Solano County prepares to take over Drug Medi‑Cal services Jan. 1, 2027; officials stress continuity for clients

Emery Cohen, Solano County health and social services director, and Nathan Hobbs, deputy director of behavioral health, told the Board of Supervisors the county will assume administration of the Drug Medi‑Cal Organized Delivery System (DMCODS) from the Partnership Health Plan effective Jan. 1, 2027, to comply with CalAIM integration requirements. Cohen said the move is “a transition of responsibility” that aims to preserve existing services while bringing administrative functions in‑house.

Hobbs summarized the operational steps the county is taking to avoid service interruptions: converting the county mental‑health access line into an integrated behavioral health call center, cross‑training staff to handle both mental‑health and substance‑use calls, updating the electronic health record to support billing and claims, and using an expedited procurement process to offer short‑term contracts to current providers. “We plan to maintain our current access line phone number and hire additional staff to respond to the increased volume,” Hobbs said. He added the county has identified 11 contractors operating about 19 sites that collectively cover the required levels of care and that short‑term contracts would begin Dec. 1 to support continuity.

Board members pressed staff about how clients would learn about the change and whether providers would reliably communicate with members. Cohen and Hobbs said communication will include provider outreach, member letters, social media, and a potential town hall — and they emphasized that current clients should continue to receive care with the same providers during the transition. “If these are existing clients, we want to make sure the providers can relay that… ease their mind,” Cohen said.