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. ​​  

美国救援计划法案 (ARPA) 下的 Medicaid 和 CHIP COVID-19 规定：​​  

• 为 Medi-Cal 会员提供免费的 COVID-19 疫苗、检测和治疗保障：Medicaid 必须为会员免费提供 COVID-19 疫苗、检测和治疗保障，直至 9 月30 、 2024日 ARPA 保障期结束。DHCS 选择将 COVID-19 疫苗、检测和治疗的覆盖范围永久延长至 ARPA 覆盖期之外。​​  
• 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.  ​​  
• 加强 COVID-19 疫苗和疫苗管理的联邦配套资金：根据 ARPA 的规定，各州将获得 100% 的联邦配套资金，用于疫苗接种和疫苗管理。 这些配套资金也将于30年2024月结束。 如上所述，Medi-Cal 将继续承保 COVID-19 疫苗。​​   

PHE 实现的法定灵活性：​​  

第 1135 条豁免将于 5 月 11 日到期，并且医疗补助计划无法在 PHE 结束后延长这些灵活性。 此外，DHCS 选择在 PHE 结束之前停止紧急 Medi-Cal 提供商注册灵活性，该举措将于 3 月29至2023生效。​​  

医疗补助灾难救助州计划修正案 (SPA) 也将于 5 月 11 日到期，DHCS 永久生效的部分除外。有关通过传统 SPA 流程永久生效的具体政策的详细信息，请参阅Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHE 和持续覆盖运营解除计划第一部分。 此外，DHCS 最近更新了所有计划信函 20-004 ，该信函为 Medi-Cal 管理式医疗计划提供了有关取消 PHE 规定的临时更改的指导。​​    

第 1915(c) 节附录 K 或第 1115 节附件 K 的终止日期因豁免而异，但通常不迟于 PHE 结束后六个月。同样地，DHCS 打算将一些 1915(c) 和 1115 灵活性永久化。 有关这些政策的详细信息，请参阅Medi-Cal COVID-19 PHE 和持续覆盖运营解除计划第一部分。​​  

展望​​  

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.​​   

展望未来，通过共同努力，我们可以满怀信心地应对 COVID-19 带来的挑战，同时确保加州人民的健康。​​