DHCS Stakeholder News Update - April 29, 2022
Dear Stakeholders,
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is providing this update of significant developments regarding DHCS programs, as well as guidance related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Medi-Cal Eligibility for New Ukrainian Arrivals
DHCS has released a Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letter (MEDIL) to provide guidance to counties on the Medi-Cal eligibility of Ukrainian nationals arriving in California. It is anticipated that a significant number will resettle in California.
On March 24, the White House announced that the United States plans to accept up to 100,000 people fleeing Ukraine with a focus on family reunification. Ukrainians will enter the U.S. with a variety of immigration statuses. The federal government has not provided any special benefit eligibility for this population, but has authorized the use of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainian arrivals who qualify.
Many of the Ukrainian arrivals may enter under TPS or as humanitarian parolees and may not be eligible for the traditional federal services offered to immigrants granted refugee status. However, they may qualify for state-funded programs, including state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal. DHCS will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
The MEDIL will provide guidance on how to establish Medi-Cal eligibility for this population (based on current Medi-Cal policy) for state and federal Medi-Cal benefits. DHCS will work closely with the state Office of Refugee Health and stakeholders to ensure that new Ukrainian arrivals receive the Medi-Cal benefits to which they are entitled.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Workgroup – Call for Applications
DHCS is establishing a statewide workgroup to assist with CYBHI planning. The group will inform grant development and program design for the scaling of evidence-based interventions (EBI) and community-defined practices (CDP). Across three public sessions, workgroup members will help DHCS refine perspectives and hypotheses on potential EBIs/CDPs to scale. Criteria will include robustness of the evidence base, impact on racial equity, and sustainability.
DHCS is seeking applications from interested stakeholders, including, but not limited to, youth, parents/caregivers, relevant community members, health plans (managed care and commercial health plans), county behavioral health departments, behavioral health providers, associations and advocates, clinicians, institutions of higher education, early childhood experts, and educational partners in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Interested parties should complete this application form by 5 p.m. on May 4.
Below are the tentative dates of the three workgroup sessions:
- Session 1: May 27, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Session 2: June TBD
- Session 3: July 21, 2 – 4 p.m.
All workgroup sessions will be open to the public and held in person in Sacramento, with a remote hybrid option available. Note: DHCS will comply with the California Department of Public Health's COVID-19 guidance.
If not selected, applicants can still provide input on CYBHI efforts by emailing CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov.
CYBHI Public Webinar
On May 9 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT), DHCS will launch a monthly virtual webinar series to keep stakeholders apprised of DHCS' progress in implementing various work streams for the CYBHI. DHCS specifically encourages attendance from the following groups (although all stakeholders in this area are welcome): youth, parents/caregivers, family members, behavioral health providers, Medi-Cal managed care plans, county behavioral health departments, commercial health plans, education, and other cross-sector partners.
Interested parties can register for the May 9 webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
DHCS will provide updates on the following CYBHI work streams:
- Behavioral Health Virtual Services and E-Consult Platform
- CalHOPE Student Services
- Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program
- Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program
- School-Linked Partnership and Capacity Grants
- Statewide Fee Schedule and Provider Network for School-Linked Services
- Scaling Up of EBPs and CDPs
For more information about the CYBHI, visit the DHCS website. To provide comments, make recommendations, or obtain additional information, please email CYBHI@dhcs.ca.gov.
Medicare Advantage (MA) for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries
DHCS has posted information about Medicare Advantage (MA) for dual eligible beneficiaries, including transitions coming for 2023. The webpage includes information about the difference between true Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and MA D-SNP “look-alike" plans, and the upcoming transition of D-SNP look-alike plans that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement with MA plans in 2023. D-SNP look-alike plans are MA plans that are marketed to and have membership of at least 80 percent dual eligible beneficiaries, but do not have the care coordination and wrap-around services that true D-SNPs provide. CMS is working with MA organizations to seamlessly transition D-SNP look-alike plan members to other MA or true D-SNP plans within the same organization to avoid network disruption.
The DHCS webpage also includes information about the 2023 transition of Cal MediConnect to Exclusively Aligned Enrollment (EAE) D-SNPs and matching Medi-Cal plans. New enrollment in Cal MediConnect is available through the end of 2022. Cal MediConnect beneficiaries will automatically transition within their existing MA organization to a D-SNP and matching Medi-Cal plan on January 1, 2023. Beneficiaries transitioning from Cal MediConnect will continue to have access to a complete provider network through their matching D-SNP and Medi-Cal plan, which will include similar providers they currently see, and avoid network disruption through continuity of care provisions. For more information, please visit the future of Cal MediConnect webpage.
Published COVID-19 Information
Additional updates will be posted on the DHCS COVID-19 Response page.
