About Medi-Cal
More than 15 million Californians rely on Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the federal program known as Medicaid, for health insurance. The program acts as California’s health care coverage safety net, with those on Medi-Cal often living 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.
Reminder: Hospitals Should Plan to Attend MCP Value-Based Payment Contracting Conference
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is hosting hospitals and Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) for a Value-Based Payment (VBP) Contracting Conference on Oct. 15 in Sacramento.
Future of Medi-Cal Advisory Group Continues to Explore Wide-Ranging Expansion Proposals
The Future of Medi-Cal Commission Advisory Group met this week and continued conversations around a very wide-ranging set of concepts to expand the Medi-Cal program. These themes center on creating a more member-centered, integrated, and outcomes-driven Medi-Cal system. The group discussed simplifying eligibility and enrollment, improving navigation and access, strengthening community-based and interdisciplinary primary care,...
DHCS Provides Guidance on Fee-For-Service Transition
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has published new resources to support Medi-Cal members, providers, and partners ahead of the Jan. 1, 2027, transition of members with unsatisfactory immigration status from managed care to fee-for-service.
Hospitals Should Plan to Attend MCP Value-Based Payment Contracting Conference
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is hosting hospitals and Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) for a Value-Based Payment (VBP) Contracting Conference on Oct. 15 in Sacramento.
CHA Emphasizes Provider Perspectives at Latest Future of Medi-Cal Commission Advisory Group Meeting
What’s happening: The California Health Care Foundation’s Future of Medi-Cal Commission Advisory Group met last week, with discussion focused on implementing reforms well, strengthening accountability, simplifying Medi-Cal while protecting core benefits, and using data and technology to improve the member experience.
DHCS Updates DSH Replacement Payment Timing
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services has updated the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) replacement payment spreadsheets and timelines.
DHCS Releases June Phase 1 DSH Payment Schedule
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released the June Phase I payment schedule for both Private disproportionate share hospital (DSH) Replacement and Non-Designated Public Hospital DSH payments. Warrants will be dated Aug. 27, and electronic funds transfer is scheduled for Aug. 31.
DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files
What’s happening: On July 31, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded two new hospital data sets that hospitals must download before the files are deleted on Sept. 14.
CMS Proposes Changes to Medicaid Provider Tax Rules
What's happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a proposed rule implementing the provider tax provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), while also proposing additional policy changes that would strengthen federal oversight of Medicaid provider taxes.
DHCS to Host July 30 Town Hall on Enrollment Requirements for Pharmacy and Medical Billing Claims
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will host a town hall on July 30 at 9:30 a.m. (PT) to explain Ordering, Referring, and Prescribing (ORP) enrollment requirements for claims across both pharmacy (Medi-Cal Rx) and medical (CA-MMIS) billing systems. While event registration is currently full, interested members should join the waitlist — CHA...