California Submits Medicaid Waiver Renewal to Feds

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) submitted its Medicaid Section 1115 waiver renewal proposal – titled “Medi-Cal 2020” – to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 27. DHCS has a waiver submission page on its website with all of the documents submitted to CMS:
www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/1115-Waiver-Renewal-Official-Submission.aspx

For the most part, the final submission mirrors the March 16 draft document that DHCS circulated and includes:

• Delivery System Transformation and Alignment proposals in the areas of 1) managed care, 2) fee-for-service, 3) public safety nets (Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment successor), 4) workforce development, 5) housing and supportive services, and 6) whole person care pilots.
• Public Safety Net System Global Payment for Remaining Uninsured. Proposes to unify Disproportionate Share Hospital and Safety Net Care Pool funding streams into a “global payment” system for designated public hospitals.
• Shared Savings. The state proposes a new investment strategy to create a Federal-State shared savings model.

The Legislature will be hearing the waiver-related measures next week. Assembly Health will be hearing AB 72 by Assembly Member Bonta on April 7 and Senate Health will hear SB 36 by Senator Hernandez on April 8. As drafted, the identical measures require DHCS to submit a waiver renewal to CMS. CSAC is supporting both bills. Additional details will be added to the measures as they move through the process and as more information becomes available from the DHCS/CMS negotiation.

Continuum of Care Reform Bill – Request for Comment

Assembly Bill 403, by Senator Mark Stone and sponsored by the Department of Social Services (DSS), has been amended and reflects DSS’ attempt to reform the continuum of care for foster youth. In January, DSS released their Continuum of Care Report, which outlined a comprehensive approach to improving the experience and outcomes of children and youth in foster care. 

As amended, AB 403 would provide for the reclassification of treatment facilities and the transition from the use of group homes for children in foster care to the use of short-term residential treatment centers – defined in the amendments. AB 403 revises foster parent training requirements and provides for the development of Child-Family Teams to inform the process of placement and services to children. Additionally, the bill would develop a new payment structure to fund placement options for children in foster care. 

CSAC, along with our county affiliates, are reviewing the recent amendments and will be providing comments and concerns to DSS accordingly. Your feedback on the amendments to AB 403 would be greatly appreciated. 

Health Access Webinar on the County Safety Net

Health Access California has recently a report on the county safety net entitled: “Reorienting the Safety Net for the Remaining Uninsured”, releasing findings from a follow-up survey of county indigent health programs post Affordable Care Act. Health Access will conduct a webinar hosted by UCLA Health Policy Center and The California Endowment on April 9 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to present the report findings. To be redirected to the registration page, click here.

Mental Health Matters Month in May

In anticipation of Mental Health Matters Month in May, the California Coalition for Mental Health (CCMH) created a toolkit to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and wellness. The toolkit contains resources and materials that can help facilitate Mental Health Matters Month activities locally. Further, CCMH will be sending lime-green ties and scarves to all county supervisors in the state to help promote the May activities. Questions regarding the toolkit and/or how to participate can be sent to Evan.Oliva@calmhsa.org.