The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) released an official September 22, 2026 Request for Information titled Request for Information (RFI) — Third-Party Administrator for Gender Affirming Care and Reproductive Health Programs. HCAI is seeking interested organizations with relevant experience to inform the potential administration and implementation of one or more of three state funding programs.
The underlying 2026-27 program allocations total $66 million: $30 million for the Uncompensated Care Program, $10 million for Gender Affirming Care Services for Children and Youth, and $26 million for the Gender Affirming Care Provider Network and Capacity fund. This $66 million is program funding and must not be interpreted as respondent compensation. The RFI requests budget information for planning purposes and states that such information is non-binding.
HCAI’s current program page states that the RFI opens September 22, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. and closes October 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The official RFI PDF lists responses due October 6, 2026 but does not state a time zone. Under Atlas verification rules, the exact deadline time zone remains unverified and must not be inferred.
Responses require a signed cover letter on organization letterhead identifying the primary contact and describing the organization’s interest, plus completed Attachment A. HCAI directs responses by email to genderaffirmingcare@hcai.ca.gov.
Attachment A asks for material organization-specific qualifications, including mission, years in business, staffing, services, experience in gender affirming and reproductive health, experience doing business with the State of California, relevant administrative/civil/criminal actions, leadership and board affiliations, grantmaking and rapid grant-cycle administration experience, grant volumes and funding administered, grantee-selection methods, fund-use monitoring, ability to advance funds, culturally competent TGI services, outreach to underserved communities, data privacy and evaluation practices, and at least two references from similar projects. The children and youth track also asks about clinical-service administration and payment, utilization management/prior authorization, equitable access and grievance/appeal processes, and pharmacy administration for hormones and puberty blockers.
HCAI states that this RFI is not a solicitation and is intended for information and planning, but also states that a response may be used by HCAI to form a binding contract and that HCAI may follow up with respondents to enter an agreement.
Atlas direct-vendor assessment: this is a genuine third-party administration / contracting RFI that warrants Marc’s decision before any response. Do not auto-submit a response in Marc’s name. Applicant-specific qualifications, references, legal disclosures, staffing, clinical/payment capabilities, and other representations must be verified rather than inferred. Keep the opportunity on Verification Hold until Marc decides whether Dr. Miltie or QC Healthcare should pursue it and the exact deadline time zone is authoritatively confirmed.