Volume 6 | July - September 2024 | |
Quarterly News and Updates | |
The 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. | |
Chief of the Office of Family Planning,
Retired | |
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Christina Moreno, Chief for the OFP, is retiring from state service. She has served as Chief, OFP, since September 2013. Her last working day at DHCS was August 30, 2024.
During her tenure as the Chief of OFP, Christina directed the administration of the Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (Family PACT) program and Medi-Cal Family Planning program to establish uniform and evidence-based family planning and reproductive health policies. She steered numerous critical family planning policies such as the supplemental reimbursements for family planning services to Family PACT and Medi-Cal providers; remote enrollment of individuals into the Family PACT program; development of Family PACT program’s regulation package; in collaboration with DHCS’ Audits and Investigations, initiated program integrity activities to weed out fraud, waste, and abuse and ensure overall provider compliance in the Family PACT program; integration of Family PACT program’s paper provider enrollment application process into Medi-Cal's online Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) Portal; and under her guidance, the Family PACT program’s client enrollment and recertification transaction services will transition from the Health Access Programs Client Eligibility System to the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention System (CalHEERs), Family PACT Portal.
NEXT STEPS
Recruitment efforts will begin to fill this important role. Yingjia Huang, Assistant Deputy Director, Health Care Benefits and Eligibility, will provide interim leadership to OFP.
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As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing family planning and reproductive health services and access in California, we are excited to share important updates about the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Program Portal implementation.
What Is the Family PACT Portal:
The Family PACT Portal is a unique California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention System (CalHEERS) project that will become part of the CalHEERS ecosystem on January 13, 2025.
The Family PACT Portal will be made up of three portals: the Client portal, the Provider portal, and the Admin portal. The portals are designed to streamline Family PACT account, application, and eligibility processes for impacted system end-users.
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The Client portal will facilitate efficient management for applicants/clients by allowing them to create an account, apply for, and oversee their Family PACT enrollment easily online.
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The Provider portal will allow Family PACT providers to enroll and recertify applicants/clients into Family PACT.
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The Admin portal will allow the Office of Family Planning staff to assist providers and clients with account, application, and eligibility and will allow Covered California Service Center Representatives to assist with some specific account support items.
As a whole, the CalHEERS Family PACT portals are strategically developed to automate application, eligibility, and management procedures, ensuring an optimal experience for clients/applicants and providers.
What This Means for You:
As valued partners/collaborators in the health and well-being of Californians, your awareness and understanding of these changes are crucial. The Family PACT Portal represents our commitment to leveraging technology for better healthcare outcomes, ensuring that eligible individuals can access family planning and reproductive health services they need with ease and efficiency. In the coming months, we will provide more detailed information about the portal’s features and how you can and will engage with the system.
Connect With Your Family PACT Change Champions:
Change Champions are those who enthusiastically support the Family PACT system implementation. If you have any questions or concerns relating to the Family PACT system implementation, please reach out to one of the Change Champions listed below.
Change Champions:
- Lamont Weaver
- Dena Lee
- Greg Shigetoshi
Email: OFPStakeholder@dhcs.ca.gov
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Selected Family PACT Metrics Dashboard | | |
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New Resource! Introducing the Selected Family PACT Metrics Dashboard | |
This dashboard is a monitoring tool created to illustrate Family PACT Program performance and service utilization through selected sexual and reproductive health quality metrics. It contains data extracted from Family PACT claims for Fiscal Years 2016-17 to the current year of available data.
Quality measurement of these metrics is critical in understanding the impact of Family PACT processes that are associated with the Family PACT provider’s ability to provide high-quality, comprehensive care related to the standards established by this program. These goals include effective, safe, efficient, client-centered, equitable, and timely care.
Selected Family PACT Metrics Dashboard
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Medi-Cal and Family PACT Bulletins | | |
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Rate Updates for HCPCS Codes | |
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has updated rates for the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes J7304-U1, J3490-U6, and J3490-U8 for the Family PACT Program. These rates are effective for dates of service on or after April 1, 2024, and pertain to the following:
- Patch, contraceptive, hormone-containing, each ($39.41)
- Oral, levonorgestrel, 1.5 mg ($7.00)
- Injection, medroxyprogesterone acetate, 150 mg/ml ($39.11)
June 2024 Family PACT Bulletin 201
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Family PACT Coverage and Billing Guidance for Imported Extencilline | |
Effective for dates of service on or after January 16, 2024, the Family PACT Program will reimburse claims for imported Extencilline®(benzathine benzylpenicillin injection, powder, for suspension) to mitigate the ongoing shortages of Bicillin L-A® (penicillin G benzathine).
Family PACT coverage of benzathine benzylpenicillin (Extencilline) is restricted to nonpregnant persons with contraindications to doxycycline when used as a treatment for syphilis.
July 2024 Family PACT Bulletin 202
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Family PACT Provider Enrollment and Responsibilities Policy Updated | |
Effective July 16, 2024, the DHCS has updated the Family PACT Program’s provider enrollment and responsibilities policy with respect to the following:
- Site certifiers' roles and responsibilities
- Provider orientation
- Required trainings for site certifiers and practitioners
July 2024 Family PACT Bulletin 202
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Erroneous Family PACT Denials for E&M Codes | |
On October 2023, the Family PACT program published a policy update to allow for the billing of Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes 99204 and 99214 for males.
The DHCS is aware of claim denials occurring when providers attempt to bill E&M codes 99204 and 99214 without an approved Treatment Authorization Request (TAR). Providers are advised to continue to bill for these E&M codes accordingly. Further guidance will be provided in a future Family PACT update.
Medi-Cal News July Article
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Family Planning Patient Rights | |
Effective July 2024, the Family Planning Patient Rights was updated in the Program Standards (prog stand) section of the Policies, Procedures and Billing Instructions (PPBI) manual:
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Client Education Materials | | |
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Client Education Materials | |
Check out the newly updated client education materials in our library of family planning and reproductive health client education materials. All these resources are available to download in both English and Spanish.
Newly updated:
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The benefits of contraceptive implants include high efficacy, rapid reversibility, steady hormone release, and a discreet placement site. Find out how to counsel clients on the contraceptive implants.
Clinical Practice Alert: Contraceptive Implants
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Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment | |
The Family PACT Program covers chlamydia and gonorrhea screening, diagnosis, and treatment when provided in conjunction with the provision of family planning services, but not as a stand-alone service. Family PACT has adopted the current guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Clinical Practice Alert: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
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Addressing and Preventing Pain and Anxiety With IUD Placement | |
On September 17, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. PDT.
Many patients report that their intrauterine device (IUD) placement was uneventful and relatively comfortable. Others describe the experience as the worst pain of their life. We can't predict which patients will experience severe anxiety, pain, or trauma from IUD placement or removal. However, what we can do is universally address the potential for pain and anxiety with counseling and diverse management strategies. Data now confirms the effectiveness of cervical blocks and a variety of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management strategies to mitigate potential pain and anxiety with IUD placement and removal.
Register for the webinar
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Chosen Family: Contraception for Transgender and Gender Diverse People | |
On October 29, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PDT.
Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people represent a growing subset of patient populations, yet many continue to report a lack of provider knowledge when it comes to TGD health. This session will build on TGD health terminology and competency essentials by reviewing evidence-based recommendations for contraceptive counseling.
Register for the webinar
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Program Resources
Department of Health Care Services Office of Family Planning
(916) 650-0414
Family PACT Provider Enrollment Application: PAVE Portal
Online Training Center
Learning Management System
Family PACT Provider Locator
(800) 942-1054
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Email Directory
Provider enrollment and recertification inquiries:
Provider training and orientation inquiries:
General questions:
Stakeholder-related inquiries:
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