To commemorate Medi-Cal’s 50th anniversary, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has introduced a new design for the Benefits Identification Card (BIC) for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. This new design, featuring the California poppy, will be provided to newly eligible recipients and recipients requiring replacement cards. There are no plans to provide the new card to the entire Medi-Cal population.

Physicians are advised that both the old and the new card (to see both designs, click here) should be accepted by providers. Physicians are reminded, however, that they should continue to verify eligibility before every visit, as possession of a Medi-Cal BIC does not guarantee eligibility. For more information on verifying benefits, see the "Eligibility: Recipient Identification" section of the Part 1 provider manual.

The date to switch production to the new card for the remainder of the Medi-Cal population has not yet been determined.