September 15, 2022

September 15, 2022

September 8, 2022

Earlier this week on Tuesday, the Governor signed AB 179 (Ting), which amends the Budget Act of 2022 to reflect changes necessary to implement the budget agreement. Of particular interest to counties, AB 179 includes the following health-related funding components:

August 25, 2022

The newly formed Senate Select Committee on Monkeypox, chaired by Senator Scott Wiener, convened for the first time on Tuesday to hear from state and local health officials on California’s response to the growing monkeypox outbreak. The hearing occurred on the tails of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) announced late last week.

California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) was established to allow for the recovery of all economic damages or out-of-pocket costs for medical expenses. In past years, there has been a push to amend this act. Most recently trial lawyers collected signatures for an anti-MICRA ballot measure which would allow for significant increases in the dollar amounts sought by plaintiffs in suits against medical providers and healthcare professionals.

April 28, 2022

US HHS Secretary Becerra extended the federal public health emergency for 90 days on April 12, placing the expiration – for now – at or around July 13-16. Becerra has previously promised to provide 60 days’ notice before ending the emergency.

On Wednesday, April 20, the California Department of Aging (CDA) hosted a results briefing on the Hubs and Spokes Network for Aging and Disability. The Hubs and Spokes initiative follows up on direction in the Master Plan for Aging to revisit California’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA) local leadership structures to meet the growing and changing needs and advance equity.

April 14, 2022

CSAC has recently taken support positions on a number of bills within the human services policy area. These bills would support foster children and youth, increase information sharing between county agencies, and further the ability of counties to provide services to older adults.

The California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS), in partnership with the Departments of Health Care Services, Managed Health Care, Public Health, Health Care Access and Information, and Office of the California Surgeon General, will host a webinar on March 15, 2022 to provide an overview of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), including goals, descriptions of initiative workstreams within departments, and stakeholder engagement plans.

Seven counties have opted into the nation’s first Contingency Management program, a rewards-based program to assist recovery from stimulant use disorders.

Contingency Management is an evidence-based program that combines motivational incentives such as gift cards and cash with behavioral health treatments for clients who attend frequent check-ins and abstain from stimulant use. It is currently the only intervention that is effective for methamphetamine use disorder, as there are no medications available.

Today, the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services wrapped up their initial round of hearings with a hearing dedicated to stakeholder budget requests. On the Assembly side, the initial human services budget hearings are focused on larger themes, such as anti-poverty and safety net programs, and will extend into April. Both subcommittees are essentially keeping all items open at this point and will revisit them and take votes around the time of the May Revision. This year, CSAC is co-sponsoring three human services budget proposals.

In 2020, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) notified stakeholders of their intent to begin the procurement process for commercial Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP) in 2021, with new contracts beginning January 2024. The procurement process provides the state an opportunity to clearly identify the vision and priorities of the state’s Medi-Cal program, outline what is expected of contracted health plans and providers, while strengthening the partnerships with the plans that will provide care to 12 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries throughout the state.

This week, the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) released an update of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Efforts.

The State has announced the third round of funding for launch-ready behavioral health infrastructure and adult or senior care facilities. Learn more about the Request for Application (RFA) process during a webinar on February 10, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Register by clicking here.

This week, the Newsom Administration released their draft of a statewide Extreme Heat Action Plan, aimed at better protecting communities during high heat events.

All counties are encouraged to register now for an important CalAIM webinar on Friday, December 17, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. to learn about the intersection between Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) and the CalAIM Incentive Payment Program (IPP) funding opportunities.

November 18, 2021

Governor Newsom met the October 10 deadline to take action on measures approved by the Legislature and delivered to his desk. To keep counties informed of new laws that impact them, CSAC will be publishing a series of articles to spotlight those laws in each policy area. This week, the Health and Human Services policy area provides information on new laws affecting local health, behavioral health and social services programs and services.

The new laws listed below become effective January 1, 2022 unless otherwise noted.

September 16, 2021

CSAC is awaiting the Governor’s action on a number of bills that fall under the health and human services policy area and will keep counties updated on the outcome of these measures. CSAC is requesting the Governor’s signature on several of these measures. Please see the list provided below.

Requesting Signature

September 9, 2021

The legislative vehicle to implement a statewide 9-8-8 behavioral health crisis line, AB 988 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, may be dead, but Governor Newsom is keeping California on track to meet the July 2022 federal deadline for implementation by earmarking $20 million for the project.

August 27, 2021

The California Department of Health Care Services, the California Department of Social Services, and the Judicial Council of California are hosting a webinar on Wednesday, September 15, 11 a.m. -1 p.m. The webinar will be an overview of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).

August 26, 2021

Earlier this week, “Comirnaty,” Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine received full authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose regimen has been distributed under an “emergency use authorization” for the past eight months. Following an in-depth review of trial data and millions of doses delivered, Comirnaty was approved, while the Moderna two-dose regimen and the single-dose Johnson&Johnson/Janssen product remain under emergency use authorization.

July 29, 2021