Quarterly News and Updates

June 2026

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Office of Family Planning (OFP) newsletter gives you the latest resources, news, and information in family planning and family planning-related services to support your important work for the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Program.

• Clinical Updates
• Upcoming Events & Training Opportunities
• Family PACT Program Enrollment & Portal Updates
• Family PACT Program Policy Updates & Reminders
• Medi-Cal Information & Bulletins
• Contact Us & Helpful Resources

June: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and 
National Men's Health Month

Male Partner Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment is a 
Medi-Cal and Family PACT Program Benefit

Family PACT Bulletin 224 | May 2026

Effective for dates of service on or after June 1, 2026, both Medi-Cal and the Family PACT Program will cover oral metronidazole and topical clindamycin for the treatment of male sexual partners of persons with bacterial vaginosis recurrence (BV). Male partner treatment for BV is not an Expedited Partner Therapy benefit.

Oral metronidazole and topical clindamycin are reimbursable with HCPCS codes S5000 (prescription drug, generic) and S5001 (prescription drug, brand name).

Clinical Resources:

• California Department of Public Health (CDPH): Clinical Recommendations for Male Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis (November 12, 2025)
• American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG): ACOG Recommends Concurrent Sexual Partner Treatment for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis for the First Time (October 17, 2025)

The Family PACT Policies, Procedures and Billing Instructions Manual (PPBI) has been updated accordingly:

• Benefits: Family Planning-Related Services (pp. 21, 25)
• Benefits Grid (pp. 32, 39)
• Clinic Formulary (p. 5)

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Contraceptive Access

OTC Contraceptive Access

Consistent with State law (Business and Professions Code sections 4052 and 4052.3 and Welfare and Institutions Code section 14132.968(b)(1)(C)), under the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) Medi-Cal and Family PACT programs:

• Eligible Medi-Cal members and Family PACT clients may go directly to a Medi-Cal-enrolled pharmacy to obtain over-the-counter (OTC) hormonal contraceptives (for example, birth control or emergency contraceptive pills) from a pharmacist;
• There is no requirement that a prescription first be obtained from their health care provider. Instead, a pharmacist can generate a record at point-of-sale akin to a prescription, which will satisfy federal requirements; and
• Pharmacists can furnish up to a 12-month supply of OTC hormonal contraceptives.

Covered Products

• Norgestrel 0.075 mg progestin-only birth control pill (Opill®)
• Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg emergency contraceptive pill (brand names include: Aftera®, EContra®, My Choice®, My Way®, Plan B One-Step®, Take Action®)

Cost

• Covered OTC hormonal contraceptives are available at no cost for enrolled Medi-Cal members and Family PACT clients.

How to Access

• Medi-Cal members and Family PACT clients can visit a participating pharmacy and ask their pharmacist about getting OTC hormonal contraceptives.

DHCS Resources

• Contact the Pharmacy Benefits Division: 
  medi-cal.pharmacybenefits@dhcs.ca.gov

Important Clinical Updates from the 
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

• Increase in Introductions of Clade I Mpox and Increases in Clade II Mpox Within California​
• June 15, 2026 - This Health Update informs health care providers of an increase in travel-related introductions of clade I mpox into California and the U.S.; there have also been an increase in clade II mpox cases in California. Increases in clade I community transmission in Western Europe suggest that additional travel-related clade I mpox cases should be expected in California. Clinicians should have a heightened index of suspicion for mpox and particularly for clade I mpox in individuals who report recent international travel or sexual or intimate contact with someone who recently traveled internationally, especially to an area where clade I is circulating. Mpox testing should be considered for patients with compatible signs and symptoms (PDF), regardless of vaccination status or previous infection. Providers should report suspect or confirmed clade I mpox cases immediately to their local health department and/or CDPH. Mpox vaccination with two doses is recommended for individuals who may be at risk for mpox including immune compromised individuals and is expected to protect against both clade I and clade II mpox or any subclades.​ 



• Clinical Recommendations for Recently Approved Oral Treatment Options for Uncomplicated Urogenital Gonorrhea (PDF)
• May 15, 2026 - This Dear Colleague Letter informs health care providers that the FDA has approved two novel oral antibiotics, gepotidacin (Blujepa) and zoliflodacin (Nuzolvence), for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonococcal infection in persons aged 12 and older, and provides CDPH recommendations for their use.

• Update on Bicillin® L-A (penicillin G benzathine injectable suspension) Shortage: Inventory Review and Clinical Guidance
• February 23, 2026 - This Health Update informs health care providers about the Bicillin L-A shortage and provides prioritization guidance and medication alternatives.
• Note that the estimated recovery for Bicillin L-A is now December 2027.

For more CDPH resources: CDPH Office of STIs and HCV Dear Colleague Letters, Health Alerts and Recommendations, All Facility Letters, and Funding Opportunities

Reminder: FDA Approves Updated Nexplanon^® Label and Launches New REMS

Family PACT Bulletin 224 | May 2026

Effective January 16, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Nexplanon® (68 mg etonogestrel implant), extending its approved use from 3 years to up to 5 years for pregnancy prevention. 

• Full Prescribing Information (for clinicians) and Patient Labeling have been updated accordingly.
• Clinical trial data (NCT04626596) showed zero pregnancies during years 4–5 and no new safety concerns across BMI ranges of 17.2 to 64.3 kg/m², including 38% with BMI ≥30 kg/m². 

All clinicians performing Nexplanon® insertions or removals must now complete FDA-required Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) certification.  

• Clinical Note:
• 2018, the insertion location changed from the sulcus between the biceps and the triceps muscles to the current insertion site, which is 3-5 cm posterior to (below) the sulcus. This decreases the risk of migration and neurovascular injury. This 2026 label change does not change the recommended insertion location. [See “Insertion Procedure” on page 5 of the Full Prescribing Information.]

•  Requirements of the Nexplanon® REMS program include:
• Healthcare providers must certify with the program by enrolling and completing training on the proper insertion and removal of Nexplanon® prior to first use. 

Instructions for providers to enroll and certify in the REMS program:

• Visit: https://www.nexplanonrems.com/

• Following review of the updated Prescribing Information and Healthcare Provider Guide, providers are to create a Nexplanon® REMS account, take a Knowledge Assessment, and complete an Enrollment Form to obtain REMS certification.

• The REMS enrollment period will run through August 23, 2026, for all Nexplanon-trained providers.
• Providers must complete enrollment by August 23, 2026, to continue procuring and inserting Nexplanon®. 

• Providers who have not been previously trained by Organon – or those who did not complete the 2018 re-training – can visit the Nexplanon® REMS website to enroll in the REMS program and receive information on the required training.
• All health care providers must receive instruction and training prior to performing insertion and/or removal of Nexplanon®.

Resources:

• Nexplanon® REMS: https://www.nexplanonrems.com/
• Updated FDA: Full Prescribing Information

IMPORTANT: Office of Family Planning Reminder

Family PACT Providers are required to offer the Nexplanon® contraceptive implant onsite. Each site enrolled in the Family PACT Program must identify, at a minimum, one clinician trained to provide Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services – including insertion and removal of the contraceptive implant – onsite. See Family PACT Policies, Procedures and Billing Instructions Manual (PPBI), Section Provider Enrollment and Responsibilities page 5.

April: STI Awareness Month 
May: Sex Ed for All Month and 
Hepatitis Awareness Month

Spring included several sexual and public health observances. April was Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month, followed by May’s Sex Ed for All Month and Hepatitis Awareness Month, creating an opportunity to elevate education, prevention, and access to care. These observances highlight the importance of accurate information, stigma-free conversations, and equitable resources to support healthier communities.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Office of STIs and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) offers comprehensive Sexual Health Toolkits and Campaign Materials that are designed to support clinicians, educators, and community partners in sharing accurate, stigma-free information. These ready-to-use materials make it easier to engage diverse audiences and promote healthier communities. Explore the toolkits and start sharing these resources with your networks.

Webinar:
What's New in STIs:

Testing, Treatment, and Prevention Updates

Family PACT Program Provider Orientation

Medi-Cal Provider Training Events: 
In-Person Claims Assistance Room

July & August 2026

2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines for the 
Family PACT Program

Family PACT Bulletin 223 | April 2026

Effective for dates of service on or after April 1, 2026, providers are to use the following income guidelines when determining recipient eligibility for the Family PACT Program. Recipients must have a family/household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline.

2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines by Income and Family/Household Size

The PPBI Manual has been updated:

OFP has new and updated Family PACT Portal Site Certifier and Provider Staff Job Aids and Trainings on the Online Training Center. These updates reflect recent enhancements to the Family PACT Portal and provide guidance on the updated Site Certifier and Provider Staff Modules, which cover the new and updated processes and key functionalities. Please review the following Portal Job Aids and Trainings:

Site Certifier & Provider Staff Job Aids:

1.     Global Header (updated)

2.     Client Application (updated)

3.     Client Dashboard (updated)

4.     Client Management (updated)

5.     Report A Change (RAC) Recertify, Reapply, & Discontinue (updated)

6.     FPACT Notifications (NEW)

7.     Override Eligibility Date Request (NEW)

Site Certifier & Provider Staff Trainings:

1.     Module 1 - Introduction (updated)

2.     Module 7 - Client Application (updated)

3.     Module 8 - Navigate the Client Management & Client Details Page (updated)

4.     Module 10 - Provider Staff: Override Eligibility Date Request (NEW)

5.     Module 11 - Site Certifier: Override Eligibility Date Request (NEW)

To access the updated and new Portal Job Aids, please visit the Family PACT Portal Resources.

Family PACT Portal Enhancements Announcement - April 2026

The following enhancement updates went live on April 6, 2026:

• The Restricted Scope Medi‑Cal question has been added back to the Other Health Coverage section.
• New Override Eligibility Date Request function allows backdating eligibility up to 90 days (with required reason).
• Updated job aids available on the Portal Resources webpage and in the Online Training Center.

Family PACT HCPCS Code Rate Update for 
2026 Quarter 2

Family PACT Bulletin 225 | June 2026



Effective for dates of service on or after April 1, 2026, the rates for the following HCPCS codes have been updated for the Family PACT Program for the second quarter of 2026.

An Erroneous Payment Correction (EPC) will be implemented to reprocess claims with dates of service on or after the effective date of this billing policy, that were appropriately submitted based on the guidance published in this article but erroneously paid because Medi-Cal had not yet implemented the system changes to support appropriate adjudication. Providers may also elect to use this updated billing policy to correct and resubmit previously denied claims as described in the CIF Submission and Timeliness Instructions section of the Provider Manual.

The PPBI Manual has been updated:

Medi-Cal Program & Eligibility Bulletin 47 | June 2026

Per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate, providers that bill for goods and/or services ordered, referred or prescribed by another provider are required to list the National Provider Identifier (NPI) of the provider who ordered, referred or prescribed the goods or services being billed on the Medi-Cal claim. The ordering, referring and prescribing (ORP) provider must be enrolled as a participating provider in Medi-Cal and Type 1 (Individual) NPI even if the provider does not send claims directly to Medi-Cal for the goods or services they furnish.

Medi-Cal providers are strongly encouraged to share this information and work directly with their unenrolled ORP providers to take proactive action and submit a provider enrollment application through the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS’) Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) portal to enroll with their Type 1 (Individual) NPI.

Note:

Providers and billers can check the Profile of Enrolled Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service (FFS) Providers web page on the California Health and Human Services Open Data Portal website to verify enrollment.

In situations where an ordering, referring, and/or prescribing NPI is required, it is crucial that billing providers adopt a process to ensure a valid and active Medi-Cal enrolled ORP NPI is on the Medi-Cal claim for the date of service billed to avoid claim denials. If the Medi-Cal claim is not accompanied by an ORP NPI upon enforcement, the claim may be denied.

Note: All secondary NPI (Ordering, Referring, Rendering, Attending and Admitting) on the Medi-Cal claim must be a valid Type 1 (Individual) NPI on the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) file and an active Medi-Cal provider enrolled through Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) for the date of service billed.

For more information on billing Medi-Cal claims, refer to the 837 implementation guidelines and/or the UB-04 Completion: Outpatient Services, UB-04 Completion: Inpatient Services and CMS-1500 Completion sections of the Provider Manual.

To align with CMS, DHCS plans to begin enforcing this mandate using a phased approach. More information will be released as soon as it is available.

The Medi-Cal Subscription Service (MCSS) is a free service that keeps you up-to-date on the latest Medi-Cal news. Subscribers receive subject-specific emails shortly after urgent announcements and other updates are posted on the Medi-Cal website.

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