About Medi-Cal
Every year, California’s hospitals treat millions of patients, many of them covered by Medi-Cal, the state’s health care safety net. This includes numerous essential health care services, including care for more than 50% of all births, 51% of behavioral health-related emergency department visits, and 49% of rural hospital patient care But for low-income Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for coverage — two-thirds of whom are people of color — their care is at serious risk. Communities with high Medi-Cal enrollment already suffer from a severe lack of health care providers and with hospital services at risk of being reduced and outright closures looming, California’s most vulnerable, including people living in rural and underserved areas, are in jeopardy.
DHCS Issues Draft Medi-Cal Managed Care Procurement Request for Proposal
On June 1, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released a draft request for proposal (RFP) to solicit feedback from interested parties on the Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) contract and the upcoming Medi-Cal MCP procurement.
CHA Issues FFY 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule Summary
CHA has issued a detailed summary of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Comments are due to CMS by 2 p.m. (PT) on June 28 and can be submitted electronically by searching for file code “CMS-1752-P.”
Senate Confirms Brooks-LaSure to Lead CMS
Earlier this week, the Senate confirmed Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The nomination was approved 55-44, with four Republicans voting yes. Brooks-LaSure previously served at the Department of Health & Human Services, including CMS, during the Obama administration and helped implement the Affordable Care Act. Before being nominated to lead CMS, she was […]
Governor Releases Revised State Budget
On May 14, Gov. Newsom presented the Legislature with revisions to the budget he proposed in January, the process referred to as the May Revise. Throughout the week leading up to the release of the revision, the governor had been presenting various proposals as part of his “California Roars Back” plan, touted as a recovery package tackling the […]
CMS Issues Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has issued an interim final rule requiring long-term care facilities to offer the COVID-19 vaccine, when available, to residents and staff and educate them on the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine.
CMS Issues FFY 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule. Comments on the proposed rule are due to CMS by 2 p.m. (PT) on June 28.
Medi-Cal SNF Rates Updated
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has updated Medi-Cal rates for hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs). Rates for the 2020-21 rate year, which began Aug. 1, were implemented for dates of service effective March 22. DHCS has informed CHA that retroactive adjustments to the beginning of the rate will be made in early June. Additional information is available […]
Public Comment Period for CalAIM Demonstration Ends May 6; Two Public Hearings Scheduled
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has begun a 30-day public comment period for the California Advancing & Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Section 1115 demonstration (or waiver). It began on April 6 and will end on May 6. The public comment materials can be found on the CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver web page. […]
Medi-Cal is California’s Health Care Safety Net for Millions of Low-Income People
To maintain access to the high quality of care that all Californians deserve, the state must protect Medi-Cal funding and reject cuts in rates paid to doctors, hospitals, and others who care for Medi-Cal enrollees. Find out more in the attached issue brief.
Medi-Cal: The Health Care Safety Net for Millions of Californians
CHA has developed the attached key messaging document to share the principles that guide our strategy related to Medi-Cal.