Update Published December 9, 2020
Given the ongoing challenges and constantly evolving health care landscape associated with the unprecedented COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in partnership and collaboration with Magellan Medicaid Administration, Inc. (Magellan), has decided to lengthen the time for the full implementation of the transition to Medi-Cal Rx by three (3) months. DHCS and Magellan will continue to dedicate their combined efforts and rigorous preparations towards Assumption of Operations (AOO) for Medi-Cal Rx on April 1, 2021. In the interim, all current processes and protocols, both effectuated by DHCS and our Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs), respectively, will remain unchanged and in place until Medi-Cal Rx launches. More information on this extension can be found in the article titled “Medi-Cal Lengthens Transition Time to Full Implementation – Go-Live on April 1, 2021” that published on November 16, 2020.
Original Published September 24, 2020
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) began publishing articles regarding the Medi-Cal Rx program in April 2020, this is the fifth article in the series. The intent of these articles is to ensure Medi-Cal providers, and other interested parties, are better informed as to the upcoming Medi-Cal Rx transition.
The Medi-Cal Rx transition of all administrative services related to Medi-Cal pharmacy benefits billed on pharmacy claims from the existing intermediaries, Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service (FFS) or Managed Care Plans (MCPs), to the new Medi-Cal Rx vendor, Magellan Medicaid Administration, Inc. (Magellan), goes into effect January 1, 2021.
Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal
DHCS, in partnership with Magellan, have created a comprehensive Medi-Cal Rx website. This website provides a publicly available portal for beneficiaries, pharmacy providers, prescribers, DHCS and other stakeholder users. The Medi-Cal Rx website houses Medi-Cal Rx information, tools and resources that are available through secure and unsecured links.
As previously announced, the functionality for the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal is being implemented in stages. The first stage, which implemented June 2020, introduced public-facing features and content. Providers and beneficiaries can visit the site to review current program information and sign up for the Medi-Cal Rx Subscription Service (MCRxSS). This is a free service that keeps the public up to date on the latest Medi-Cal Rx news.
The next stage, which will be implemented in the coming weeks, will give interested parties access to bulletins and manuals for newly added features. Medi-Cal Rx is now enhancing the Web Portal and will introduce the secure provider portal. MCPs and providers will have the ability to sign up for training and education events through this secure portal.
To enable access to the secure provider portal, all providers are required to first complete registration for the User Administration Console (UAC) application.
Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal Registration
Medi-Cal Web Portal registration will be conducted in a two-step process. The first step will be for providers to register for the UAC application. The second step is registering for a UAC training session.
All Medi-Cal Rx providers can complete registration to access the Medi-Cal Rx Secure Web Portal via the UAC application at www.Medi-CalRx.dhcs.ca.gov. The secure section of the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal will be the place to go starting on January 1, 2021, to access the Prior Authorization system, chat and messaging features, beneficiary look-up tool, and web and batch claims submission.
Starting on January 1, 2021, Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy providers and their staff who do not have a point-of-sale (POS) system can request access to the Web Claims Submission application. To access Web Claims Submission, providers will need to visit and/or return to the UAC application at www.Medi-CalRx.dhcs.ca.gov to add this access.
All Medi-Cal Rx providers, including pharmacies, prescribers and their staff, will need to complete secure Web Portal registration in order to access education and outreach training calendars, training course enrollment and resources located in the Learning Management System (LMS), Saba. All education and outreach events will be posted in a calendar on Saba and providers will have the ability to enroll in web-based instructor-led or computer-based training. The Saba LMS is now available. To access Saba, providers will need to utilize the UAC application at www.Medi-CalRx.dhcs.ca.gov.
Training Information - UAC
UAC is a registration tool that controls and manages the user’s access to the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal and associated applications. You will designate a single point of contact to manage employee access to the secured Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. This contact is known as a Delegated Administrator. This individual will register and create a single User ID and password to become the Delegated Administrator for one or more pharmacy providers or prescribers. Those users who will become Delegated Administrators may register for access to the new UAC by navigating to www.Medi-CalRx.dhcs.ca.gov and clicking the Provider Portal button. Once on the Provider Portal page, click the Register button on the upper-right side of the screen. Complete documentation for creating and managing users through the UAC is provided online within the application by clicking the Help button and viewing the User Guide.
Training sessions for the UAC will be offered via a series of computer-based tutorials (CBT) and job aids with step-by-step instructions. If additional help is needed to register outside of the self-directed training resources, you can elect to attend an Office Hours session with our Education and Outreach team via Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) MyRoom. To register to attend an Office Hours session, please e-mail the Medi-Cal Rx Education and Outreach Team at MediCalRxEducationOutreach@MagellanHealth.com and provide the following information in your e-mail:
- Name of Individual
- Provider Name
- NPI
- Phone number
- E-mail address
- Preferred date and time of Office Hours session
UAC Office Hours
Dates |
Times |
Thursday, September 10 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Tuesday, September 15 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Thursday, September 17 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Tuesday, September 22 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Thursday, September 24 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Tuesday, September 29 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Training Information - Saba
The Medi-Cal Rx Learning Management System (LMS), Saba, is your one-stop shop for education and outreach information. Topics to be covered during the training session include how to view the education and outreach events calendar, how to register to attend an event or take an online course and how to complete evaluations of training effectiveness.
Training sessions for Saba will be offered via a series of CBTs and job aids with step-by-step instructions. In addition, our Education and Outreach team will offer live, webinar sessions via Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) MyRoom. To register to attend a live webinar, please e-mail the Medi-Cal Rx Education and Outreach at MediCalRxEducationOutreach@MagellanHealth.com and provide the following information in your e-mail:
- Name of Individual
- Provider Name
- NPI
- Phone number
- E-mail address
- Preferred date and time of Saba training session
Saba Training Sessions
Dates |
Times |
Monday, September 14 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Wednesday, September 16 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Monday, September 21 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Wednesday, September 23 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Monday, September 28 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Wednesday, September 30 |
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Other Web-Based Application Training
Additional training courses on the Medi-Cal Rx web-based applications will be offered throughout the coming months. Access Saba to see a calendar of education and outreach events, to register for those training sessions and to access resource documentation. Additional applications will become available in the coming months. The timeline below illustrates when providers will be able to add access to these applications through the UAC:
Other Web-Based Application Training
Dates |
Courses |
Thursday, October 1, 2020 |
Users can start registering for Medi-Cal Rx Secure Web Portal access. |
Friday, January 1, 2021 |
Web Claims Submission application for providers without a POS system. |