COVID-19 Medi-Cal Response

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) continues to closely monitor and respond to COVID-19, and is providing information on this web page to all providers as a reminder of recommended safety procedures and protocols from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to help prevent spread of COVID-19. Providers are encouraged to check this page for regular updates to the Medi-Cal response to COVID-19, as well as the Medi-Cal homepage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Uninsured Group Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Articles

• CPT Code 86413 Reimbursement Rate Update
• Reimbursement Rates are Updated for COVID-19 Testing
• COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program Retroactive Applications
• COVID-19 Quantitative Antibody Test Added as a Medi-Cal Benefit
• CPT Codes 86408 and 86409 for COVID-19 Testing are Medi-Cal Benefits
• COVID-19 Uninsured Group Application Portal Qualified Provider Information
• CPT Code for COVID-19 Testing Exempt from AB 97 10 Percent Payment Reduction
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Uninsured Group Application Portal: Soft Launch
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Section Now Available
• CPT Code for COVID-19 Testing Now a CLIA-Waived Test
• Important News about Women’s Health Services
• Extended Application Window for HHS Provider Relief Fund Distribution to Medi-Cal and California CHIP
• Suicide Prevention Screening Resource Now Available
• 24/7 Free Medi-Nurse Call Line Launches for COVID-19 Questions: (877) 409-9052
• CCS Service Code Groupings Update for COVID-19 Services
• New CPT Code for COVID-19 Testing Added as a Medi-Cal Benefit
• 24/7 Free Medi-Nurse Call Line for COVID-19 Questions
• TAR Required for Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine for COVID-19 Treatment
• Reimbursement for Associate Clinical Social Worker and Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Services for FQHCs and RHCs
• New Policy Changes to the Hospital Presumptive Eligibility Program
• New COVID-19 Specimen Collection Rate
• Six-Prescription Limit Temporarily Suspended
• Removed TAR Requirement for Select Cold/Cough and Acetaminophen Products
• COVID-19 Specimen Collection is a New Medi-Cal Benefit
• Substance Use Disorder Medication Flexibilities During COVID-19
• Additional Guidance on Presumptive Eligibility (PE) for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• CLIA Waived Status Available to Certified Providers for COVID-19 Testing
• PE for COVID-19 Billing Instructions for FQHCs/RHCs/IHS-MOAs
• Updated Designation of Categorical Risk Levels for LA County Pharmacies
• COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing and Treatment-Related Services
• Resuming California's Deferred and Preventive Health Care
• Temporary Suspension of In-Person Signature Requirement for Delivered Medications
• Well-Child Visits During COVID-19
• May 2020 Medi-Cal Provider Seminar Cancelled
• Updated Billing Instructions for Certain COVID-19 Services
• Additional Instructions for PE for COVID-19 and PE for Pregnant Women Aid Code 7F
• New Presumptive Eligibility for COVID-19: Aid Code – V2
• New HCPCS codes for COVID-19 Diagnosis
• Family PACT Provider FAQs during COVID-19
• Family PACT Update: DMPA-SQ Administration Guidelines
• DMPA-SQ Administration Guidelines Update
• Updated Rate for New COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing CPT Code 87635
• Coverage of Emergency COVID-19 Inpatient or Outpatient Services
• Specimen Collection for COVID-19 Now Medi-Cal Benefit
• Off-label and Investigational Drugs to Treat COVID-19
• Medi-Cal Fee-For-Service (FFS) Mitigating Health Impacts of Secondary Stress due to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency
• Medi-Cal Fee-For-Service (FFS) Prior Authorization Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities Relative to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Every Woman Counts (EWC) Primary Care Provider (PCP) Information Notice Program Update Regarding COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
• Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women (PE4PW) Flexibilities due to COVID-19
• Hospital Presumptive Eligibility (HPE) Flexibilities due to COVID-19
• Child Health and Disability Program (CHDP) Gateway Flexibilities due to COVID-19
• Paper Remittance Advice Details (RAD) Print Delay)
• Update to Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Family PACT Providers
• Medi-Cal Fee-For-Service (FFS) Pharmacy Benefit Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities Relative to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• New ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code for COVID-19
• Family PACT: Virtual/Telephonic Communications
• Requirements and Procedures for Emergency Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment
• Suspension of Walk-Up Claim and Correspondence Delivery Due to COVID-19
• Utilization Management for Family PACT Providers During Coronavirus
• Notice to Providers for the Cancellation of Upcoming Provider Seminars
• State of California Coronavirus Awareness Website Launch
• Medi-Cal Payment for Telehealth and Virtual/Telephonic Communications Relative to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Information for Indian Health Care Providers regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• COVID-19 Medi-Cal Services and Telehealth Notice
• COVID-19 Guidance for NEMT and NMT Providers
• COVID-19 Lab Tests are New Medi-Cal Benefits
• Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Benefit Reminders and Clarifications

Manual Sections

• Medicine: Telehealth (medne tele)
• Medical Transportation – Ground (mc tran gnd)
• Pathology: Microbiology (path micro)
• Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) (rural)
  
• Indian Health Services (IHS), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) 638, Clinics (ind health)

Other Resources

• California COVID-19 website
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• DHCS Section 1135 Waiver Request
• To receive ongoing updates, providers should sign up for the Medi-Cal Subscription Service (MCSS) as well.