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.
Revised Estimated Fee and Timing Payment Cycles for Program 9 Now Available
What’s happening: With the final components of Hospital Fee Program 9 (2025) expected to be approved in the coming weeks, CHA has released revised fee and payment timing estimates to assist hospitals in planning.
District Court Strikes Medicaid Work Requirement Policy for Medically Frail
What’s happening: The U.S. District Court of Massachusetts ruled last week against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) policy for granting exemptions to medically frail patients from upcoming work requirements mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
DHCS Responds to Latest CMS Questions on Program 9
What’s happening: With its response to a third round of questions on Hospital Fee Program 9 (2025) fee-for-service payments, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has now addressed all inquiries from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files
What’s happening: On Sept. 25, the Department of Health Care Services uploaded three new hospital data sets that hospitals must download before the files are deleted on Nov. 13.
CHA Files Amicus Letter in Lawsuit Challenging 2027 MCO Tax
What’s happening: CHA and other provider associations have filed an amicus letter supporting a legal challenge to the replacement managed care organization (MCO) tax enacted in the 2026-27 budget.
2027 Nursing Facility Rates Available for Review and Comment
What's happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released the calendar year 2027 draft rates for Distinct Part Nursing Facilities, Level B, which are open for public comments until Oct. 16.
DHCS Implements Oct. 1 Eligibility Changes Required Under OBBBA
What's happening: On Oct. 1, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) implemented Medi-Cal eligibility changes required under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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.
CHA Comments on CMS’ Proposed Rule on Provider Taxes
What’s Happening: CHA has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urging changes to the proposed rule on “Amending the Indirect Hold Harmless Threshold of Health Care-Related Taxes.”
DHCS Hosts Stakeholder Discussion on UIS Fee-for-Service Transition
What’s happening: On Sept. 22, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) hosted an ad hoc stakeholder advisory committee focusing on the transition of approximately 2 million Medi-Cal members with unsatisfactory immigration status to Medi-Cal fee-for-service.