DHCS expresses gratitude to our plans, providers, stakeholders, and other partners for their commitment and partnership during the COVID-19 PHE. We worked together and adapted quickly to the pandemic’s challenges and difficulties to care for millions of Californians. Our joint efforts enabled us to navigate the PHE with resilience and perseverance, and we are grateful for your ongoing engagement. ​​  

The health care industry, particularly hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and skilled nursing facilities, faced the brunt of the PHE’s impact. The surge in COVID-19 cases placed immense strain on those facilities, stretching resources to their limits and challenging our workforce as never before seen with overwhelming patient volumes, shortages of critical supplies and equipment, and the need for additional staff. Despite these challenges, our collective efforts enabled us to continue providing vital services. Some examples include, making permanent telehealth policies implemented during the PHE, including payment parity, flexibilities for FQHC partners and expanding telehealth to all delivery systems, stabilizing and retaining California’s health care workforce by providing retention payments to workers in qualifying facilities and clinics, and launching a Coverage Ambassadors program and Renewal Campaign to ensure that Medi-Cal members know how best to retain their health coverage, we have demonstrated our commitment to serving Californians.  ​​  

Rebuilding and strengthening our health care system requires a continued collaborative effort. We must focus on implementing strategies to bolster our system and workforce. We’ve learned a lot from this pandemic, and how we can better protect the health and well-being of all Californians, now and in the future.  ​​  

As a reminder, the end of the federal COVID-19 PHE has implications for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). DHCS acted to make permanent several flexibilities implemented over the course of the PHE. Below is a summary of end dates for key federal Medicaid provisions, with additional details on how DHCS unwound the PHE in the Medi-Cal program. ​​  

American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA)に基づくメディケイドおよびCHIP COVID-19の規定:​​  

• COVID-19ワクチン、検査、およびMedi-Calメンバーの治療の無料補償:メディケイドは、2024年9月30日のARPAカバレッジ期間の終了まで、メンバーの費用負担なしでCOVID-19ワクチン、検査、および治療をカバーする必要があります。DHCSは、COVID-19ワクチン、検査、治療の補償範囲をARPAの適用期間を超えて恒久的に延長することを選択しています。​​  
• Optional COVID-19 Group for Uninsured Individuals: California has taken advantage of the “optional COVID-19 group,” also referred to as the COVID-19 Uninsured Group, that provided uninsured individuals with coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment. This coverage expires on May 31 and DHCS began sending notices to individuals enrolled in the COVID-19 Uninsured Group about the program’s sunset along with a Single Streamlined Application to apply for Medi-Cal or Covered California coverage in late April 2023.  ​​  
• COVID-19ワクチンとワクチン管理のための連邦マッチングの強化:ARPAによって制定されたように、州はワクチンとワクチン投与のカバレッジに対して100%の連邦マッチング資金を受け取ります。 これらのマッチングファンドも2024年9月30日に終了します。上記のように、Medi-Calは引き続きCOVID-19ワクチンをカバーします。​​   

PHEによって可能になる法定の柔軟性:​​  

セクション1135の免除は5月11日に期限切れになり、メディケイドプログラムはPHEの終了を超えてこれらの柔軟性を延長することができませんでした。 さらに、DHCSは、2023年3月29日より、PHEが終了する前に、緊急のMedi-Calプロバイダー登録の柔軟性を廃止することを選択しました。​​  

メディケイド災害救援州計画修正案(SPA)も、DHCSが恒久的にしたものを除き、5月11日に期限切れになります。従来のSPAプロセスを通じて恒久化された特定のポリシーの詳細については、 Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHEおよびContinuous Coverage Operational Unwinding PlanのパートIをご覧ください。 さらに、DHCSは最近、PHEに基づいて提供される一時的な変更を巻き戻すことについて、Medi-Calのマネージドケアプランにガイダンスを提供する All Plan Letter 20-004 を更新しました。​​    

第1915条(c)付録Kまたは第1115条付録Kの終了日は、権利放棄によって異なりますが、通常はPHEの終了後6か月以内になります。同様に、DHCSは、1915(c)および1115の柔軟性を恒久化する意向である。 これらのポリシーの詳細については、 Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHEおよびContinuous Coverage Operational UnwinderPlanのパートIをご覧ください。​​  

前進​​  

COVID-19 may no longer be classified as a public health emergency, however, COVID-19 will continue to be an ongoing health issue and California’s SMARTER Plan is specifically designed to effectively manage this ongoing reality. SMARTER, which stands for Shots, Masks, Awareness, Readiness, Testing, Education and Rx, is the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 response. It retains California’s operational preparedness and will continue to guide our work in supporting communities throughout the state. With the knowledge gained over the past few years, we understand the steps that we must take to prepare for future COVID-19 surges or variants, which includes reducing the burden on health care systems. The SMARTER Plan acknowledges and builds upon California’s previous successes and is designed to be adaptable. Additionally, this website hosted by the California Health & Human Services Agency, provides resources for Californians about various services and programs that are impacted by the end of the COVID-19 PHE, including flexibilities and other policy changes.​​   

今後、私たちは協力して、カリフォルニア州民の健康を維持しながら、COVID-19がもたらす課題に自信を持って対処することができます。​​