Clinic Policy & Special Programs Branch
One of the four branches within the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Benefits Division (BD) is the Clinic Policy & Special Programs Branch, which oversees Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC) policy as well as specialty initiatives, including telehealth policy, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT, aka Medi-Cal for Kids and Teen (MCKT)), and the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP).
FQHCs and RHCs
FQHCs and RHCs are safety-net providers that deliver prevention and primary service in an outpatient clinic setting. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Licensing & Certification (L&C) Program is responsible for licensing primary care clinics, including FQHCs and RHCs, in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes and regulations.
For more information on FQHCs and RHCs, including information about how to become an FQHC or RHC, how to locate an FQHC, Medi-Cal coverage and reimbursement policy information, and more, please visit DHCS' website.
HACCP
The HACCP was initially authorized by the Budget Act of 2020 (Assembly Bill 89, Chapter 7, Statutes of 2020), and then expanded through the Budget Act of 2022 (Assembly Bill 179, Chapter 249, Statutes of 2022). HACCP offers services including hearing screening, hearing aid device fitting, and hearing aids eligible children and youth, ages 0-20, including supplemental coverage for applicants whose other health coverage has a coverage limit of $1,500 or less for hearing aids.
If you have any questions, please call the HACCP Help Center at (833) 956-2878 (available in Medi-Cal threshold languages, TTY/TTD, and video relay service), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., chat with us on DHCS’ HACCP webpage (click “Chat with us…” in the bottom corner of your screen), or email HACCP@maximus.com. The Telephone Service Center (TSC) also offers technical support for providers at (800) 541-5555. To contact DHCS BD regarding HACCP, please email us at haccp@dhcs.ca.gov.
MIPP
Pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 165 (Atkins, Chapter 365, Statutes of 2019), the Medical Interpreter Pilot Project (MIPP) is administered and overseen by the Benefits Division to evaluate whether the provision of professional medical interpretation services results in a reduction of health disparities and improved quality of care for Medi-Cal members who have limited English proficiency (LEP).
In accordance with SB 165, DHCS established three pilot site counties Contra Costa, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The MIPP final evaluation report is due prior to the sunset of SB 165 on July 1, 2025.
Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens
BD oversees the policy for the federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) requirement. In California, EPSDT is called Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens. Under California and federal law, all children and youth to age 21 enrolled in Medi-Cal have the right to regular check-ups and other preventive and treatment services. Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens provides eligible children and youth, from birth to age 21, with the preventive and treatment services needed to stay or get healthy. These services include check-ups, shots, and health screenings. Also included are treatments for physical, mental, and dental health problems. The services are free unless the child or youth was found to have a Share of Cost when they qualified for Medi-Cal.
Please visit the Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens (MCKT) website for more information about the services provided.
