Workforce Development

DMC-ODS and CalAIM have transformed the specialty SUD service system for Medi-Cal clients, raising expectations for the SUD workforce in areas such as clinical quality, documentation, and outcomes. SAPC has made SUD workforce development a priority in advancing the SUD field.

SAPC’s Value-Based Incentives (VBI) funds are specifically intended to support provider agencies in hiring, retaining, and preparing staff for future value-based care models. These funds are designed to ensure the workforce is equipped and prepared to serve an increasingly complex patient population to succeed in a treatment environment where measurable outcomes will drive future reimbursement.

• Employee Benefits Package- (2-A)

  Description	This incentive reimburses provider agencies for offering a baseline benefits package: medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, and a retirement match. It also offers additional payments for enhanced incentive offerings, which include flexible work schedules, wellness programs, stipend for transportation, childcare, student-loan repayment, or 401(k) match on loan payments, and life insurance. Provider agencies must offer three of the six enhanced incentives mentioned above to qualify for the additional incentive amount. The incentive aims to stabilize the SUD workforce, improve recruitment and retention, and support long-term system sustainability.
  Eligibility	Open to all contracted treatment provider agencies.
  Other Criteria	Not applicable
  Invoicing/Submission Guidelines	Implement activity and submit required documentation by 3/31/26: Invoice Form Employee Benefits Package Provider Agency Checklist Organizational policy, Human Resources (HR) documentation, and/or other documentation illustrating the benefits offered with the option of opting out of benefits. Guidance Documents: Employee Benefits Package How to Guide Employee Benefits Package Resource Document
  Payment	$45,000 one-time payment If a provider agency offers an enhanced employee benefit package, it will receive an additional $10,000 one-time payment.
• SUD Counselors Minimum Wage- (2-B)

  Description	The provider agency must demonstrate that it offers a $23 per hour minimum wage for all SUD Registered Counselors employed by the agency across all programs and funding streams. This includes agencies that implemented it in FY 2024-25.
  Eligibility	Open to all contracted treatment provider agencies.
  Other Criteria	A minimum wage floor of $23 per hour must be implemented for all staff who hold the SUD Registered Counselor credential, regardless of job function. The $5,000 per counselor incentive is only available to SUD Registered Counselors employed under a Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) contract.
  Invoicing/Submission Guidelines	New Policy: For provider agencies implementing the $23 per hour minimum wage as a new policy in FY 2025-26, implement the activity and submit the following required documentation by 03/31/26: Invoice Form SUD Registered Counselor Minimum Wage Submission Form (New Providers Only) Organizational Human Resources (HR) policies or other documentation reflecting the minimum $23 per hour wage. Documentation showing payment to each SUD Registered Counselor included in the invoice at the $23 per hour minimum wage. This documentation must include the employee’s name, pay rate, and pay date. Continued Policy: For provider agencies that implemented the $23 per hour minimum wage in FY 2024-25 through SAPC, submit the following required documentation by 03/31/26: Invoice Form Signed attestation form confirming continued implementation of the $23 per hour minimum wage (sent by SAPC staff)
  Payment Rates	New Policy: For provider agencies that implement a new SUD Registered Counselor minimum wage policy in FY 2025-26: $5,000 per SUD Registered Counselor employed under a DMC-ODS contract. Continued Policy: For provider agencies that completed the SUD Registered Counselor minimum wage incentive in FY 2024-25 and continue to implement the policy, an additional one-time payment is available based on the number of approved counselors in FY 2024-25: 0-10 Registered Counselors: $20,000 11-25 Registered Counselors: $40,000 25+ Registered Counselors: $60,000
• Bilingual Bonus- (2-C)

  Description	This incentive supports provider agency efforts to recruit and retain bilingual direct service staff staff (e.g. Licensed Practitioners of the Healing Arts [LPHA], Licensed Eligible LPHA [LE-LPHA]) in efforts to increase language matching, which has been demonstrated to improve client engagement and service retention. LPHA Direct Service Bilingual Staff – Refers to licensed and license-eligible psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and clinical counseling practitioners who currently or will be able to offer direct services in at least one identified non-English threshold language and who have demonstrated proficiency in that language. SUD Counselor/Peer Direct Service Bilingual – Refers to registered/certified SUD counselors and peer support specialists who currently or will be able to offer direct services in at least one identified non-English threshold language and who have demonstrated proficiency in that language.
  Eligibility	Treatment provider agencies who DID NOT participate in FY 2024-25, must complete a Language Access Plan Worksheet to be eligible.
  Other Criteria	Participating Provider Agencies must: Indicate interest in providing individual and group counseling services in the languages. Ensure direct service staff receiving the bilingual bonus have evidence of language proficiency, as demonstrated by standardized tests, at the Advanced level in speaking and listening. Submit required documentation by the 10th of the month for the prior quarter (see below)
  Invoicing/Submission Guidelines	Provider agencies that have not previously completed a Language Access Plan Worksheet must complete one by 07/07/25. Guidance documents: Bilingual Bonus Submission Guide To receive funds each quarter, provider agencies submit the following required documents: Invoice Form Completed Bilingual Bonus Submission Form – One form per treatment provider agency Evidence of Language Proficiency for Eligible Direct Service Staff Proof that the staff person was paid the bilingual bonus Bilingual Bonus Differential Supplemental Form- For use only if provider agency provides differential pay Guidance documents pending Deadlines: Language Access Worksheet (only for provider agencies that have not previously completed) - Due 07/07/25 Submission 1: Q1 (July 2025 – September 2025) - Due 10/10/25 Submission 2: Q2 (October 2025 – December 2025) - Due 01/10/26 Submission 3: Q3 (January 2026 – March 2026) - Due 04/10/26 Important Notice: Q4 (April 2026-June 2026) not reimbursed by SAPC
• LPHA Sign-On/Loyalty & Retention Bonus- (2-D)

  Description	This incentive supports provider agency hiring and retaining qualified licensed and license-eligible Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Clinical Counselors, and Clinical Psychologists.
  Eligibility	Sign-On/Loyalty Bonus: Provider agencies that did not participate in FY 2024-25 are eligible to participate in the Sign-On/Loyalty Bonus component. Funds can be used as either sign-on bonuses for prospective staff or loyalty bonuses for current LPHA/LE-LPHA staff. Retention Bonus: Only LPHAs who received a bonus payment in FY 2024-25 through the SAPC LPHA Sign-on/Loyalty Bonus Capacity building activity are eligible. For LPHAs who received a Sign-On Bonus Payment in FY 2024-25, continued employment as an LPHA must be verified by 3/31/26 to be eligible. SAPC will send a supplemental LPHA Retention Bonus form detailing a list of eligible LPHA staff.
  Other Criteria	Eligible staff must bill to the DMC-ODS contract. % FTE (full-time equivalent) is calculated based on % of total time billed to the DMC-ODS contract. LPHA must have a minimum of 0.5 FTE billed to the DMC-ODS contract to be eligible for the part-time bonus of $2,500. LPHA must have a minimum of 1.0 FTE billed to the DMC-ODS contract to be eligible for the full-time bonus of $5,000. Only the following licensure types are eligible: Licensed and Licensed-Eligible Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Clinical Counselors, and Clinical Psychologists.
  Invoicing/Submission Guidelines	Submit the following required documents by 3/31/26: Sign-On/Loyalty Bonus: Invoice Form LPHA Sign-On/Loyalty Bonus supplemental form Documentation of bonus payment for each eligible employee Retention Bonus Invoice Form LPHA Retention Bonus supplemental form (sent from SAPC staff) Documentation of bonus payment to each employee
  Payment	$2,500 per eligible part-time LPHA (0.5 FTE) $5,000 per eligible full-time LPHA (1.0 FTE)
• MAT Prescribing Clinician Cost Sharing- (2-E)

  Description	This incentive encourages provider agencies to expand Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) by supporting the costs of prescribers. It has two parts. Part 1: Approved Implementation Plan or Addendum: Up to 75% of funds disbursed. This incentive offers a cost-sharing opportunity alongside the treatment provider agency’s financial investments to recruit, retain, and utilize medical clinicians as members of the provider agency’s treatment team to provide addiction medication services - also known as MAT - directly to patients served by SAPC-contracted provider agencies and paid via claims to SAPC. Part 2: Verified Program Participation: Up to 25% of funds disbursed. SAPC will internally verify provider agency participation and submission of required deliverables (see below). SAPC will notify agencies by 6/30/26 if they successfully completed these required deliverables and related issuing of funds.
  Eligibility	Part 1: Implementation Plan/Addendum: No Prerequisites. Open to all contracted treatment provider agencies. Part 2: Verified Program Participation: To participate in this component, provider agencies are required to have an approved Implementation Plan or Addendum.
  Other Criteria	Successful completion of all required reporting, including Quarterly Progress Reports workflow development, organizational readiness self-assessments, and attendance of all the necessary activities, technical assistance trainings, and meetings.
  Invoicing/Submission Guidelines	Guidance Documents: Instructions for MAT Prescribing Clinician Start-Up Cost Sharing Part 1: Implementation Plan/Addendum Submission and Approval. (75% of funds issued). Implementation Plan Provider Agencies without an Implementation Plan approved before 7/01/25 Invoice form MAT Prescribing Clinician Start-Up Cost Sharing Implementation Plan (Non-OTP) MAT Prescribing Clinician Start-Up Cost Sharing Implementation Plan (OTP Only) OR Addenda Provider Agencies with an approved Implementation Plan before 7/01/25 who seek to expand the number of medical clinician hours beyond the original approved plan Invoice Form MAT Prescribing Clinician Start-Up Cost Sharing Addendum (Non-OTP) MAT Prescribing Clinician Start-Up Cost Sharing Addendum (OTP Only) Part 2: No Action Needed from Provider Agencies. Verified Program Participation for 25% of funds issued 6 months following Implementation Plan/Addenda approval.
  Payment	Start-up funding is available to all DMC-ODS provider agencies at a ratio of $200,000 per 40 hours per week of MAT prescribing clinician time, distributed in 2 payments: Part 1: Due 9/30/25 Part 2: No Action Needed from Provider Agencies. SAPC will internally verify provider agency participation on 3/31/26 and will notify provider agencies by the end of the fiscal year of the status.