DHCS Stakeholder News - February 24, 2023
Top News
Discontinuation of COVID-19 Emergency Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment
On March 23, 2020, DHCS published a regulatory provider bulletin (
Requirements and Procedures for Emergency Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment) that established amended enrollment requirements and procedures for providers to temporarily and provisionally enroll in the Medi-Cal program during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) as authorized by the Section 1135 waiver granted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Effective March 29, 2023, DHCS is discontinuing the provider enrollment flexibilities authorized by the Section 1135 waiver. DHCS had requested the provider enrollment flexibilities to ensure that providers wishing to provide services related to the COVID-19 PHE could enroll quickly. Three years later, this flexibility is no longer needed. Providers temporarily and provisionally enrolled under the amended enrollment requirements who wish to remain enrolled in fee-for-service Medi-Cal following the discontinuation of the provider enrollment flexibilities are required to submit a complete application for their provider type and meet all program requirements if they have not already done so.
Providers will have 90 days from the end of the waiver period on March 29, to submit an application for enrollment via the
Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) portal. Providers who have not submitted an application by June 27, will have their temporary enrollment deactivated, effective June 28.
Program Updates
Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace Services: Apply Soon
On February 27, DHCS will open the PATH TA Marketplace Project Eligibility Application. Medi-Cal service providers who have submitted the Recipient Registration Form and have been approved as a TA recipient will be invited to shop and apply for no-cost TA services through the Marketplace. TA services offered through the Marketplace will support the implementation and delivery of Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports services.
To learn more and to submit the Recipient Registration Form, visit the
TA Marketplace website.
PATH Capacity and Infrastructure Round 2 Application
On February 28, DHCS will open the PATH Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) Round 2 application window. PATH CITED provides funding to on-the-ground partners, such as community-based organizations, public hospitals, county agencies, Tribes, and others, to build up their capacity and infrastructure in order to successfully participate in the Medi-Cal delivery system as Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports providers. Entities interested in applying for Round 2 are encouraged to join an upcoming
informational webinar on March 3, from 10 to 11 a.m., to learn more about CITED funds and the application process. Please visit
ca-path.com/cited for more information. For questions, please email
cited@ca-path.com.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Request for Information (RFI)
On February 21,
DHCS released a RFI to solicit input from parties interested in supporting CYBHI to implement its grant strategy to scale up evidence-based and community-defined evidence practices (EBPs/CDEPs). The non-binding RFI seeks information on the implementation of the EBP/CDEP grant strategy as well as feedback on a preliminary draft scope of work. RFI responses are due by March 22.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Aware New Data Report
On February 24, DHCS and the Office of the California Surgeon General, in partnership with the UCLA/UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network (UCAAN),
released a new data report detailing the number of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) screenings conducted for children and adults in California between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022. The report also tracks the number of clinical team members that completed the “
Becoming ACEs Aware in California" online training between December 4, 2019, and November 18, 2022.
Beginning December 2019 through November 2022, more than 28,060 individuals have taken the ACEs Aware training, and about 12,420 providers have become ACEs Aware-certified. Based on Medi-Cal claims data from January 2020 to March 2022, Medi-Cal providers conducted approximately 1,345,880 ACE screenings for nearly 998,870 unique Medi-Cal members.
The report also provides demographic information about members who have been screened for ACEs, summarizes the characteristics of individuals who have completed the
ACEs Aware Training, and provides a breakdown of ACE screening rates by Medi-Cal managed care plan. The report and accompanying fact sheet will be available on the
ACEs Aware website.
Join Our Team
DHCS is hiring! DHCS has an immediate opening for a
Branch Chief for the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health – Policy Division. This position is responsible for decision making on matters involving implementation of various behavioral health programs including CalAIM initiatives, legislation, and program regulations.
DHCS is also hiring for our fiscal, human resources, legal, auditing, health policy, and information technology teams. For more information, please visit the
CalCareers website.
DHCS is dedicated to preserving and improving the overall health and well-being of all Californians. DHCS' mission is to provide the most vulnerable residents with equitable access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, and is currently transforming the Medi-Cal program to make sure it provides the care Californians need to live healthier, happier lives.
Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings and Webinars
Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens Outreach & Education Toolkit Webinar
On March 1, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., DHCS is hosting a
webinar (advance registration required) on the recently published Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens Outreach & Education Toolkit. Federal and state law require, through Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT), that children, teens, and young adults from birth to age 21 have access to preventive and medically necessary treatment services. DHCS developed the toolkit to promote understanding of and access to EPSDT-covered services, which are available to the 5.7 million children and youth enrolled in Medi-Cal. The webinar will provide interested stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the toolkit, including how it was developed; how consumers, providers, and stakeholders can access the materials; and how the toolkit will help advance Medi-Cal's Strategy to Support Health & Opportunity for Children & Families.
Medi-Cal Children's Health Advisory Panel (MCHAP) Meeting
On March 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DHCS will host the next
MCHAP hybrid meeting (advance registration required) at The California Endowment (1414 K Street, Sacramento). Meeting materials will be posted on the
MCHAP webpage closer to the meeting date.
Proposition 64 Advisory Group (P64AG) Stakeholder Meeting
On March 2, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., DHCS will host the next P64AG hybrid meeting. This is the annual planning meeting to determine Round 5 Elevate Youth California focus areas. DHCS will also provide Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention, and Treatment Account- funded contract and budget updates. Meeting information, including the agenda, webinar link, and additional materials, will be posted on the
P64AG webpage and emailed to P64AG members.
CYBHI EBP/CDEP Grant Program Webinar
On March 3, from 2 to 3 p.m., DHCS will host a
CYBHI grant program webinar (advance registration required). The webinar will cover Round Two: Trauma Informed Programs and Practices, Request for Application grant release for the EBP/CDEP grant program to keep stakeholders apprised of DHCS' progress.
In Case You Missed It
Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Grant Application Available
On February 22, DHCS made
$907 million in grant funding available for the BHBH program to address the immediate housing and treatment needs of people experiencing homelessness and serious behavioral health conditions, including mental illness and substance use disorders. The program will provide support through various “bridge" housing settings, including tiny homes, interim housing, rental assistance models, and assisted living settings.
County behavioral health agencies are eligible to apply for bridge housing funding. To learn more about the BHBH program and to apply, visit
https://bridgehousing.buildingcalhhs.com/.
Published COVID-19 Information
