Contract Support Costs for Self-Determination Contracts
In a June 6, 2024 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Indian Health Service (IHS) must pay contract support costs (CSC) to tribes to cover the expenses tribes incur when they use income derived from other sources, such as Medicare and Medicaid payments, to further develop the health care activities...
Medi-Cal Requirements for Community Health Workers
In California, the demand for community health workers is growing, and the need for those service is expected to continue to outstrip availability. Since 2022, California has included community health worker services as a Medi-Cal benefit. DHCS in May 2024 updated its policies on employing community health workers serving Medicaid members and...
Contingency Management for Substance Use Disorder Treatment
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), contingency management is widely considered the most effective treatment for stimulant use disorder, and also shows promise as an effective treatment for other forms of substance use disorder. Contingency management involves providing incentives — such as modest financial amounts on a gift...
Medi-Cal Managed Care Protections for Indian Health Care Providers
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) in Feb. 2024 issued comprehensive guidance to assist Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCOs) in meeting their federal and state law obligations to Native American enrollees and to Indian health care providers that operate under 638 ISDA agreements. Among the topics the guidance addresses are...
Medi-Cal Guidance for Mobile Narcotic Treatment Programs
DHCS issued guidance in Jan. 2024 for operators of mobile narcotic treatment programs, which are becoming a more effective approach to providing care to persons with opioid use disorder living in remote areas. The DHCS guidance provides information on the requirements for operating mobile narcotic treatment programs under Medi-Cal.
Revised Federal Standards for Opioid Abuse Treatment Programs
According to HHS, in the 12-month period ending Jan. 2023, close to 110,000 persons died from overdoses. HHS issued final rules on Feb. 2, 2024 that make some of the most significant updates in close to 20 years to the standards for the operation of opioid use disorder treatment programs and the...
SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response Grants –Notice of Funding Opportunity
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) published a notice of funding available to assist in addressing the opioid overdose crisis in Tribal communities by increasing access to FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD), and supporting the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support...