Physicians are reminded that California’s new Medi-Cal managed care contracts took effect on January 1, 2024. As a result, approximately 1.2 million Medi-Cal patients will have transitioned to a new a new health plan, and in some counties Medi-Cal patients were given the option to select from more than one plan.

While it is always a best practice to verify patients’ benefits and eligibility with the start of a new year, this year doing so becomes even more important to ensure you will be paid for services rendered.

Recently, the California Medical Association and California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) held a webinar to help physicians understand and prepare for the managed care plan transition. This webinar, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Transition in January 2024 - What Physicians Should Know, is available free for on-demand viewing at cmadocs.org/webinars. The webinar provides an overview of the transition, including health plan changes by county, the enrollee continuity of care policy, and physician and patient resources available. 

DHCS also published a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Transition Policy Guide, which includes a table that lists Medi-Cal managed care plan changes that took effect January 1, 2024, and relevant transition-related policies by county.

Physicians with questions can contact CMA's Center for Economic Services at (800) 786-4262 or economicservices@cmadocs.org.