DHCS Updates FAQ on Medi-Cal Data Sharing with CMS

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently posted an updated frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding eligibility for Medi-Cal. The FAQ clarifies what type of Medi-Cal data DHCS is required to share with CMS under federal law and provides resources on qualified nonprofit organizations that provide immigration-related services in California.

On June 13, DHCS issued a statement in response to reports that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may have shared the personal data of Medi-Cal members with the Department of Homeland Security. As shared in the FAQ, DHCS has reached out to CMS requesting confirmation on if this data sharing occurred, what data was shared, which agencies data has been shared with, and why. As of this posting, DHCS has not received confirmation on these questions but states that they are actively seeking answers from the federal government.