Report 2020-613 Recommendation 5 Responses

Report 2020-613: Department of Health Care Services: Despite the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Department Can Do More to Address Chronic Medi‑Cal Eligibility Problems (Release Date: July 2021)

Recommendation #5 To: Health Care Services, Department of

To ensure that it is addressing weaknesses in the counties' processes for making eligibility redeterminations, Health Care Services should review data collected during the focus reviews it conducted in 2018 and 2019 to identify areas in policy for which further county guidance is needed and, by September 1, 2021, share a written summary of the identified concerns with all counties.

DHCS will analyze the data collected from focus reviews between 2018 and 2019 and share common trends with counties as of the implementation date.

On December 15, 2021, DHCS issued Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letter (MEDIL) No. 21-40.

This MEDIL serves as formal communication to counties of statewide error trends identified through the 2018-2019 Focus Reviews.

Link to the MEDIL: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/letters/Documents/I21-40.pdf

California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Fully Implemented

No change from the draft report response. DHCS will analyze the data collected from focus reviews between 2018 and 2019 and share common trends with counties as of the implementation date.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2020-613

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.