About Medi-Cal
More than 15 million Californians rely on Medi-Cal, the state’s health care coverage safety net, for health insurance. Two-thirds of those on Medi-Cal are people of color and often live in communities with a lack of adequate health care providers. Without significant investments to support providers that deliver health care to California’s most vulnerable, millions living in rural and underserved areas are in jeopardy.
5 Things To Know: Webinar Offers Guidance on Closed-Loop Referral Implementation
On Feb. 13 from 10-11 a.m. (PT), the Department of Health Care Services is hosting an overview webinar on Closed-Loop Referral (CLR) requirements, which will connect more members to the care they need by identifying and addressing gaps in referral paths. Managed Care Plans (MCPs) must implement these requirements by July 1, 2025, and they […]
5 Things To Know: Save the Date for Rural-Focused PATH Cited Round 4 Grant Applications
The Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) enables provider participation in the Medi-Cal delivery system — and its Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion and Development (CITED) Initiative provides funding to enable the transition, expansion, and development of enhanced care management (ECM) and community supports (CS) capacity and infrastructure. In limited circumstances, organizations that do not […]
5 Things To Know: Join HASD&IC at Spirit of the Barrio
The upcoming Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) Spirit of the Barrio event, taking place on Oct. 25 at FHCSD’s Logan Heights location, will include discussions on critical legislative topics, a celebration of culinary heritage, and an opportunity for community building. The panel discussion, which includes HASD&IC President & CEO Dimitrios Alexiou, will explore […]
5 Things To Know: San Diego County Recognized for Medi-Cal Call Responsiveness
The Children’s Partnership, a California advocacy organization advancing child health equity through research, policy, and community engagement, commissioned WestGroup Research to survey county Medi-Cal call lines in more than 30 counties. Their research found that Medi-Cal enrollees in some counties were forced to wait up to 90 minutes to get assistance, leading to many abandoned calls and possibly a loss of Medi-Cal coverage for those seeking assistance. San Diego County was highlighted for providing strong customer service, with an average hold time of just under one minute. This outstanding customer service supports San Diego residents’ ability to maintain health coverage and access the care they need.
Campaign Materials Now Available for CHA-Sponsored Ballot Measure to Strengthen Medi-Cal
Hospitals are encouraged to join the coalition supporting Proposition (Prop) 35, which would make permanent an existing fee on managed care organizations that enables the state to draw on federal matching funds to improve Medi-Cal.
5 Things To Know: CMS Launches New Option to File EMTALA Complaints
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that individuals have the option to file an Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) complaint directly with the agency, in addition to the traditional process of contacting state survey agencies. The form is the latest in a series of new resources from CMS to help educate the public about EMTALA.
5 Things To Know: Certified Wellness Coach Scholarship
New Certified Wellness Coach Scholarship Program: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) launched the Certified Wellness Coach profession earlier this year in its ongoing commitment to expand and enhance behavioral health services for youth. This role is designed to deliver comprehensive prevention and early intervention services, promoting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of young people.
5 Things To Know: Covid-19 Data
Hospitals No Longer Required To Report Covid-19 Data To HHS: Hospitals are no longer required to report COVID-19 data mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Healthcare Safety Network, effective since April 30. Additionally, discharge reporting of hospitalized COVID-19 cases (All Facilities Letter 21-25) to the California Department of Public Health has been discontinued.
5 Things To Know: Ballot Initiative
BALLOT INITIATIVE WOULD DEDICATE MCO TAX REVENUE TO FUND MEDI-CAL: The Coalition to Protect Access to Care has submitted more than 800,000 voter signatures to qualify the Protect Access to Healthcare initiative for California’s November 2024 ballot. CHA supports the proposed ballot measure, which would permanently channel managed care organization (MCO) tax revenue to Medi-Cal providers such as hospitals, physicians, women’s health and community clinics, and health centers. To help build support, the coalition has created a toolkit, which includes a sample newsletter that can be adapted for various audiences, sample social posts and graphics, and links to fact sheets.
5 Things To Know: Default Enrollment Pilot
MEDICARE MEDI-CAL PLANS – DEFAULT ENROLLMENT PILOT: This summer, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will launch a default enrollment pilot for select Medicare Medi-Cal (Medi-Medi) Plans in San Diego and San Mateo counties. Medi-Medi Plans are a type of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that coordinates all benefits and services across both programs for dually-eligible individuals. Under the pilot, when a managed care plan (MCP) member becomes eligible for Medicare due to age or disability, they will automatically be enrolled in the Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) for that MCP, unless the member chooses a different Medicare option, such as Original Medicare or another MA plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services included guidance on D-SNP default enrollment in its annual MA Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance. Please contact DHCS at info@calduals.org with any questions or comments about Medi-Medi Plans