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Medi-Cal Update 2025-8 Refugee Medical Assistance
Reduction of the Refugee Medical Assistance Period
| Date | References | Clerical | Implementation |
| 6/24/2025 | ACWDL 25-10 | N/A | 5/5/2025 |
Background
The Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) program is available to qualified refugees who are not eligible for other Medi-Cal programs or who would only be eligible with a Share of Cost (SOC). The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) determines the eligibility time period for this program.
Changes
In March 2025, the ORR announced the reduction of the eligibility period for RMA from twelve months to four months. This change applies to individuals whose eligibility start date is on or after May 5, 2025. For applications submitted prior to May 5, 2025, the eligibility period will remain twelve months. For applications submitted on or after May 5, 2025, the eligibility period for RMA will be four months. All other RMA eligibility requirements remain unchanged.
The following topics in the MC HB have been revised to reflect this change:
Beginning Date of Aid of RMA/EMA Eligibility,
MC Eligibility Determination for Refugees,
Retroactive RMA/EMA Eligibility,
Data Systems
CalSAWS will be updated in a future release (targeted for January 2026) to modify the RMA eligibility period from twelve to four months and to add the revised notices of action to the template repository. Until the system is updated, SSBS must generate and send a manual notice to inform the client when their RMA benefits are being approved or discontinued, and generate a manual Task for an SSBS to follow up and re-evaluate program eligibility on the first day of the fourth month.
Notices of Action
SSBS should generate the Free Format NOA (CSF 165) from the CalSAWS Template Repository, copy the verbiage from either the Approval of Refugee Assistance (RMA) (DHCS 7111) or the Discontinuance of Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) (DHCS 7110) located in the DEBS Forms Library, and paste the appropriate wording onto the CSF 165 for printing in CalSAWS. If a form or Notice of Action (NOA) is not available in the client's preferred language, send the English version along with the Notice of Language Services (GEN 1365).
Other Programs
This change only affects the Medi-Cal program.
Department of Employment & Benefits Services
Contact Person(s): Megan Turney, SSA BPIS, 408-755-7540