Xov xwm tshaj plaws

Tus Thawj Tuav Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Sarah Brooks tawm hauv DHCS

Sarah Brooks, Tus Lwm Thawj Coj rau Cov Kev Pabcuam Kev Kho Mob, yuav tawm haujlwm ntawm DHCS vim yog nws tus kheej lub luag haujlwm rau lub Ob Hlis 21, 2025. Peb txaus siab rau Sarah txoj kev pab rau Lub Chaw Haujlwm thiab xav kom nws muaj txhua yam zoo tshaj plaws. Thaum Sarah tawm haujlwm lawm, Tyler Sadwith yuav ua tus thawj coj ib ntus rau Cov Kev Pabcuam Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv ntxiv rau nws txoj haujlwm Tus Thawj Coj Medicaid Hauv Xeev.

California Launches Vital Health Care Services

On February 10, DHCS, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) announced the expansion of the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative to prisons statewide. The initiative allows eligible incarcerated individuals to enroll in Medi-Cal and receive a targeted set of services during the 90 days prior to their release. Connecting people to services and providers prior to release will help ensure continuity of health care coverage and services, such as medication-assisted treatment and pharmacy benefits, between incarceration and reentry. All participants are eligible for Enhanced Care Management and linkages to behavioral health care to support their successful reintegration into society.

County jails and youth detention facilities in San Joaquin County are also launching the initiative in February 2025, joining Inyo, Santa Clara, and Yuba counties, which began offering pre-release services in October 2024. More than 3,000 incarcerated individuals in county jails have received Medi-Cal pre-release services, ensuring they return to society with health coverage, prescriptions, durable medical equipment, and scheduled appointments with community-based care providers. This initiative plays a crucial role in reducing health disparities and supporting successful reentry. By October 1, 2026, all California counties must implement the initiative in their jails and youth facilities.

Kev hloov kho tshiab

Zej Zog Txhawb Kev Pabcuam Txhais

DHCS recently released updated service definitions for four Community Supports that will go into effect on July 1, 2025. These updates cover Nursing Facility Transition/Diversion to Assisted Living Facilities, Community Transition Services/Nursing Facility Transition to a Home, Asthma Remediation, and Medically Tailored Meals/Medically Supportive Food. By refining these definitions, DHCS seeks to ensure that services are more effectively tailored to meet the diverse needs of Medi-Cal members, thereby promoting better health outcomes and more efficient care delivery. The service definition refinements are the result of extensive stakeholder engagement with managed care plans, providers, and subject matter experts. DHCS is committed to enhancing Community Supports and plans to release additional refinements for housing-related Community Supports in late spring 2025. Please email your questions to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov.

Medi-Cal Cov Kev Pabcuam Hauv Tsev thiab Hauv Zej Zog thiab Tswj Kev Pabcuam Sijhawm Ntev thiab Txhawb Kev Tshaj Tawm Txog Kev Tshawb Fawb

Thaum Lub Ob Hlis 14, DHCS tau tshaj tawm ib daim ntawv qhia tshiab uas txheeb xyuas qhov tsis txaus ntawm California cov kev pabcuam Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) thiab Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS). Tshwj xeeb, daim ntawv tshaj tawm no txheeb xyuas cov qhov tsis txaus ntseeg hauv California cov kev pab cuam HCBS thiab cov txheej txheem kev pabcuam. Daim ntawv qhia no qhia txog cov kauj ruam tom ntej los txo qhov tsis sib luag hauv kev nkag mus rau thiab cov kev pabcuam, ua kom tau raws li cov tswv cuab xav tau, nce kev koom ua ke thiab kev sib koom tes ntawm cov kev pab cuam, txhim kho qhov zoo ntawm kev saib xyuas, thiab ua kom yooj yim rau kev nkag mus rau cov kev pabcuam. Cov ntsiab lus tseem ceeb ntawm daim ntawv tshaj tawm suav nrog:

• California cov pej xeem muaj kev laus zuj zus sai, tshwj xeeb hauv cov cheeb tsam uas tam sim no nkag mus rau HCBS twb txwv.
• Nyob rau hauv cov cheeb tsam nyob deb nroog, kev siv LTSS lub koom haum yog siab dua nyob rau hauv ntau lub nroog. Cov pejxeem ntawm cov neeg siv LTSS yav tom ntej yuav tsum suav nrog ntau tus neeg Mev, cov neeg muaj hnub nyoog 85 thiab laus dua, thiab poj niam.
• Txhawm rau ua kom tau raws li cov kev xav tau ntawm cov neeg coob coob ntawm Medi-Cal cov tswv cuab uas xav tau HCBS, tus lej ntawm HCBS cov kws kho mob koom nrog Medi-Cal yuav tsum nce ntxiv.
• Cov cheeb tsam tshaj tawm tshaj plaws ntawm cov neeg ua haujlwm xav tau yog rau cov kws kho mob ncaj qha.

Based on the report’s results and feedback from a broad array of stakeholders and advocates, DHCS will develop a multi-year roadmap to address LTSS needs in the state by expanding HCBS providers’ capacity, strengthening partnerships among the state, counties, health plans, HCBS providers, and community-based organizations, and identifying key milestones and benchmarks to help California monitor progress. Through the gap analysis and roadmap, DHCS intends to identify and analyze opportunities to expand access to Medi-Cal HCBS and MLTSS and improve health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and health equity for Medi-Cal members.

For more information about this effort, please visit DHCS’ Gap Analysis and Multi-Year Roadmap of Medi-Cal HCBS and MLTSS Programs webpage. DHCS will discuss the report’s highlights with stakeholders in a webinar open to the public scheduled for March 13. More details will be included in a future stakeholder update.

Koom nrog peb pab neeg

DHCS tab tom nrhiav cov neeg muaj peev xwm thiab txhawb nqa los ua haujlwm xws li:

• Chief, Health Information Management Division (HIMD). The Chief of HIMD is responsible for the collection and exchange of data between DHCS and external stakeholders and for ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state standards and regulations. The Chief of HIMD also leads the development of policy and data presentation processes using business intelligence tools that support key policy initiatives, such as California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal and HCBS initiatives. Applications must be submitted by February 27.

• Chief, Procurement and Contracting Division (PCD). The Chief of PCD leads all aspects of procurement and contracting activities for DHCS and provides strategic support, expert guidance, and solutions for DHCS’ procurement and contracting needs. The Chief of PCD is also designated as DHCS’ Procurement and Contracting Officer (PCO). As the PCO, the Chief of PCD is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including applicable appropriations and executive orders. Applications must be submitted by February 28.

DHCS is also hiring for its accounting, financial, behavioral health, managed care, quality and population health management, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.

Cov Rooj Sib Tham Cov Neeg Koom Tes thiab Webinar yuav los tom ntej

DHCS posts upcoming public meetings on the Calendar of Events.

Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) / Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Lub Rooj Sib Tham

Thaum Lub Ob Hlis 19, txij 9:30 sawv ntxov txog 3 teev tsaus ntuj PST, DHCS yuav tuav lub rooj sib tham sib xyaw SAC/BH-SAC (yuav tsum sau npe ua ntej rau kev koom tes hauv online thiab tus kheej) ntawm 1700 K Street (chav sib tham hauv pem teb thib ib 17.1014), Sacramento. SAC muab cov tswv yim thiab cov lus taw qhia tseem ceeb rau DHCS txog kev siv zog los muab kev nkag mus rau kev kho mob zoo. BH-SAC muab cov tswv yim rau DHCS txog kev pib kho mob tus cwj pwm thiab tau tsim los ua ib feem ntawm kev siv zog txuas ntxiv mus rau kev koom ua ke kev kho mob tus cwj pwm nrog lub cev kho mob loj dua. Thov saib cov txheej txheem thiab lwm yam ntaub ntawv ntawm lub rooj sib tham. Yog xav paub ntxiv, thov xa email rau SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov lossis BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov.

California Surgeon General Maternal Health Summit: Txhim Kho Kab Mob Ntshav Qab Zib

On February 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST at the May Lee State Office Complex (651 Bannon Street, Sacramento), California Surgeon General Dr. Diana E. Ramos will host the Maternal Health Summit: Improving Cardiovascular Health as part of American Heart Month for a day dedicated to highlighting the role of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy-associated deaths and opportunities to improve cardiovascular health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality (advance registration required). This is an in-person event only, and virtual attendance is not available. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Please direct all questions to StrongStartAndBeyond@osg.ca.gov, and visit the Office of the California Surgeon General website to learn more about this movement.

California Opioid Settlement Report Meeting Report Expenditures Report

On February 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a virtual meeting to discuss the California Opioid Settlements Annual Expenditures Report for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 (advance registration required). The statewide report will be published on the DHCS California Opioid Settlements webpage and offers an overview of opioid settlement and bankruptcy payments and expenditures for SFY 2022-23. Beginning in 2023, DHCS received reported expenditure data regarding opioid settlement-funded projects by California and its participating cities and counties. The purpose of the meeting is to review the annual report, provide a high-level review of allowable expenditures under the opioid settlement and bankruptcy agreements, offer details on how funds were appropriated to California state projects, and summarize how funds were spent on local initiatives by cities and counties in SFY 2022-23.

Birthing Care Pathway Webinar

On March 4, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. PST, DHCS will host a webinar on the Birthing Care Pathway (advance registration required). On February 4, DHCS released the Birthing Care Pathway Report, which includes a series of policy solutions and strategic opportunities for further exploration that aim to address the physical, behavioral, and health-related social needs of pregnant and postpartum members by improving access to providers, strengthening clinical care and care coordination across the care continuum, providing whole-person care, and modernizing how Medi-Cal pays for maternity care.

During the webinar, attendees will hear from DHCS leaders about the goals of the Birthing Care Pathway, a comprehensive overview of the policies DHCS is implementing, a summary of strategic opportunities for further exploration, and how the Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model will complement and bolster DHCS’ work to strengthen California’s health care delivery system, improve maternal health outcomes, and reduce disparities. Please email BirthingCarePathway@dhcs.ca.gov with any questions.

Medi-Cal Children’s Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting

Thaum Lub Peb Hlis 13, txij 10 teev sawv ntxov txog 2 teev tav su PDT, DHCS yuav tuav lub rooj sib tham MCHAP txhua peb lub hlis ntawm 1700 K Street (chav sib tham hauv pem teb thib ib 17.1014), Sacramento, lossis los ntawm kev sib tham hauv online rau pej xeem (yuav tsum sau npe ua ntej rau kev koom tes hauv online thiab tus kheej). MCHAP qhia DHCS txog txoj cai thiab cov teeb meem kev ua haujlwm uas cuam tshuam rau cov menyuam yaus hauv Medi-Cal. Lub rooj sib tham yuav muab cov xov xwm tshiab txog Birthing Care Pathway thiab DHCS Pediatric Dashboard. Nws tseem yuav muaj kev nthuav qhia los ntawm Alex Briscoe los ntawm California Children's Trust txog kev hloov pauv tsis tau muaj dua los cuam tshuam rau Medicaid thiab kev hloov pauv ntawm cov kab ke kev noj qab haus huv ntawm cov hluas. Thov xa email rau cov lus nug lossis cov lus tawm tswv yim rau MCHAP@dhcs.ca.gov.

Hauv Case Koj Tsis Tau Nws

Cov Chaw Tshiab Nqa Cov Kev Pabcuam Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Zoo Tseem Ceeb rau Cov Hluas thiab Cov Neeg Laus hauv Los Angeles County

DHCS is expanding residential services for individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health needs at two locations in Los Angeles County. The Whole Child—Mental Health and Housing Services celebrated the grand opening of a new community wellness center that provides trauma-informed, culturally sensitive mental health, family housing, parent enrichment, and nutrition education services. Also, St. Anne’s Family Services hosted a groundbreaking for a new short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP) called STRTP FOR ONE, which annually provides high-quality supportive housing programs, early childhood education, mental health, and family-based services to thousands of young women, children, and families in Los Angeles County.

Thov rau Daim Ntawv Thov (RFA): Txhim Kho Cov Kev Pabcuam Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Zoo

DHCS released a RFA to solicit applications from consultants to assist counties in improving their performance in the delivery of behavioral health services and contracting for these services, with outcomes, transparency, and accountability to residents. Interested participants must apply by February 24 at 4 p.m. PST.

Tam sim no Qhib: Muab Kev Nkag Mus Nkag thiab Hloov Kho Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv (PATH) Kev Muaj Peev Xwm thiab Cov Txheej Txheem Hloov Kho, Kev nthuav dav, thiab Kev Txhim Kho (CITED) Daim Ntawv Thov Round 4

On January 6, DHCS opened the PATH CITED Round 4 application window, including the Transitional Rent Community Support. The PATH CITED initiative provides funding to build the capacity and infrastructure of on-the-ground partners, including community-based organizations, hospitals, county agencies, Tribes, and others, to successfully participate in Medi-Cal. Nearly $158 million is available for Round 4. All organizations providing the Transitional Rent Community Support must do so in partnership with their county behavioral health department. To demonstrate this partnership, all CITED applicants planning to request funding to support the Transitional Rent Community Support must also submit a Letter of Support in collaboration with the county behavioral health department.

The deadline to apply for PATH CITED Round 4 funding is 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 2, 2025. The guidance document and application are available on the PATH CITED webpage. Please send any questions to cited@ca-path.com.