Medi-Cal Voices and Vision Council Meeting Minutes
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Type of Meeting: Virtual
Members Present: Ann Marie Torres-Delgadillo; Jenny McLelland; Christian Espinoza; Abigail Coursolle; Mike Odeh; Tiffany Huyenh-Cho; Marty Omoto; Uchey Dijeh, MD; Azalia Ryckman; Lupe Wilson; Kate Ross; Lucy Marrero; Elissa Feld; Avita Singh
Members Not Attending: Linnea Koopmans; Sydney Turner
DHCS Staff: Michelle Baass, Director; Tracy Arnold, Assistant Director; Tyler Sadwith, State Medicaid Director and Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs; Yingjia Huang, Deputy Director, Health Care Benefits and Eligibility; Michael Freeman, Assistant Deputy Director, Health Care Benefits and Eligibility; Krissi Khokhobashvili, Deputy Director, Office of Communications; Pamela Riley, Assistant Deputy Director and Chief Health Equity Officer, Quality and Population Health Management; Brian Hansen, Health Program Specialist; Joseph Billingsley, Assistant Deputy Director, Health Care Delivery Systems
Additional Information: Please refer to the PowerPoint presentation used during the meeting for additional context and details.
Agenda:
Time
| Content
|
5:25 - 5:30
| Technical Support for Council Members
|
5:30 - 5:45
| Welcome and Opening
|
5:45 - 5:50
| Chairperson Interest Statements
|
5:50 - 6:10
| Medi-Cal Work Reporting Rule Preparation
|
6:10 - 6:55
| Breakout Room Discussions
|
6:55 - 7:25
| Report-Outs and Open Discussion
|
7:25 - 7:30
| Closing Remarks by Director Baass
|
Technical Support for Council Members
Type of Action: Support
Welcome and Introductions
Type of Action: Information
Presenter: Kiran Poonia
Discussion Topics:
Voices and Vision Council members were welcomed, and the meeting began with brief introductions from members and DHCS staff.
Language justice and community norms were reviewed to remind participants of engagement and participation practices.
Participants were asked to disclose any conflicts of interest; none were identified.
A member who serves on both the Medi-Cal Member Advisory Committee (MMAC) and Voices and Vision Council presented the artist statement accompanying the artwork created by artist Tiranjani Pillai, who attended the last joint meeting. The artwork, inspired by the session, reflects transparency, prosperity, and renewal, featuring glass houses with emeralds, dahlias, peonies, and a crane symbolizing trust-building among DHCS, MMAC, and Voices and Vision Council members.
Chairperson Interest Statements
Type of Action: Information
Presenter: Kiran Poonia
Discussion Topics:
DHCS guided the members through the chairperson election process and provided voting instructions.
One member, Lucy Marrero, expressed interest in the position and shared her vision and qualifications.
After the meeting, members received an email with instructions to cast their vote confidentially by Friday, December 19.
On December 23, DHCS announced that Lucy Marrero was elected as Chairperson.
Medi-Cal Work Reporting Rule Preparation
Type of Action: Information
Presenter: Yingjia Huang and Michael Freeman
Discussion Topics:
DHCS provided an overview of the federal work and community engagement requirements, effective January 1, 2027, for adults ages 19-64.
Key points included:
Some Medi-Cal members must work, volunteer, or attend school for 80 hours each month to keep their coverage.
Exemptions include former foster youth, pregnant individuals, parents with children under age 13, and people facing short-term hardships.
California is still waiting for full federal guidance and working on state-specific details.
DHCS aims to automate exemption verification and minimize member burden through data matching and outreach.
This is a major update, so DHCS is creating simple materials asking for member feedback and using text messages to make communication easier and faster.
Questions about the presentation:
Members had the opportunity to ask clarifying questions about the presentation.
Question: Can members meet the 80-hour requirement through a combination of qualifying activities?
Question: How will exemptions for high unemployment areas work?
Question: How is “half-time enrollment” defined for educational programs?
Additional Notes
DHCS is seeking clarification on whether community service is limited to nonprofit work or can include activities like volunteering at a local church.
DHCS emphasized that federal guidance is still forthcoming, and interpretations may evolve.
MMAC Meeting Recap
A member who serves on both the MMAC and Voices and Vision Council provided this recap, summarizing discussions from the December MMAC meeting, where members learned of and discussed the work and community engagement requirements.
Many MMAC members shared that this was their first time hearing about this topic and expressed confusion and fear.
Concerns raised:
Some members may believe requirements apply to them when they do not, creating unnecessary confusion and anxiety.
Whether there will be enough volunteering or work opportunities to meet the 80-hour requirement.
Clarification is needed on exemptions and what happens if someone falls short of the required hours.
Members want clear, concise, and reassuring messaging that answers two critical questions:
Messaging should avoid technical jargon and instead use plain language and visual aids.
Social media, community health workers, promotores, and culturally relevant outreach were highlighted as effective.
Support needs include systems to help people understand the changes and navigate compliance, outreach that reflects the diverse needs of Medi-Cal members, and clear explanations of exemptions and simplified paperwork to avoid barriers.
Members emphasized that change is hard, and people will need time, guidance, and reassurance to navigate what’s ahead.
Breakout Room Discussion
Type of Action: Information
Facilitators: Kiran Poonia and Hatzune Aguilar
Discussion Topics:
What are you hearing about the work rule, and what awareness are you seeing among the people you serve?
Many members are hearing about work requirements for the first time and are unclear about who is impacted.
Even exempt individuals (e.g., older adults, dual-eligibles) are worried they might lose coverage.
Awareness varies widely:
Some members learn about information through social media or community organizations.
Others only find out when they receive notices, which often feel overwhelming and hard to interpret.
Members shared that there was limited understanding of who qualifies for exemptions, what counts as qualifying activities, and how compliance will be tracked.
Concerns raised:
Availability of volunteer or work opportunities to meet the 80-hour requirement.
How hours will be verified.
What happens if someone falls short of the requirement.
Fear and uncertainty may lead some members to avoid enrollment or renewal.
Eligibility staff and managed care providers are ready to support members, but need clear federal guidance.
Health plans want quick messaging about what California is doing to minimize member burden.
How can we collectively make sure members receive accurate information? How are your organizations approaching this?
Messaging should be:
Simple, clear, and timed appropriately to avoid confusion or fear.
Written in plain language and comprehensive, avoiding piecemeal information.
Communication must be consistent across counties, health plans, and DHCS.
Outreach should reflect cultural and linguistic diversity.
Trusted messengers, such as providers, community-based organizations, and smaller clinics, should be equipped with accurate information.
Effective channels include social media (Instagram, TikTok, etc.), text messages, mail, and email.
Suggested strategies:
Create a living communication plan that adapts as guidance evolves and share it with organizations so messaging can be clear and cohesive.
Members were encouraged to use the DHCS website as the primary source for official information.
Where do you see opportunities for DHCS to work with you so we can better support members and providers working with Medi-Cal members?
Provide this information in the coming months to help members prepare for upcoming changes.
Explore system integration opportunities, such as flagging members experiencing homelessness to connect them with housing and support services.
Provide clear and concise guidance on what members should do if they lose coverage and how to regain eligibility.
Strengthen partnerships with health plans, counties, and community-based organizations (CBOs) to ensure consistent messaging and outreach.
Consider creative ideas for health plans to support members, such as job training or volunteer opportunities, to help them meet requirements.
Conduct targeted outreach to members impacted, not blanket messaging.
Members shared appreciation for the plain language and simplified information currently on the DHCS website.
Report-Outs and Open Discussion
Type of Action: Information
Facilitators: Maria Romero-Mora
Discussion Topics:
After breakout sessions, reporters from each room shared a summary of their group’s discussion with the full Council. Key points include the importance of member awareness, communication strategies, and opportunities for collaboration.
What are the best ways to involve CBOs and community health workers, and what approaches have you seen work in your community/networks?
CBOs and community health workers are trusted messengers and should be equipped with accurate, plain-language materials.
Partnerships with local organizations and health plans are essential for reaching members where they are, such as community centers, churches, laundromats, and swap meets.
Co-location strategies (e.g., kiosks in CBO offices, eligibility staff onsite) were cited as effective for providing real-time support.
Members emphasized the need for DHCS to maintain strong collaboration with CBOs and leverage their networks for culturally relevant outreach.
Are there any outreach methods, community spaces, or communication channels you’ve seen work well that DHCS should consider?
Social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) are widely used by Medi-Cal members and should be prioritized for outreach.
Text messaging and email are effective for quick updates and reminders.
Printed materials should be simple, visual, and easy to understand. Postcards were suggested as an alternative to lengthy letters.
Community health workers and promotores remain critical for in-person engagement and education.
Members recommended making DHCS’ communication plan public and transparent to help stakeholders align messaging.
Additional Insights:
Messaging should emphasize hope and clear guidance.
Outreach must be culturally and linguistically tailored to reflect the diversity of Medi-Cal members.
DHCS was encouraged to continue building partnerships beyond traditional Medi-Cal networks to expand reach.
Upcoming Meeting and Next Steps
Type of Action: Information
Facilitators: Kiran Poonia
Discussion Topics:
Closing Remarks by Director Baass
Type of Actions: Information
Presenter: Michelle Baass, Director
Discussion Topics:
Adjournment of Meeting
Name of person who adjourned the meeting: Michelle Baass
Time Adjourned: 7:28 p.m. PST
