十一月 24, 2025
熱門新聞
DHCS Awards $145.5 Million to Providers to Transform California's Medi-Cal System
On November 18, DHCS
awarded $145.5 million to 153 organizations providing Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports services to Medi-Cal members. ECM and Community Supports are core components of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), DHCS' broad transformation of Medi-Cal to create a more coordinated, person-centered, and equitable health system that works for all Californians. This funding is part of the Providing Access and Transforming Health (
PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (
CITED) initiative, and serves to enhance community providers' capacity to partner with managed care plans and participate in the Medi-Cal delivery system.
Since its launch in 2022, DHCS has awarded more than $1.66 billion to more than 2,200 organizations through its PATH initiatives, including CITED, Collaborative Planning and Implementation, and the Technical Assistance Marketplace to support the expansion of ECM and Community Supports. These investments continue to help local Medi-Cal providers operate within the managed care system by empowering them to build and deliver programs, hire and train specialized staff, and invest in information systems. Recent data show these major upfront investments are resulting in long-term savings, as
Community Supports have proven to be cost-effective by reducing avoidable emergency visits, hospitalizations, and long-term care use.
Assisted Living Waiver Amendment Application: Public Comment Period Now Open
On November 24, DHCS posted a draft amendment to the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) for a 30-day public comment period, prior to submitting the final version to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for reauthorization. This amendment applies to the current waiver term through February 28, 2029. The ALW provides personal care, homemaker services, and health aid support in a community setting, and reduces reliance on institutional care by supporting individuals in more independent environments. The goal of the amendment is to clarify guidance and expectations for the provision of residential habilitation, care coordination services through telehealth, and medication management. The ALW amendment application and comment instructions are posted on the
DHCS ALW webpage. All comments must be received by December 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST. If you have any questions, please email
ALWP.IR@dhcs.ca.gov.
專案更新
DHCS Launched Licensing and Certification Portal
On November 18, DHCS launched a new online
Licensing and Certification Portal, a digital platform that modernizes the application process for substance use disorder (SUD) providers. Providers can apply for renewals, monitor progress in real time, and engage directly with DHCS through a secure messaging platform. Renewal applications are available to substance use disorder (SUD) providers within 150 days of license and/or certification expiration. This modernization effort is a component of DHCS's broader behavioral health transformation strategy, which aims to improve access to care, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance the overall provider experience. It is also in response to long-standing challenges with DHCS' paper-based licensing and certification system. Future phases of the portal will expand its capabilities to include initial applications, amendments, and mental health licensing functions. Please email
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov if you have questions or need more information.
Weekly Office Hours for Hospice Providers
Beginning on December 1 and continuing through February 23, 2026, from 12 to 1 p.m. PST, DHCS will hold
weekly office hours to support the recent launch of the new
online hospice Notice of Election (NOE) form. The office hours will provide a dedicated time for hospice providers to ask questions, receive guidance, and share feedback related to the new online form and associated submission process. No appointment is necessary, and hospice providers may drop in at any time during the hour. DHCS encourages hospice providers using the online hospice NOE form to take advantage of this time-limited resource. Your participation helps DHCS ensure a smoother and more efficient experience. For questions, please email
mchospiceclerk@dhcs.ca.gov.
Skilled Nursing Facility Value Strategy Workgroup: Call for Nominations
DHCS is seeking nominations for a new workgroup to support the development and implementation of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value Strategy. This workgroup will provide input on program design and implementation to inform the reauthorization of the Medi-Cal Long-Term Care (LTC) Reimbursement Act (Welfare & Institutions Code §14126 et seq.) for services provided on or after January 1, 2027. The Act governs Medi-Cal financing for Freestanding SNFs and presents a key opportunity to build upon initiatives, such as the
California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal LTC Carve-In and
AB 186 Nursing Facility Financing Reform. The SNF Value Strategy will include an analysis of payment methodologies used by Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other payers, and will outline a five-year roadmap for system transformation and integration.
DHCS will engage stakeholders throughout the strategy's development. Nominations are open to individuals with experience in Medi-Cal LTC and nursing facility operations and payment. This includes Medi-Cal members who currently or previously resided in nursing facilities, their caregivers, consumer advocates, facility operators and administrators, labor representatives and frontline staff, long-term care clinicians and policy experts, Medi-Cal managed care plan representatives, and cross-system stakeholders, such as hospitals, Home and Community-Based Services providers, and behavioral health professionals.
To nominate yourself or a colleague, please complete this
form by 8 p.m. PST on December 5. Selected members should plan to attend meetings approximately monthly beginning in January 2026 and through the implementation period. If you have any questions, please email
SNFValueStrategy@dhcs.ca.gov, and visit the
DHCS SNF Value Strategy webpage for more information.
Smile, California: Mobile Dental Van Event (Tehama County)
On December 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, a mobile dental van event will be held in Tehama County to provide free dental services. The van will be located at 650 Antelope Boulevard in Red Bluff.
Smile, California will support the event with a custom flyer, social media posts, and a Smile Alert to notify members and partners of the upcoming event. Visitors are encouraged to call 1-888-585-3368 to pre-register and complete the consent forms before the event.
加入我們的團隊
DHCS is hiring for its Accounting, Behavioral Health, Managed Care, and other teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
即將舉行的利害關係人會議和網絡
DHCS 在 DHCS
活動日曆上公佈即將舉行的公開會議。DHCS 提供免費的輔助服務，包括語言傳譯、即時字幕和會議資料的替代格式。若要申請服務，請於會議前至少十個工作天，將電子郵件寄到 DHCS 適當的聯絡電子郵件地址。
Transitional Rent Payment Methodology Informational Webinar and Q&A: Part 2
On December 5 at 10 a.m. PST, DHCS will hold the second informational
webinar (advance registration required) on the Transitional Rent Payment Methodology, which outlines the maximum reimbursable amounts (reimbursable ceilings) and administrative fees associated with Transitional Rent. This newest Community Supports service provides up to six months of rental assistance for Medi-Cal members experiencing or at risk of homelessness who meet additional eligibility criteria. The webinar will build upon the initial overview presented on October 31 and focus on addressing key questions raised by stakeholders, including managed care plans, Community Supports providers, county agencies, and community-based organizations.
如果你錯過了
行為健康服務法案 (BHSA) 人口預防計畫指南 - 第二階段
On November 10, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) opened the public comment period for the BHSA Population-Based Prevention Program Guide – Phase 2. This guide outlines how the state will use BHSA funds to support prevention efforts that promote mental health and reduce the risk of substance use disorder. It details the operational steps, funding, and strategies for statewide and local action from 2026 to 2029. The finalized Phase 1 and Phase 2 guides collectively form the CDPH Final Plan for the BHSA Statewide Population-Based Prevention Program, which will launch in July 2026. CDPH invites interested parties and Tribes to review the Phase 2 Guide and submit written public comment by Tuesday, December 2, at 11:59 p.m. PST. A virtual public webinar was held on November 13 to provide an overview of the guide and allow for verbal or written feedback. The session was recorded and will be posted on the CDPH BHSA Partner and Community Engagement page. For more information, visit mentalhealth.ca.gov or email BHSAinfo@cdph.ca.gov.
