Report 2023-103 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2023-103: The Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program: The Lack of Usage Data Prevents the State From Knowing How Often Medi‑Cal Members Receive Perinatal Care (Release Date: February 2024)

Recommendation #3 To: Public Health, Department of

To ensure effective program oversight and to acknowledge that nearly all Medi-Cal members use managed care plans, Public Health and Health Care Services should, by January 2025, collaborate to update regulations related to the perinatal program. The regulations should include, at a minimum, a clarification of the roles and responsibilities of each department and adjustments to the current monitoring and oversight systems as described individually below to ensure that the departments provide sufficient oversight of the perinatal program.

6-Month Agency Response

Public Health and Health Care Services have regularly scheduled meetings, and this audit recommendation is a standing agenda item. Public Health and Health Care Services will continue to collaborate to ensure Medi-Cal members have access to a comprehensive suite of pregnancy and pregnancy-related services and support, inclusive of those covered under the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP). Ultimately, by January 2025, Public Health and Health Care Services will collaborate to clarify roles and responsibilities and identify the necessary changes to CPSP-specific statues and regulations and the timing by which the changes can be promulgated.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Health Care Services and Public Health have regularly scheduled monthly meetings and this recommendation will be a standing agenda item. Over the coming months, Health Care Services and Public Health will continue to collaborate to ensure Medi-Cal members have access to perinatal services. By January 2025, Health Care Services and Public Health will collaborate to identify any necessary changes to the California Code of Regulations Title 22 (Comprehensive Perinatal Services' regulations) or other statutes to clarify, at a minimum, respective roles and responsibilities of our departments, and the timing by which such changes can be promulgated. Health Care Services and Public Health will continue to provide updates on this front.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2023-103

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.