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.
Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNP) Feasibility Study
On July 1, DHCS completed a feasibility study report of D-SNPs for Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) in select non-Coordinated Care Initiative counties pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 14184.208(c)(5). The feasibility study will help inform the transition under CalAIM to a statewide D-SNP structure for dual eligible beneficiaries. It will also help DHCS establish processes and refine criteria for evaluating potential MCP exemption requests from the D-SNP requirement.
Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Funding for CalAIM Justice-Involved Program
On July 13, DHCS released a draft guidance memo for Round 2 of the PATH Justice-Involved Capacity Building Program.
PATH is a $1.44 billion program approved under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. It provides transitional funding to invest in providers, counties, community-based organizations (CBOs), and other partners to support the state's efforts to maintain, build, and scale the capacity necessary to support and implement key initiatives under CalAIM.
California received funding to support implementation activities focused on pre-release Medi-Cal eligibility and enrollment, as part of the statewide justice-involved initiative. Funding for the PATH Justice-Involved Capacity Building Program will support collaborative planning as well as information technology (IT) system modifications necessary to implement pre-release Medi-Cal application and suspension processes. This program will provide two rounds of funding totaling $151 million for correctional agencies, correctional institutions, and county social service departments:
- Round 1: A planning grant funding opportunity for correctional agencies (or a county agency applying on behalf of a correctional agency) to support collaborative planning with county social service departments and other enrollment implementation partners to identify processes, protocols, and IT modifications that are necessary to support implementation of pre-release enrollment and suspension processes. The planning grant funding in Round 1 can be used to support development of the application for Round 2 implementation grant funding.
- Round 2: An implementation grant funding opportunity to support correctional agencies and county social service departments as they implement the processes, protocols, and IT system modifications that were identified during the Round 1 planning phase. Entities do not need to participate in Round 1 in order to apply for Round 2 funding.
DHCS intends to release the Round 2 application template in late July or early August. Eligible entities will be able to apply for Round 2 funding from the time the application template is released until December 31, 2022. DHCS and its contracted Third Party Administrator intend to distribute Round 2 funding on a rolling basis throughout the open application period.
For questions or comments, please email CalAIMJusticePreReleaseApps@dhcs.ca.gov. For additional information, please visit the CalAIM Justice-Involved Initiative webpage.
DHCS “Office Hours": Rural Implementation of Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports
On July 21, DHCS will virtually host an Office Hours discussion of CalAIM ECM and Community Supports implementation in rural counties.
This event will be the first in a new “Office Hours" series focused on answering implementation questions from the field. Throughout the series, DHCS leaders will be joined by panelists from MCPs, provider groups, and community organizations implementing CalAIM. They will answer questions posed by participants during the Office Hours session, received in previous webinars, and submitted via email or the registration page prior to the meeting.
Topics for the July 21 Office Hours on Rural Implementation will include workforce development, training, member outreach, and more. The panel will include providers from Hill Country Health and Wellness Center, who presented at the June 14 webinar on ECM and Community Supports in rural California. The June 14 webinar recording, presentation slides, and transcript of the presentation are available on the DHCS CalAIM ECM and Community Supports webpage.
DHCS strongly encourages MCPs, providers, and CBOs in rural California to participate in this Office Hours session. Advanced registration is required. Participants are invited to submit questions by Monday, July 18 to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the session.
CalAIM Population Health Management (PHM) Advisory Group – July Meeting
On July 27, DHCS will host the next meeting of the PHM Advisory Group from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. DHCS established the PHM Advisory Group to provide input to support the design and implementation of the PHM Program and Service. Members, which include representatives from health plans, providers, counties, state departments, consumer organizations, and other groups, will participate in Advisory Group meetings and provide real-time feedback and recommendations. The meetings are open to the public, and meeting information and materials will be available on the PHM webpage.
The July meeting will focus on a discussion of transitional care and intersections with behavioral health, as well as a presentation of highlights from the recently finalized PHM Strategy and Roadmap. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the webinar to CalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov. Advance registration for PHM July Meeting is required.
Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) – Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) Integration Webinar
On July 27, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., DHCS will host a webinar announcing the amendment of the current HCBA waiver to integrate ALW services. This HCBA waiver webinar will provide an overview of how the integration of the two waivers will help reduce public confusion about long-term care options, expand access to assisted living services statewide, streamline operational procedures, and reduce administrative workload. DHCS will also introduce the Department's plan to host a series of technical workgroup meetings between September 2022 and February 2023 to obtain stakeholder recommendations for implementation of the proposed waiver integration.
The HCBA waiver provides long-term services and supports to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries in their home or community residence of choice. The ALW provides eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries the choice to reside in an assisted living setting as an alternative to long-term placement in a nursing facility. The goal of both waivers is to facilitate the transition of institutionalized beneficiaries to a less-restrictive, community-based setting, and to prevent individuals who are at imminent risk of institutionalization from being admitted.
Updates, meeting information, and additional information on the waiver renewal will be posted on the HCBA and ALW webpage.
Published COVID-19 Information
Additional updates will be posted on the DHCS COVID-19 Response page.
