai rau cov chaw muab kev pab tiv thaiv kab mob hawb pob uas tsis muaj ntawv tso cai thiab cov kws kho mob muaj ntawv tso cai los muab kev qhia kev mob ntsws asthma thiab kev ntsuas hauv tsev.
- Thaum Lub Yim Hli 12, CMS tau pom zoo SPA 22-0017 tso cai rau tus neeg mob cov nqi ib txwm siv rau kev sim tshuaj, raws li qhov xav tau los ntawm Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Yav dhau los, Medi-Cal tau them cov nqi niaj hnub rau kev sim tshuaj kho mob nkaus xwb rau cov koom nrog hauv kev sim tshuaj kho mob qog noj ntshav.
Tshaj tawm cov ntaub ntawv COVID-19
- Hloov tshiab: Tus nqi txhaj tshuaj Medi-Cal COVID-19
Cov Rooj Sib Tham Cov Neeg Koom Tes thiab Webinar yuav los tom ntej
CalAIM Waiver Amendment Public Hearing
On August 22, DHCS is hosting a virtual public hearing to encourage and solicit stakeholder feedback on proposed waiver amendments regarding implementation of county-based model changes in the Medi-Cal Managed Care (MCMC) program. Advance registration for the CalAIM public hearing is required.
Cov ntaub ntawv ntxiv txog CalAIM Tshooj 1115 ua qauv qhia daim ntawv thov thiab Tshooj 1915(b) cov lus qhia muaj nyob rau ntawm CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver webpage. Lub sijhawm 30-hnub cov lus tshaj tawm pej xeem xaus rau lub Cuaj Hlis 12, 2022.
PATH Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion and Development (CITED) Initiative Update
Thaum Lub Yim Hli 23 thaum 12 teev tsaus ntuj, DHCS yuav zoo li tuav lub vev xaib xov xwm los txhawb cov koom haum tsim nyog nrog lawv daim ntawv thov CITED. Lub nkoj tab tom xa khoom mus rau qhov chaw nres nkoj DHCS, thiab kev cia siab yuav tuaj txog muaj Lub Ob Hlis 8, 08:30 Cov webinars yuav muab cov ncauj lus kom ntxaws txog cov nyiaj CITED thiab cov txheej txheem thov.
Yog xav paub ntxiv, thov mus saib https://www.ca-path.com/cited. Cov lus nug txog CITED pib thiab cov txheej txheem thov tuaj yeem xa mus rau cited@ca-path.com. DHCS yuav teb rau cov lus nug uas xa tuaj thaum lub rooj sib tham hauv webinar thiab hauv kev sib tham tom qab.
CalAIM Webinar: ECM thiab Zej Zog Txhawb Cov Tswv Cuab Kev Koom Tes
On August 25 at 1:30 p.m., DHCS will virtually host a webinar on CalAIM ECM and Community Supports member engagement. Topics for this session will include provider and member communications, referrals, outreach, and enrollment.
CalAIM Member Engagement webinar advance registration is required. Participants are invited to submit questions by August 22 to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the session. An additional “Office Hours” event will be held on September 1 at 2 p.m. for attendees to ask questions not covered during the webinar.
CYBHI Lub hli Public Webinar
On August 29 at 3 p.m., DHCS will virtually host a public webinar to keep stakeholders apprised of DHCS’ progress in implementing various work streams for the CYBHI. Key attendees include, but are not limited to, youth, parents, family members, behavioral health providers, Medi-Cal managed care plans, county behavioral health departments, and commercial health plans, as well as education and other cross-sector partners. Advance registration for this CYBHI webinar is required.
CalAIM “Office Hours”: ECM and Community Supports Member Engagement
On September 1 at 2 p.m., DHCS will virtually host an “Office Hours” discussion on CalAIM ECM and Community Supports member engagement. As a follow-up to the August 25 webinar on this topic, this Q&A session will cover provider and member communications, referrals, outreach, and enrollment. Advance registration is required. Participants are invited to submit questions by August 29 to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the session.
CalAIM Webinar: ECM Cov Neeg Saib Xyuas Lub Sij Hawm Ntev ntawm Kev Pom Zoo
Thaum lub Cuaj Hlis 8 thaum 1:30 teev tsaus ntuj, DHCS yuav zoo rau txhua tus neeg tuaj koom lub vev xaib ntawm CalAIM ECM Kev Saib Xyuas Lub Sijhawm Ntev Rau Cov Pej Xeem. Yuav tsum sau npe ua ntej. Cov neeg koom nrog raug caw kom xa cov lus nug ua ntej lub Cuaj Hlis 5 mus rau CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov. Cov neeg tuaj koom kuj yuav muaj sijhawm los nug cov lus nug thaum lub sijhawm sib tham.