DHCS expresses gratitude to our plans, providers, stakeholders, and other partners for their commitment and partnership during the COVID-19 PHE. We worked together and adapted quickly to the pandemic’s challenges and difficulties to care for millions of Californians. Our joint efforts enabled us to navigate the PHE with resilience and perseverance, and we are grateful for your ongoing engagement. ​​  

The health care industry, particularly hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and skilled nursing facilities, faced the brunt of the PHE’s impact. The surge in COVID-19 cases placed immense strain on those facilities, stretching resources to their limits and challenging our workforce as never before seen with overwhelming patient volumes, shortages of critical supplies and equipment, and the need for additional staff. Despite these challenges, our collective efforts enabled us to continue providing vital services. Some examples include, making permanent telehealth policies implemented during the PHE, including payment parity, flexibilities for FQHC partners and expanding telehealth to all delivery systems, stabilizing and retaining California’s health care workforce by providing retention payments to workers in qualifying facilities and clinics, and launching a Coverage Ambassadors program and Renewal Campaign to ensure that Medi-Cal members know how best to retain their health coverage, we have demonstrated our commitment to serving Californians.  ​​  

Rebuilding and strengthening our health care system requires a continued collaborative effort. We must focus on implementing strategies to bolster our system and workforce. We’ve learned a lot from this pandemic, and how we can better protect the health and well-being of all Californians, now and in the future.  ​​  

As a reminder, the end of the federal COVID-19 PHE has implications for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). DHCS acted to make permanent several flexibilities implemented over the course of the PHE. Below is a summary of end dates for key federal Medicaid provisions, with additional details on how DHCS unwound the PHE in the Medi-Cal program. ​​  

Mga probisyon ng Medicaid at CHIP COVID-19 sa ilalim ng American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): ​​  

• Saklaw na Walang Gastos para sa Mga Bakuna, Pagsusuri, at Paggamot para sa COVID-19 para sa mga Miyembro ng Medi-Cal: Kinakailangan ng Medicaid na sakupin ang mga bakuna, pagsusuri, at paggamot sa COVID-19 na walang pagbabahagi sa gastos para sa mga miyembro hanggang sa pagtatapos ng panahon ng saklaw ng ARPA sa Setyembre 30, 2024.  Pinipili ng DHCS na permanenteng palawigin ang saklaw para sa mga bakuna, pagsubok, at paggamot sa COVID-19 na lampas sa panahon ng saklaw ng ARPA.   ​​  
• Optional COVID-19 Group for Uninsured Individuals: California has taken advantage of the “optional COVID-19 group,” also referred to as the COVID-19 Uninsured Group, that provided uninsured individuals with coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment. This coverage expires on May 31 and DHCS began sending notices to individuals enrolled in the COVID-19 Uninsured Group about the program’s sunset along with a Single Streamlined Application to apply for Medi-Cal or Covered California coverage in late April 2023.  ​​  
• Pinahusay na Pederal na Tugma para sa Mga Bakuna sa COVID-19 at Pangangasiwa ng Bakuna: Ang mga estado ay tumatanggap ng 100 porsiyentong pederal na pagtutugma ng mga pondo para sa pagsakop ng mga bakuna at pangangasiwa ng bakuna, gaya ng isinabatas ng ARPA. Ang mga katugmang pondong ito ay nagtatapos din sa Setyembre 30, 2024. Gaya ng inilarawan sa itaas, patuloy na sasakupin ng Medi-Cal ang mga bakunang COVID-19.   ​​   

Mga flexibilities ayon sa batas na ginawang posible ng PHE:  ​​  

Ang mga waiver ng Seksyon 1135 ay mag-e-expire sa Mayo 11 at hindi nagawang palawigin ng mga programa ng Medicaid ang mga flexibilities na iyon lampas sa pagtatapos ng PHE. Dagdag pa rito, pinili ng DHCS na ihinto ang mga emerhensiyang pagpapatala ng provider ng Medi-Cal bago matapos ang PHE, simula Marso 29, 2023. ​​  

Mag-e-expire din ang Medicaid Disaster Relief State Plan Amendments (SPAs) sa Mayo 11, maliban sa mga ginawang permanente ng DHCS. Para sa mga detalye sa mga partikular na patakaran na ginawang permanente sa pamamagitan ng tradisyonal na proseso ng SPA, pakitingnan ang Bahagi I ng Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHE at Continuous Coverage Operational Unwinding Plan.  Dagdag pa rito, kamakailang in-update ng DHCS ang All Plan Letter 20-004 na nagbibigay ng patnubay sa mga plano sa pinamamahalaang pangangalaga ng Medi-Cal sa pag-alis ng mga pansamantalang pagbabago na ibinigay sa ilalim ng PHE.​​    

Seksyon 1915(c) Appendix K o Seksyon 1115 Attachment K ang mga petsa ng pagwawakas ay nag-iiba ayon sa waiver, ngunit kadalasan ay hindi lalampas sa anim na buwan pagkatapos ng pagtatapos ng PHE. Katulad nito, nilalayon ng DHCS na gawing permanente ang ilang 1915(c) at 1115 flexibilities.  Para sa mga detalye sa mga patakarang ito, pakitingnan ang bahagi I ng Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHE at Continuous Coverage Operational Unwinding Plan. ​​  

Moving Forward  ​​  

COVID-19 may no longer be classified as a public health emergency, however, COVID-19 will continue to be an ongoing health issue and California’s SMARTER Plan is specifically designed to effectively manage this ongoing reality. SMARTER, which stands for Shots, Masks, Awareness, Readiness, Testing, Education and Rx, is the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 response. It retains California’s operational preparedness and will continue to guide our work in supporting communities throughout the state. With the knowledge gained over the past few years, we understand the steps that we must take to prepare for future COVID-19 surges or variants, which includes reducing the burden on health care systems. The SMARTER Plan acknowledges and builds upon California’s previous successes and is designed to be adaptable. Additionally, this website hosted by the California Health & Human Services Agency, provides resources for Californians about various services and programs that are impacted by the end of the COVID-19 PHE, including flexibilities and other policy changes.​​   

Sa pasulong, sa pagtutulungan, maaari nating kumpiyansa na matugunan ang mga hamon na idinudulot ng COVID-19 habang pinananatiling malusog ang mga taga-California.​​