Community Health Workers

DHCS Proposal to add Community Health Workers

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is holding a series of stakeholder workgroup meetings regarding adding Community Health Worker (CHW) services as a Medi-Cal benefit starting July 1, 2022.

In order to allow for the successful implementation of the CHW benefit, DHCS is adjusting the launch date from January 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022. Additional time is needed to work with stakeholders and health plans, review their input, incorporate their feedback into the State Plan Amendment (SPA), ensure successful system updates, seek federal approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and allow time for health plans to prepare to offer these services.

DHCS conducted two stakeholder meetings on August 18 and September 17, 2021. The next meeting will be held via WebEx/telephone from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 1, 2021 (new date). During the stakeholders meetings, members selected to the stakeholder advisory group discuss how to meet federal requirements for the SPA to add CHW services. All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting as a guest to listen to the discussion. You are also welcome to submit written comments to DHCS after the meeting by emailing CHWBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov*.

During this meeting, we will engage with the workgroup to seek input for the definition of CHWs services provided under the authority of Preventive Services in the State Plan, as well as supervision requirements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send them to CHWBenefit@dhcs.ca.gov*. DHCS appreciates your collaboration and partnership on this important effort.

A link to the December 1 webinar will be posted on this website closer to the meeting.

*Please note the new email address for correspondence about CHW services.

Resources:
September 17, 2021, Stakeholder Presentation

August 18, 2021, Stakeholder Presentation

December 1, 2021, Agenda, Stakeholder Presentation

Stakeholder Workgroup Members

CHWs in other State Medicaid Programs