Enero 27, 2025
Nangungunang Balita
Tumutulong ang DHCS sa mga Miyembro at Provider ng Medi-Cal na Apektado ng Southern California Wildfires
In response to the Southern California wildfires, DHCS applied for and received several dozen Medicaid Section 1135 waivers and Appendix K flexibilities to prevent disruptions in health care delivery so patients can continue to receive needed care. These actions are designed to reduce administrative burdens and provide flexibility in the delivery of health care during a critical time. Key provisions of California’s Medicaid Section 1135 waivers and Appendix K flexibilities include:
- Mga Proteksyon para sa Mga Miyembro ng Medi-Cal: Pinapalawig ang mga timeline para sa mga kahilingan sa patas na pagdinig at muling pagbabalik ng benepisyo, na nagbibigay sa mga miyembro ng Medi-Cal ng karagdagang oras upang malutas ang mga isyu sa pagiging kwalipikado o mga benepisyo. Isinasaayos ang mga kinakailangan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan sa tahanan upang payagan ang mga pagkaantala sa harapang pakikipagtagpo dahil sa kasalukuyang mga hadlang.
- Kakayahang umangkop sa Pagpapatala ng Provider: Pinapabilis at pinapabilis ang pagpapatala ng provider upang gawing mas madali para sa mga provider na mag-alok ng pangangalaga sa mga apektadong miyembro.
- Kakayahang umangkop para sa Mga Serbisyong Nakabatay sa Tahanan at Komunidad: Pinapalawig ang mga timeline para sa mga paunang pagsusuri, muling pagtatasa, at pagrepaso sa plano ng pangangalaga upang matiyak ang walang patid na pangangalaga para sa mga indibidwal na nangangailangan ng patuloy na suporta dahil sa edad, kapansanan, o malalang sakit. Nagbibigay-daan sa paghahatid ng mga pangmatagalang serbisyo at suporta sa mga alternatibong lokasyon, gaya ng mga shelter o hotel.
- Suporta para sa Mga Klinika: Nagbibigay-daan sa mga klinika na maghatid ng pangangalaga sa mga alternatibong setting, tulad ng mga mobile clinic o pansamantalang lokasyon, kapag ang mga pangunahing pasilidad ay nasira o hindi naa-access.
DHCS understands recovering from these wildfires will be challenging and has developed an online resource to help answer questions from Medi-Cal members, partners, providers, and health plans during this emergency. DHCS remains committed to supporting communities during this difficult time and is grateful to the emergency responders and health care workers on the ground. Stay safe, see official updates for the latest information, and follow evacuation orders issued by local officials.
Mga Update sa Programa
Smile, California to Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month
On February 1, Smile, California will celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) with the new “Healthy Smile Adventure” campaign. Designed to alleviate fears associated with dental visits, the campaign reimagines dental offices as “Healthy Smile Land,” complete with themed stops like Fluoride Falls, Sealant Island, and X-Ray Cove. These imaginative stations highlight preventive care while making dental visits approachable and enjoyable for families. A new homepage banner and dedicated NCDHM webpages in English and Spanish will launch on SmileCalifornia.org and SonrieCalifornia.org, providing resources and materials for members and providers.
Sumali sa Aming Koponan
Ang DHCS ay naghahanap ng isang may talento at motibasyon na indibidwal na maglingkod bilang:
- Assistant Division Chief for the Quality Health Equity Division. The Assistant Division Chief provides strategic leadership to advance quality and health equity for Medi-Cal’s nearly 15 million members. The Assistant Division Chief oversees policy implementation, program operations, budget management, and staff supervision. Responsibilities include leading special projects, driving performance improvement, and fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Experience in health policy, program management, and equity-focused initiatives is highly desired. Applications must be submitted by January 28.
- Chief of the Pharmacy Benefits Division. The Chief is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of policy, services, and coverage criteria for outpatient pharmacy services for the state’s Medi-Cal program. This includes providing policy direction for Medi-Cal Rx as well as invoicing and collecting federal and state supplemental drug rebates. The Chief of PBD also leads the development of nutrition, vision care, and medical supply benefits and oversees the administration of the Medi-Cal Pharmacy and Vision Benefit programs. A licensed pharmacist is desired, but not required. Applications must be submitted by February 7.
DHCS is also hiring for its accounting/financing, behavioral health, eligibility, legislative and governmental affairs, and other teams. For more information, please visit the CalCareers website.
Mga Paparating na Mga Pagpupulong ng Stakeholder at Webinar
Coverage Ambassador Webinar: Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative at Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
On January 30, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. PST, DHCS will host a webinar for DHCS Coverage Ambassadors (advance registration required). The webinar will provide updates on the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). It will convey information on justice-involved individuals who are now, or have spent time, in jails, youth correctional facilities, or prisons and who are at higher risk for poor health outcomes, injury, and death than the public. It will focus on significant steps California is taking to improve poor health outcomes for individuals as they prepare to reenter their communities by working to ensure they have continuity of coverage upon their release. Additionally, Coverage Ambassadors will learn how early childhood wraparound services will be expanded through the CYBHI, which will provide mental health services to children, youth, and families. Find out more about DHCS Coverage Ambassadors, or sign up to become a Coverage Ambassador.
DHCS Harm Reduction Summits
DHCS collaborates with communities across the state to promote harm reduction and low-barrier, patient-centered care within California’s substance use disorder treatment system. DHCS encourages substance use disorder treatment providers and staff (including social workers, peers, front desk staff, case managers, nurses, physicians, and all staff in substance use disorder treatment settings) to attend and learn about incorporating the tenets of harm reduction into substance use disorder treatment. Summits will be held in San Diego County (February 11) and Los Angeles County (February 27). Register on the event website.
Closed-Loop Referral Implementation Guidance at All-Comer Webinar
On February 13, from 10 to 11 a.m. PST., DHCS will hold an all-comer webinar (advance registration required) to provide an overview of the Closed-Loop Referral (CLR) Implementation Guidance for managed care plans. The webinar is open to the public and will be of special interest to Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP), Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports providers, and entities making referrals to the benefit/services. The CLR Implementation Guidance outlines requirements for MCPs in implementing CLRs, including tracking, supporting, and monitoring CLRs. The member’s initial referral loop is completed with a known closure reason, such as the member receiving services. These new requirements will ensure more members are connected to the care they need by identifying and addressing gaps in referral paths. MCPs must implement CLR requirements by July 1, 2025. Requirements will first apply to referrals made to priority Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports services. Please send your questions about the new guidance to PHMSection@dhcs.ca.gov.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)/Behavioral Health (BH)-SAC Meeting
On February 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST, DHCS will host the hybrid SAC/BH-SAC meeting (advance registration required for online and in-person participation) at 1700 K Street (first-floor conference room 17.1014), Sacramento. SAC provides DHCS with valuable input on ongoing California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) implementation efforts and helps DHCS further its efforts to provide high-quality, equitable care. BH-SAC provides DHCS with input regarding behavioral health activities and was created as part of the ongoing effort to integrate behavioral health with the greater health care system. For more information, please email SACinquiries@dhcs.ca.gov or BehavioralHealthSAC@dhcs.ca.gov.
Kung sakaling Nalampasan Mo Ito
Bukas Na Ngayon: Pagbibigay ng Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity at Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) Round 4 Application
On January 6, DHCS opened the PATH CITED Round 4 application window, including the Transitional Rent Community Support. The PATH CITED initiative provides funding to build the capacity and infrastructure of on-the-ground partners including community-based organizations, hospitals, county agencies, Tribes, and others, to successfully participate in Medi-Cal. Nearly $158 million is available for Round 4.
All organizations interested in becoming Transitional Rent Community Support providers must do so in partnership with both the Medi-Cal MCP and their county behavioral health department. To demonstrate these partnerships, all CITED applicants planning to request funding for the Transitional Rent Community Support must submit letters of support in collaboration with their MCP and county behavioral health department. For more information about this requirement, please attend the webinar on January 27 at 10 a.m. PST (advanced registration required) and review the Transitional Rent Letter of Support Guidance and Transitional Rent Letter of Support Template.
The deadline to apply for PATH CITED Round 4 funding is 11:59 p.m. PST on May 2, 2025. The guidance document and application can be found by visiting the PATH CITED webpage. Please submit questions to cited@ca-path.com.
PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Round 5 Vendor Application
On January 1, DHCS opened the PATH TA Marketplace Round 5 vendor application. The deadline to apply is January 31. Round 5 will be a targeted procurement for new and existing hands-on service offerings that address TA Marketplace gaps. The Round 5 procurement will seek TA vendor applications for all seven TA domains, but it will focus on services for the following provider types: rural providers, Tribal and Indian health care providers, maternal and child-serving providers, and transitional rent providers.
DHCS will not accept submissions for new off-the-shelf projects or changes to existing off-the-shelf projects during the Round 5 procurement period. Instead, the Round 5 application will solicit on-demand resources from existing TA vendors. Please visit the TA Marketplace Vendor webpage to access the guidance documents and to apply. Please submit questions to ta-marketplace@ca-path.com.