Senate Sub. 3 Examines DHCS Budget Items, Including CalAIM

The Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services today convened a hearing to examine proposed budget investments under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Today’s hearing included presentations from DHCS Director Will Lightbourne and State Medicaid Director Jacey Cooper, representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).

Subcommittee members reviewed a number of issues, including COVID-19 impacts on the Medi-Cal program, Medi-Cal telehealth policy changes and remote patient monitoring, and delay or repeal of program and benefit suspensions. Notably, the subcommittee examined the Newsom Administration’s California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal, including the requested expenditure authority of $1.1 billion for local assistance costs. Subcommittee members discussed the sweeping changes proposed under the CalAIM initiative, including enhanced care management services, in lieu of services, and the role of managed care plans in coordinating and delivering services to beneficiaries. The subcommittee additionally discussed at length DHCS’ proposed investments related to behavioral health services.

All items were held open for action at a later date. The hearing agenda is available here.