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. ​​  

미국 구조 계획법(ARPA)에 따른 메디케이드 및 CHIP COVID-19 조항: ​​  

• 메디칼 가입자를 위한 COVID-19 백신, 검사 및 치료에 대한 무비용 보장: 메디케이드는 9월 30, 2024일 ARPA 보장 기간 종료 시까지 가입자에게 비용 분담 없이 COVID-19 백신, 검사 및 치료를 보장해야 합니다.  DHCS는 코로나19 백신, 검사 및 치료에 대한 보험 적용 범위를 ARPA 보험 적용 기간 이후로 영구적으로 연장하기로 결정했습니다.   ​​  
• 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 백신 및 백신 투여에 대한 연방 지원금 강화: 주에서는 ARPA가 제정한 바에 따라 백신 및 백신 투여에 대해 100% 연방 매칭 기금을 지원받습니다. 이 매칭 펀드도 30, 2024월 일에 종료됩니다. 위에서 설명한 대로 Medi-Cal은 계속해서 COVID-19 백신을 보장합니다.   ​​   

PHE를 통해 법적 유연성을 확보할 수 있습니다:  ​​  

섹션 1135 면제는 5월 11일에 만료되며, 메디케이드 프로그램은 이러한 유연성을 PHE 종료 이후에도 연장할 수 없습니다. 또한 DHCS는 3월 29, 2023일부터 PHE가 종료되기 전에 응급 Medi-Cal 제공자 등록 유연성을 중단하기로 결정했습니다. ​​  

메디케이드 재난 구호 주 계획 수정안(SPA)도 5월 11일에 만료되며, DHCS가 영구화한 것은 예외입니다. 기존 SPA 절차를 통해 영구화된 특정 정책에 대한 자세한 내용은 Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHE 및 지속적 보장 운영 완화 계획의 파트 1을 참조하시기 바랍니다.  또한 DHCS는 최근 모든 플랜 서신 20-004를 업데이트하여 PHE에 따라 제공되는 임시 변경 사항을 완화하는 방법에 대한 지침을 Medi-Cal 매니지 케어 플랜에 제공합니다.​​    

섹션 1915(c) 부록 K 또는 섹션 1115 부록 K의 종료 날짜는 면제에 따라 다르지만, 일반적으로 PHE 종료 후 6개월 이내입니다. 마찬가지로 DHCS는 일부 1915(c) 및 1115 유연성을 영구화할 계획입니다.  이러한 정책에 대한 자세한 내용은 Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHE 및 지속적 보장 범위 운영 완화 계획의 파트 I을 참조하세요. ​​  

앞으로 나아가기  ​​  

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.​​   

앞으로 우리는 함께 협력하여 캘리포니아 주민의 건강을 지키면서 코로나19가 제기하는 도전에 자신 있게 대처할 수 있습니다.​​