Medi-Cal Rx is the name given by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to this new system of how Medi-Cal pharmacy benefits will be administered through the Fee-for-Service delivery system. It means that Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans such Gold Coast & CenCal will no longer be administering these pharmacy services through their contractors. DHCS has contracted with Magellan Medicaid Administration, Inc. to take on that role. Watch this short video to learn more: https://vimeo.com/463983141
DHCS has started sending 90 & 60 days notifications to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Gold Coast and CenCal will be sending out 30 day notices to all their members. DHCS has been working with pharmacies to ensure they have signed up with Magellan by the end of the year. The managed care Medi-Cal medical providers/prescribers are also receiving the appropriate training by DHCS to prepare for this transition.
You can find the 90/60 Day Notice sent to all Medi-Cal beneficiaries in this link https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Documents/MRx-Beneficiary-Notice-10-01-2020.pdf
That letter will explain what families/individuals served should know about the transition in order to prepare for it.
There may be some concerns on behalf of the families/persons served about their current medications and whether or not these medications will continue to be covered by State Medi-Cal after 1-1-21.
The advice to families/persons served:
- To consult with their doctor about current medications they are taking and if they will be in the Fee-for-Service or State Medi-Cal formularies, or if the doctor may need to change the prescription to an alternative medication.
- To ask their current pharmacy if they have signed up with Magellan.
- If a family or person served has any questions regarding their medications or pharmacy services, they should call Gold Coast or CenCal Health Plans before 12-31-20. As of 1-1-21, they should be directing their questions to the Magellan Call Center Line (800) 977-2273 twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.