Xov xwm tshaj plaws​​ 

DHCS Teb rau Southern California Wildfires​​ 

On January 7 and 8, multiple fires erupted in the Los Angeles County area. DHCS is actively engaged in addressing the impacts of the fires. DHCS is working alongside local and federal partners to support health care facilities, ensure continuity of care, and prioritize the safety of affected residents. Specifically, DHCS is coordinating with facilities to manage evacuations and maintain care for residents and is supporting health care providers as they navigate road closures and other disruptions.​​ 

DHCS’ Emergency and Disaster Assistance Questions & Answers webpage provides guidance and contact information for Medi-Cal members and providers during emergencies. It includes information related to accessing medical care, filling prescriptions, securing transportation, and obtaining support for individuals with specific needs, including people in assisted living facilities and individuals receiving Home and Community-Based Alternatives services.​​ 

Lub Chaw Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Kub Ntxhov ntawm Tus Thawj Kav Xeev California thiab Lub Tsev Haujlwm Saib Xyuas Kev Kho Dua Tshiab tau tsim Phau Ntawv Qhia/Cov Cuab Yeej Siv Rau Kev Npaj Thaum Muaj Xwm Ceev rau Cov Neeg Muaj Kev Tsis Taus uas muaj ntau hom lus uas suav nrog cov ntaub ntawv thiab cov lus qhia npaj thaum muaj xwm ceev rau cov neeg uas muaj kev tsis taus tshwj xeeb. Ua raws li Cal Fire thiab koj cov tub ceev xwm hauv zos kom tau txais cov xov xwm tshiab txog cov hluav taws kub hnyiab, thiab sau npe rau cov lus ceeb toom hauv zos ntawm calalerts.org. Thov saib cov ntaub ntawv ntxiv hauv qab no kom paub ntau ntxiv:​​ 

• CA.gov/LAfires - Muab cov peev txheej rau cov neeg California uas raug kev cuam tshuam los ntawm hluav taws kub hauv Los Angeles.​​ 
• Listos California - Muaj nplooj ntawv sau npe rau Kev Ceeb Toom Thaum Muaj Xwm Ceev los pab txuas cov neeg California nrog lawv cov kab ke ceeb toom hauv zos raws li tus lej zip code lossis qhov chaw muab.​​ 
• Ready.Gov – Provides guidance for individuals and families to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire events. The resource includes tips for staying safe during wildfires and returning home once an area is declared safe.​​ 
• Kev Tswj Xyuas Kev Siv Tshuaj Yeeb Thiab Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Lub Siab Cov Kev Pab Cuam Hluav Taws Kub Hav Zoov - Txhawb cov neeg dim, cov tswv cuab hauv tsev neeg, cov neeg teb, thiab cov neeg ua haujlwm kho mob uas raug kev cuam tshuam los ntawm hluav taws kub hav zoov thiab lwm yam kev puas tsuaj. Cov ntaub ntawv suav nrog cov cim qhia txog kev ntxhov siab ntawm lub siab, cov pej xeem uas yuav muaj kev pheej hmoo ntau dua rau kev ntxhov siab tom qab muaj hluav taws kub hnyiab, thiab cov kev sib txuas mus rau cov peev txheej kom tau cov ntaub ntawv ntxiv thiab kev txhawb nqa.​​ 
• Lub Chaw Tswj thiab Tiv Thaiv Kab Mob - Muab cov ntaub ntawv txog kev phom sij, suav nrog hluav taws kub hnyiab, thiab muab cov kev sib txuas rau cov ntaub ntawv hais txog kev nyob nyab xeeb tom qab hluav taws kub hnyiab thiab kev kawm txog thiab kev daws cov kev phom sij uas cuam tshuam nrog hluav taws kub hnyiab thiab lwm yam kev puas tsuaj.​​ 
• American Red Cross – Suggests ways for people who have experienced a residential fire to take care of themselves and their loved ones and to help people who may need assistance. The site lists four steps to take right after a fire and includes links to more information about returning home safely after a fire and recovering emotionally and financially.
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DHCS tseem mob siab rau kev txhawb nqa cov zej zog thaum lub sijhawm nyuaj no thiab ua tsaug rau cov neeg pabcuam thaum muaj xwm txheej ceev thiab cov neeg ua haujlwm saib xyuas kev noj qab haus huv hauv av. Nyob nyab xeeb, saib cov xov xwm tshiab rau cov ntaub ntawv tshiab, thiab ua raws li cov lus txib khiav tawm los ntawm cov thawj coj hauv zos.​​ 

Daim ntawv thov DHCS 2025-26 pob nyiaj siv​​ 

The proposed 2025-26 Governor’s Budget for DHCS allocates $193.4 billion in total funds, including $42.8 billion from the General Fund, and supports 4,821.5 positions. This budget reflects the Administration’s continued investment in transforming Medi-Cal into a coordinated, person-centered, and equitable health system for Californians.​​ 

The budget prioritizes modernizing the health care delivery system, with a focus on improving accountability and transparency and strengthening community-based care. These strategic investments support DHCS’ purpose to provide equitable access to quality health care, leading to a healthy California for all.​​ 

Kev hloov kho tshiab​​ 

Lub Xeev Txoj Kev Hloov Kho (SPA) Pom Zoo rau Dyadic Services​​ 

On January 6, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved SPA #23-0010, which authorizes DHCS to utilize an Alternative Payment Methodology (APM) to pay Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Rural Health Clinics (RHC), and Tribal Health Programs, which includes Tribal FQHCs and Indian Health Services-Memorandum of Understanding 638 Clinics, at the Medi-Cal fee-for-service (FFS) rate for dyadic services in certain circumstances. FQHCs and RHCs will receive a separate payment for dyadic services in addition to their standard Prospective Payment Services/All-Inclusive Rate billing payments in certain circumstances.​​ 

Dyadic care refers to serving both the parent/caregiver and child together as a dyad and is a form of treatment that targets family well-being to support healthy child development and mental health. Dyadic care fosters team-based approaches to meeting family needs, including addressing mental health and social support concerns, and it broadens and improves the delivery of pediatric preventive care. Offering parents and caregivers mental health services when they bring their babies and children to the doctor is an opportunity to expand access, which can improve outcomes. DHCS will release additional policy guidance in a future Medi-Cal Provider Manual update.​​ 

Hloov mus rau Tsev Neeg Tshiab PACT Portal​​ 

From January 13 through February 2, DHCS’ Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (PACT) program’s client eligibility and enrollment transaction services will transition from the Health Access Programs (HAP) Client Eligibility System to a new Family PACT portal. The HAP Client Eligibility System will be disabled on February 3, after which all Family PACT client enrollment, changes, and deactivations will be completed exclusively through the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention System (CalHEERS) Family PACT portal. To support Family PACT providers during this transition, Family PACT providers will have access to comprehensive training materials and webinars through the Family PACT Online Training Center Learning Management System. These resources will ensure that providers are equipped to use the Family PACT portal effectively before its launch.​​ 

Txoj cai hloov kho rau Medi-Cal Rx Pediatric Integration (PI)​​ 

DHCS is making an important policy adjustment related to Medi-Cal Rx’s initiative for the reinstatement of prior authorization (PA) requirements and utilization management (UM) claim edits for Medi-Cal members 21 years of age and younger, including members of the California Children’s Services (CCS) program. This initiative, commonly referred to as PI, will be implemented on January 31. To directly address and help mitigate stakeholder concerns about the volume of PA requests and potential barriers to timely access that may occur because of PI implementation, as well as recognize the advanced credentialing of CCS Panel Provider Authority, DHCS is adjusting its PI policy approach for continuing therapies/prescriptions PI as follows:​​ 

• Nyob rau lub sijhawm tsis pub tsawg tshaj 60 hnub, yog tias qhov kev thov yuav tsis kam lees nrog Reject Code 75 (PA xav tau), tab sis tus tswv cuab Medi-Cal muaj keeb kwm tsis ntev los no, qhov kev thov yuav them yam tsis tas yuav muaj PA ntxiv. DHCS npaj txoj hauv kev no kom them taus cov kws kho mob thiab cov kws kho mob ntxiv sijhawm los kho lawv cov txheej txheem sab hauv thiab cov phiaj xwm zoo dua rau PI cov cai thiab xa cov PAs ua haujlwm.​​ 

DHCS will release additional, more detailed information through the Medi-Cal Rx website and will update various existing resource documents on a flow basis. DHCS remains committed to ensuring Medi-Cal members, providers, and other partners are supported so pharmacy benefits can be accessed in a safe, timely, and equitable manner. DHCS will continue to support and engage stakeholders on PI.​​ 

Koom nrog peb pab neeg​​ 

DHCS tab tom nrhiav ib tus neeg muaj peev xwm thiab muaj kev txhawb siab los ua haujlwm xws li:​​ 

• Chief of the Pharmacy Benefits Division. The Chief is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of policy, services, and coverage criteria for outpatient pharmacy services for the state’s Medi-Cal program. This includes providing policy direction for Medi-Cal Rx as well as invoicing and collecting federal and state supplemental drug rebates. The Chief of PBD also leads the development of nutrition, vision care, and medical supply benefits and oversees the administration of the Medi-Cal Pharmacy and Vision Benefit programs. Applications must be submitted by February 7.​​ 

DHCS is also hiring for its accounting, program accountability, behavioral health, managed care quality and monitoring, eligibility, 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​​ 

Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee Webinar​​ 

On January 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. PST, DHCS will host the third Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee webinar. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the webinar link and additional details. DHCS is pleased to continue its collaborative efforts to measure and evaluate the quality and efficacy of behavioral health services and programs. These public webinars provide an opportunity for participants to offer input for DHCS consideration. Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation Stakeholder Engagement webpage for more information about the webinars and additional resources. Please send questions related to Behavioral Health Transformation and/or the webinars to BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.​​ 

Luag Ntxhi, California Webinar: Txhawb nqa Medi-Cal Dental Benefit rau Lub Hlis Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv Hniav Rau Menyuam Yaus Hauv Tebchaws​​ 

On January 22, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST, Smile, California will host a webinar to kick off National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February. The webinar will feature a preview of the new Healthy Smile Land materials, strategies for promoting Medi-Cal dental services during NCDHM, and resources for accessing and distributing outreach materials. Attendees will also be able to connect with Smile, California representatives to ask about Medi-Cal dental benefits.​​ 

DHCS Lub Rooj Sib Tham Txog Kev Txom Nyem​​ 

DHCS collaborates with communities across the state to promote harm reduction and low-barrier, patient-centered care within California’s substance use disorder treatment system. DHCS encourages substance use disorder treatment providers and staff (including social workers, peers, front desk staff, case managers, nurses, physicians, and all staff in substance use disorder treatment settings) to attend and learn about incorporating the tenets of harm reduction into substance use disorder treatment. Summits will be held in Fresno County (January 23), San Diego County (February 11), and Los Angeles County (February 27). Register on the event website.​​ 

Kev Pabcuam Ambassador Webinar Series: Kev Ncaj Ncees-Involved Reentry Initiative thiab Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Update​​ 

Thaum Lub Ib Hlis 30, txij thaum 11 teev sawv ntxov txog 11:45 teev sawv ntxov PST, DHCS yuav tuav lub rooj sib tham hauv online rau DHCS Coverage Ambassadors (yuav tsum tau sau npe ua ntej). Lub webinar yuav muab cov xov xwm tshiab txog Kev Ncaj Ncees-Kev Koom Tes Rov Qab Los thiab Kev Noj Qab Haus Huv ntawm Cov Menyuam Yaus (CYBHI). Nws yuav qhia cov ntaub ntawv txog cov tib neeg uas koom nrog kev ncaj ncees uas tam sim no, lossis tau siv sijhawm, nyob hauv tsev loj cuj, chaw kaw cov tub ntxhais hluas, lossis tsev loj cuj thiab cov uas muaj kev pheej hmoo siab dua rau cov txiaj ntsig kev noj qab haus huv tsis zoo, raug mob, thiab tuag dua li pej xeem. Nws yuav tsom mus rau cov kauj ruam tseem ceeb uas California tab tom ua los txhim kho cov txiaj ntsig kev noj qab haus huv tsis zoo rau cov tib neeg thaum lawv npaj rov qab nkag mus rau hauv lawv cov zej zog los ntawm kev ua haujlwm kom ntseeg tau tias lawv muaj kev pov hwm txuas ntxiv mus tom qab lawv raug tso tawm. Tsis tas li ntawd xwb, Cov Neeg Sawv Cev Saib Xyuas Kev Pabcuam yuav kawm paub txog yuav ua li cas cov kev pabcuam qhwv menyuam yaus thaum yau yuav raug nthuav dav los ntawm CYBHI, uas yuav muab cov kev pabcuam kev noj qab haus huv ntawm lub hlwb rau cov menyuam yaus, cov hluas, thiab cov tsev neeg. Kawm paub ntxiv txog DHCS Coverage Ambassadors, lossis sau npe los ua Tus Neeg Sawv Cev Pabcuam.​​ 

Intrauterine Device (IUD) thiab Contraceptive Implant Insertion Training​​ 

On February 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST, DHCS’ Office of Family Planning will host an in-person Comprehensive IUD and Contraceptive Implant Insertion Training. The training, which is currently full, includes information about patient method selection, counseling and consent, techniques for using instruments during IUD placement, and instruction on the insertion of each type of IUD currently available in the United States. Additional topics to be covered include management of side effects, tips for managing difficult placements, pain management principles for office procedures, and prevention and management of complications. Please see IUD & Implant Resources for more information.​​ 

Hauv Case Koj Tsis Tau Nws​​ 

CMS Xaiv DHCS rau Txoj Kev Hloov Pauv Rau Niam Txiv Tus Qauv​​ 

Thaum Lub Ib Hlis 6, CMS tau pom zoo rau California txoj kev koom tes hauv nws lub Chaw rau Medicare thiab Medicaid Innovation's Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model, uas yog kaum xyoo Medicaid thiab Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) kev xa khoom thiab kev them nyiaj uas tsim los sim seb kev siv cov kev cuam tshuam uas muaj pov thawj, txhawb nqa los ntawm tus qauv them nyiaj raws li tus nqi (VBP), puas tuaj yeem txhim kho cov txiaj ntsig ntawm niam thiab txo cov nuj nqis ntawm cov kev pab cuam rau Medicaid thiab CHIP.​​ 

DHCS yuav siv Tus Qauv TMaH hauv tsib lub nroog: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, thiab Tulare. Tus Qauv TMaH yog ib feem ntawm California txoj kev cog lus dav dua los daws teeb meem kev sib txawv ntawm haiv neeg thiab pawg neeg hauv kev noj qab haus huv ntawm niam thiab xyuas kom meej tias txhua tus poj niam cev xeeb tub, tshwj xeeb tshaj yog cov neeg nyob hauv cov zej zog uas muaj nyiaj tsawg, tau txais kev txhawb nqa uas lawv xav tau kom muaj kev nyab xeeb thaum cev xeeb tub thiab yug menyuam.​​ 

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. 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. The deadline to apply for PATH CITED Round 4 funding is 11:59 p.m. PST on March 7, 2025. The guidance document and application can be found by visiting the PATH CITED webpage. Please submit questions to cited@ca-path.com.​​ 

PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Round 5 Tus neeg muag khoom thov​​ 

On January 1, DHCS opened the PATH TA Marketplace Round 5 vendor application. The deadline to apply is January 31. Round 5 will be a targeted procurement for new and existing hands-on service offerings that address TA Marketplace gaps. The Round 5 procurement will seek TA vendor applications for all seven TA domains, but it will focus on services for the following provider types: rural providers, Tribal and Indian health care providers, maternal and child-serving providers, and transitional rent providers.​​ 

DHCS yuav tsis lees txais cov ntawv xa mus rau cov phiaj xwm tshiab tawm ntawm lub txee lossis hloov pauv rau cov phiaj xwm tawm ntawm lub txee uas twb muaj lawm thaum lub sijhawm Round 5. Hloov chaw, daim ntawv thov Round 5 yuav thov cov peev txheej ntawm kev thov los ntawm cov neeg muag khoom TA uas twb muaj lawm. Thov mus saib TA Marketplace Vendor lub vev xaib kom nkag mus rau cov ntaub ntawv qhia thiab thov. Thov xa cov lus nug rau ta-marketplace@ca-path.com.
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