In response to the Southern California wildfires, the Department
of Health Care Services (DHCS)
issued a release on the actions being taken to implement
administrative flexibilities and ensure Medi-Cal enrollees
maintain access to quality health care services. These efforts
include a simplified enrollment and renewal process, waived
requirements to access prescription medications and medical
devises, activated emergency response protocols, and prioritized
member transfers for displaced enrollees moving out of Los
Angeles or Ventura counties. DHCS has also established an
online resource to help answer Medi-Cal member questions
about accessing services during this emergency.
In addition, current flexibilities for Medi-Cal managed care
plans and Medi-Cal providers include:
Behavioral health services: Ensured
relocated clients from evacuated facilities receive continuous
care, with licensing and certification flexibilities supporting
affected treatment programs.
Provider support: Extended reporting and
administrative deadlines, enabling Medi-Cal providers to
prioritize care delivery until the end of the emergency.
Managed care flexibility: Waived prior
authorizations and referral requirements for applicable
services to help Medi-Cal managed care plans and their network
providers deliver timely care to members affected by
evacuations and service disruptions.
DHCS has also submitted requests for additional flexibilities to
the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),
including:
Supports for clinics and facilities
Additional protections for Medi-Cal members
Medi-Cal provider enrollment and reimbursement
Flexibility for long-term services and supports
Extension for reporting and claiming requirements
Additional information related to the new and requested
flexibilities, as well as a full list of DHCS emergency and
disaster assistance initiatives, can be found
here.
