General Resources

DHCS has released updates to the BHSA County Policy Manual. The updates provide clear guidance and timelines for counties as they prepare to submit their draft Integrated Plans (due March 31, 2026) and final Integrated Plan (due June 30, 2026). The updated guidance covers the submission and approval processes for the draft and final Integrated Plans, the budget and Integrated Plan templates, and guidance around Phase 1 Performance Measures.

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DHCS has issued a statement on Medi-Cal Data Privacy and Federal Use and its commitment to protecting the privacy and well-being of all Medi-Cal members. Recent reports have raised serious concerns about how federal agencies may be using Medicaid data, including the personal data of all 15 million Californians covered by Medi-Cal.DHCS contacted the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to seek clarification on whether any Medi-Cal member data had been shared with other federal agencies, what specific data may have been involved, and for what purpose. As of now, DHCS has not received confirmation that data sharing occurred.

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DHCS has posted updated FAQ on Medi-Cal Immigrant Eligibility. If you do not find an answer to your question, you may contact your local county office (by phone or in person) or email Medi-Cal member support for help in your preferred language.

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DHCS has released Quality Incentive Pool (QIP) Program Year 6 Evaluation Report. The evaluation report assesses the impact of $2.2 billion in directed payments to participating hospital systems in 2023, based on the quality of inpatient and outpatient services for Medi-Cal members who received care at DPHs and DMPHs.

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DHCS has released Closed-Loop Referral (CLR) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for MCPs, Providers and additional stakeholders. The FAQs help support MCPs in implementing CLR and addresses commonly asked questions related to implementation, tracking member referrals, and noticing.

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DHCS has released the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pools ("Flex Pools") Request for Applications! Applications are due to DHCS by 5pm PDT on Friday, June 13, 2025. 

The launch of Medi-Cal Transitional Rent and BHSA Housing Interventions create unprecedented opportunity to assist individuals in achieving better health outcomes through housing stability.This RFA is the next step in DHCS’ commitment to promoting Flex Pools, a locally designed model for streamlining provision of newly available housing supports to help people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness enter and maintain stable long-term housing.

For more information, please visit the DHCS Housing for Health website.

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DHCS has updated the Community Supports Policy Guide, released on April 30, 2025. 

DHCS has made refinements and clarifications to many of its Community Supports service definitions, based on extensive feedback from MCPs, community-based providers, and other stakeholders.

Volume 1 contains the service definitions for eight of the Community Supports that address Members’ health-related social needs, including four Community Supports previously updated by DHCS in February 2025: Medically Tailored Meals/Medically Supportive Food, Asthma Remediation, Assisted Living Facility Transitions and Community or Home Transition Services.  

Volume 2 contains the service definitions for the remaining seven Community Supports, including Transitional Rent, that pertain to housing or have a room and board component and is specifically designed to support Members experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

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DHCS has released Closed-Loop Referral (CLR) Implementation Guidance Population Health Management for MCPs, Providers and additional stakeholders. The CLR Implementation Guidance outlines requirements for MCPs in implementing CLRs under managed care; including tracking, supporting, and monitoring CLRs. The goal of these new CLR requirements is to increase the share of Medi-Cal Members successfully connected to the services they need by identifying and addressing gaps in referral practices and service availability.

MCPs must implement CLR requirements by July 1, 2025. Requirements will first apply to two priority services – Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports. The CLR Implementation Guidance provides detailed guidance to MCPs on operationalizing CLR requirements for ECM and Community Supports.

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