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.
Medi-Cal is California’s version of the federal program known as Medicaid. To learn more about CHA’s work to protect Medicaid, visit our federal resource page.
Congress Must Protect Patient Care
California hospitals are committed to caring for their patients and communities. With many federal health policy options circulating in Washington, D.C., it’s critical that the impact on patient care be at the forefront of every conversation.
DHCS Community Support Updates Take Effect July 1
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has updated service definitions for four of the 14 community supports that Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) may offer as part of the state’s Medi-Cal reform effort, California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). The four updated service definitions go into effect July 1.
What else to know: According to DHCS, the updated definitions aim to improve networks, equity, and enrollment by ensuring that services are implemented in a clear and unified way across the state.
CHA Memo Helps Hospital EDs with Psychiatric Emergencies Under AB 1316
What’s happening: As of Jan. 1, hospital emergency departments (EDs) have a clear pathway for Medi-Cal reimbursement for behavioral health visits under CHA-sponsored Assembly Bill (AB) 1316 (2024). In a memo to members, CHA provides guidance to hospitals on the new requirements and their obligations for stabilizing or transferring individuals in EDs experiencing a mental health crisis.
What else to know: The new law ensures hospitals get reimbursed by Medi-Cal for the ED services they provide to patients with behavioral health conditions. It also empowers hospitals to promptly transfer patients to inpatient psychiatric care — without delays by counties and health plans.
Hospital Fee Program 8 Invoices Due April 8
What’s happening: Payments for the Hospital Quality Assurance Fee program 8 directed payment are due to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) by April 8.
What else to know: Invoices were mailed to hospitals from DHCS on March 24. It is critical that all hospitals pay their invoices in full and on time. CHA encourages those at risk of not paying their invoices in full by April 8 to notify DHCS in advance of the due date about any financial hardship.
CDPH Issues New Guidance to Support Doula Access in Hospitals
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released All Facilities Letter (AFL) 25-13 on March 24 that offers guidance to hospitals on supporting the Medi-Cal doula benefit — available since January 1, 2023 — and outlines recommendations for patient visitation policies and procedures.
What else to know: As noted in the AFL, called Benefits of Doula Support and Recommendations to Accommodate Doula Services and Foster a Doula-Friendly Environment, doulas offer emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and up to one year postpartum. Hospital policies play a key role in creating a welcoming environment for doulas and the families they serve.
Hospitals: Let Congress Know How Medicaid Cuts Will Impact People, Communities
What’s happening: As Congress works on a federal budget for 2026 that could result in devastating cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), it is imperative that all hospital leaders let members of Congress know directly the impact these cuts will have on the people and communities they represent. Representatives will be home in their districts from April 11-27, which is an excellent time to invite your representative to come visit their local hospital.
What else to know: Another effective method is to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper or another relevant news outlet, as did Elaine Batchlor, MD, who serves as CEO of MLK Community Healthcare in Los Angeles and as a CHA board member. Dr. Batchlor’s op-ed, Medicaid cuts are a threat to health care for all, appeared in The Hill, a Washington, D.C., publication widely read by members of Congress — who, along with their staff, also regularly follow local media outlets to stay on top of key concerns for their constituents.
Making the Case to Protect Medicaid in the Nation’s Capital
This week, California’s congressional representatives returned from their home districts to a gray and gloomy Washington, D.C.
DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files
What’s happening: On March 14, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital-directed payment encounter files, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol site, that hospitals must download as soon as possible — they will be deleted within 45 days of the upload date.
What else to know: DHCS has also published new calendar year 2023 encounter detail file toolkits for each Directed Payments program.
New CHCF Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Medi-Cal Across All Parties
What’s happening: On March 3, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) released a statewide poll that assesses attitudes about Medi-Cal and Covered California, and possible reductions to federal funding for both programs.
What else to know: The poll’s executive summary is available on the CHCF website, as is information on the poll questions and methodology. CHCF also has a Defending Medi-Cal 2025 web page that is updated regularly with new data and fact sheets.
Hospitals: Now Is the Time to Speak Up About the Impact of Medicaid Cuts
What’s happening: As Congress works on a federal budget for 2026 that could result in devastating cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), it is imperative that all hospital leaders let members of Congress know directly the impact these cuts will have on the people and communities they represent. One effective method is to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper or another relevant news outlet, as did Elaine Batchlor, MD, who serves as CEO of MLK Community Healthcare in Los Angeles and as a CHA board member.
What else to know: Dr. Batchlor’s op-ed, Medicaid cuts are a threat to health care for all, appeared in The Hill, a Washington, D.C., publication widely read by members of Congress — who, along with their staff, also regularly follow local media outlets to stay on top of key concerns for their constituents.
As Federal Budget Talks Progress, New Resources Can Help Tell Hospitals’ Stories
As Congress deliberates on stopgap measures to fund the government for 2025, the House of Representatives has passed a budget resolution for 2026 calling for $2 trillion in spending cuts, including $880 billion to come from programs overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which — in addition to energy, the environment, and other issues — oversees Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California).