Community Health Workers
DHCS Proposal to add Community Health Workers
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) added Community Health Worker (CHW) services as a Medi-Cal benefit starting July 1, 2022.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved State Plan Amendment (SPA) 22-0001 to add CHW services as a Medi-Cal benefit. DHCS conducted four stakeholder meetings to receive input on how to meet federal requirements for the SPA to add CHW services. Based upon stakeholder input, DHCS formally submitted SPA 22-0001 to CMS on April 29, 2022, and received CMS' approval on July 26, 2022.
We are pleased to announce that the Medi-Cal Provider Manual for the community health worker (CHW) benefit and the Medi-Cal Provider Manual for asthma preventive services have been published. You can read the Provider Bulletin, which also highlights the new asthma preventive services benefit. Both benefits went live on July 1, 2022, in fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems.
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.
Resources
- February 4, 2022, Agenda, Presentation
- December 1, 2021, Agenda, Presentation
- September 17, 2021, Presentation
- August 18, 2021, Presentation
- Stakeholder Workgroup Members
CHWs in other State Medicaid Programs
