Health plans, including Blue Shield of California, Health Net, and Community Health Group Partnership Plan, have filed lawsuits against the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) following the first ever statewide competitive procurement for commercial Medi-Cal managed care plans for the 2024 Medi-Cal contract awards. Through this procurement, DHCS did not award … Read more
At the 2022 Los Angeles State of Reform Health Policy Conference, California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass discussed some of the latest and most notable developments in Medi-Cal during her Morning Keynote. In particular, Baass highlighted the progress of CalAIM implementation and addressed Medi-Cal workforce development initiatives, as well … Read more
The addition of community health workers (CHW) and promotore services as a Medi-Cal benefit is just one part of California’s larger efforts to make these services more accessible across the state, according to Carlina Hansen, Senior Program Officer of Improving Access at the California Health Care Foundation. Gov. Gavin Newsom allocated $16.3 million … Read more
Last week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced its long-awaited decision to award Medi-Cal contracts—which become effective Jan. 1st, 2024—to 3 managed care plans: Molina Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan, and Health Net. The 3 plans will provide Medi-Cal coverage across 21 counties. Molina Healthcare will remain in Riverside, San … Read more
The Insure The Uninsured Project (ITUP) recently wrapped up their 2022 regional workgroups, which held stakeholder conversations throughout the state to hear about their experiences with the first year of CalAIM implementation. ITUP Executive Director Katie Heidorn told State of Reform that these workgroup listening sessions were a valuable opportunity to focus on … Read more
On July 6th, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released a Request For Information (RFI), inviting prospective vendors to provide information to DHCS to help inform the planning, design, development, and launch of the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) According to DHCS, the … Read more
Accessing health care in California can be a hurdle in itself. For our low-income, unhoused and vulnerable citizens, many of whom make up the 14 million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal, finding and returning regularly to a usual source of care can be challenging. In my region of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, about 30% of … Read more
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has launched a statewide effort to help Medi-Cal beneficiaries keep their Medi-Cal coverage or get enrolled in other coverage in preparation for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and the end of the federal Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. A DHCS spokesperson told State … Read more
We recently hosted the Convening Panel meeting for our upcoming 2022 Northern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference. Using the valuable input of our stakeholders, the State of Reform team is currently building a Topical Agenda for the event on March 23rd. So, keep your eyes out for a breakdown of the day’s panels in the coming … Read more
Implementation of the Medi-Cal Rx initiative begins on Jan. 1, and according to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), transitioning pharmacy services from Medi-Cal managed care to fee-for-service will greatly benefit both patients and providers. They said the transition would be a critical step for the success of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal … Read more