ਤਾਰੀਖ: ਜੂਨ 3, 2026

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PDT

ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੀ ਕਿਸਮ: ਮਾਈਕ੍ਰੋਸਾਫਟ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਵਰਚੁਅਲ

Members Present: 12 MMAC Members Present

DHCS Staff and Partners: Michelle Baass, Director; Tracy Arnold, Assistant Director; Tyler Sadwith, State Medicaid Director; Krissi Khokhobashvili, Deputy Director, Office of Communications; Yingjia Huang, Deputy Director, Health Care Benefits and Eligibility; Tyra Taylor, Assistant Deputy Director, Program Operations; Paula Wilhelm, Deputy Director, Behavioral Health; Michelle Retke, Chief, Managed Care Operations; Brian Hansen, Policy Advisor to the Directorate; Eduardo Lozano, Stakeholder and Community Engagement Analyst; Maria Romero-Mora, Stakeholder and Community Engagement Analyst; Kiran Poonia, Stakeholder and Community Engagement Analyst; Isabel Flores, Stakeholder and Community Engagement Analyst; Evelyne Kane, Associate Director of Community Engagement and Capacity Building, Camden Coalition; Marisol Caban, Associate Director of Community Engagement and Capacity Building, Camden Coalition; Daisha Bonhomme, Community Catalyst.

ਵਾਧੂ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ: ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਵਾਧੂ ਸੰਦਰਭ ਅਤੇ ਵੇਰਵਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਵਰਤੀ ਗਈ ਪਾਵਰਪੁਆਇੰਟ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਾਰੀ ਵੇਖੋ।

Agenda:

ਸਮਾਂ	ਸਮੱਗਰੀ
5:30 – 6:00	ਸਵਾਗਤ ਅਤੇ ਜਾਣ-ਪਛਾਣ
6:00 – 7:00	DHCS Presentation: Transition of Unsatisfactory Immigration Status Medi-Cal Members to Fee-for- Service
7:00 – 7:25	ਸਮੂਹ ਚਰਚਾ ਅਤੇ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ
7:25 – 7:30	ਸਮਾਪਤੀ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਕਦਮ

ਸਵਾਗਤ ਅਤੇ ਜਾਣ-ਪਛਾਣ

ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਕਿਸਮ: ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ

ਪੇਸ਼ਕਾਰ: ਮਾਰੀਆ ਰੋਮੇਰੋ-ਮੋਰਾ

ਚਰਚਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ:

• ਐਮਐਮਏਸੀ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ, ਅਤੇ ਭਾਗੀਦਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਮੂਲੀਅਤ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਗੀਦਾਰੀ ਅਭਿਆਸਾਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਦਿਵਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਨਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਕ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਮੀਖਿਆ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।
• ਭਾਗੀਦਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਿੱਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਦਾ ਖੁਲਾਸਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ; ਕਿਸੇ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਪਛਾਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।
• DHCS welcomed two new members to the MMAC and invited all DHCS and MMAC members to introduce themselves.

DHCS Presentation: Transition of Unsatisfactory Immigration Status Medi-Cal Members to Fee-for-Service

ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਕਿਸਮ: ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ

Presenter: Yingjia Huang

ਚਰਚਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ:

• DHCS presented on the upcoming transition of Unsatisfactory Immigration Status (UIS) Members to Fee-for-Service (FFS).
• ਮੁੱਖ ਨੁਕਤੇ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹਨ:
  • On January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal members with Unsatisfactory Immigration Status will be moved from Medi-Cal managed care to Fee-For-Service.
  • This change is required by new federal guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is outlined in the State Medicaid Director Letter.
  • Medi-Cal members with Unsatisfactory Immigration Status include: 
    • All undocumented immigrants, including children and pregnant people. 
    • Lawful permanent residents (Green Card Holders) who have been in the U.S. for less than five years.
    • Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) non-citizens living in the U.S. with the knowledge and permission of immigrations authorities (such as those with pending asylum or stay of deportation) while they wait for a final status.
  • Populations not affected include: 
    • U.S. citizens 
    • Lawful permanent residents (Green Card Holders) who have been in the U.S. for five years or longer.
  • Under Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal:
    • Benefits are not coordinated by a Medi-Cal health plan; there is no assigned care team or “medical home.”
    • Members must find and verify Medi-Cal providers who are accepting new patients.
    • Members must take their Medi-Cal Beneficiary Identification Card also known as “BIC card.”
    • Members will lose access to some services and benefits, such as Community Supports and Enhanced Care Management, that are only available through managed care. 
  • DHCS is committed to working with Medi-Cal members, managed care plans, providers, and community partners to support members throughout the transition.

ਸਮੂਹ ਚਰਚਾ

ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਕਿਸਮ: ਬ੍ਰੇਕਆਉਟ ਰੂਮ ਚਰਚਾਵਾਂ

ਚਰਚਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ:

What is your immediate reaction or concern?  

• MMAC members expressed concerns about how this change will be perceived by immigrant communities in the context of many other challenges (e.g., federal immigration enforcement), creating confusion, instability, and harm for already vulnerable communities.
• MMAC members expressed concerns about barriers to accessing care and finding providers that accept Fee-for-Service especially in rural and high-risk areas currently lacking enrolled providers.
• Some asked about costs associated with Fee-for-Service and how these fees could further limit or discourage people from seeking or accessing care.
• There was strong sentiment expressed by MMAC members that everyone, including immigrants, should be able to get health care, and that taking away care is unfair and harmful.
• MMAC members are concerned about how these changes could lead to wider impact on the health care system, potentially impacting specialty care, other services, and community clinics.
• One MMAC member asked how this change will impact individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and others who do not fall into visa-related categories.

How can we support Medi-Cal members during this transition

• Train trusted community messengers, such as peer support specialists, community health workers, promotoras, and ambassadors, to inform members about the transition and support them through one-on-one engagement.
• Ensure lists of providers that accept Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal are up to date and easily accessible for affected members.
• Explain and clarify the term “fee-for-service” in communication materials since it can be misleading, because it sounds like members must pay for each health care service received.
• Collect data (e.g., claims data, emergency department visits etc.) and engage directly with affected Medi-Cal members (e.g., focus groups, feedback surveys) during and after the transition to understand the real-world impacts, challenges, and opportunities to enhance support.
• Provide additional support and information for those who must change Durable Medical Equipment providers as a result of switching into Fee-for-Service, as these transitions can be more difficult and complicated than changing health care providers.
• Utilize trauma-informed approaches in communications and support services to acknowledge the fear, distrust, and challenges being experienced by immigrant communities.
• Communication sent by text messages should include a clear call to action, be paired with mailed letters, and link to information that can be verified elsewhere to avoid being perceived as a scam.
• Provide detailed, personalized communication, including ways to check an individual’s specific status and required next steps.
• Allow members to choose their communication preference (email, text, or mail).

ਮੈਂਬਰ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ

ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਕਿਸਮ: ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ

ਪੇਸ਼ਕਾਰ: ਮਾਰੀਆ ਰੋਮੇਰੋ-ਮੋਰਾ

ਚਰਚਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ:

• One MMAC member commented that supporting the health and human services workforce is essential through these various transitions as workloads and added responsibilities can impact their well-being and ability to complete their duties.
• One MMAC member highlighted the importance of communicating to affected members that while routine dental care is not covered by Fee-for-Service, emergency dental coverage is still covered.
• One MMAC member commented that it is important to emphasize that Medi-Cal covers well-child visits.

ਸਮਾਪਤੀ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ

ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਕਿਸਮ: ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ

ਪੇਸ਼ਕਾਰ: ਮਿਸ਼ੇਲ ਬਾਸ

ਚਰਚਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ:

• Michelle Baass thanked members for their engagement and for being part of this collaborative space with Team DHCS. 
• Members were encouraged to continue to visit the Medi-Cal Changes webpage to find information about the latest updates to the Medi-Cal program and to connect with additional resources and Medi-Cal Coverage Ambassadors.

ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਮੁਲਤਵੀ

ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਮੁਲਤਵੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ: ਮਿਸ਼ੇਲ ਬਾਸ

Time Adjourned: 7:30 p.m. PDT