DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to the new webpage – No content changes.

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s).

What Changed?

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has implemented safeguards to ensure the retention of a Safe at Home (SAH) confidential mailing address in MEDS.  

The purpose of this document is to provide instructions on the process for updating MEDS with a SAH address.

SAH is a no-cost mail forwarding program that allows a participant’s home address to remain confidential.  Established by the Secretary of State on July 1, 2007, the program is designed to help victims or survivors of domestic violence and their families remain safe from an abusive situation by protecting their home address.

Enrollment into the program requires approval by the Secretary of State.  If approved, enrollees are assigned a designated SAH P.O. Box address, personalized four-digit identification (ID) number and provided a SAH ID card for use instead of their home address.  The assigned P.O. Box is utilized by multiple participants; therefore, the participant’s four-digit ID number must be included with the address to ensure receipt of any mailings.  Participants are assigned one of the four following P.O. Box addresses designated for the SAH program:

1. P.O. Box 1198, Sacramento CA 95812-1198-98-9
2. P.O. Box 1318, Sacramento CA 95812-1318-18-3
3. P.O. Box 1679, Sacramento CA 95812-1679-79-6
4. P.O. Box 2390, Sacramento CA 95812-2390-90-2

Although a SAH Sacramento address is utilized, the case is maintained by the county of residence.  For applicants/beneficiaries participating in the program, the assigned P.O. Box must be used instead of the residence address.  At no time should a SAH participant’s home address, if known, be entered in the LEADER Replacement System (LRS) or disclosed to the public.

It is important to maintain confidentiality of a SAH participant’s home address and ensure the assigned SAH address remains in MEDS while the beneficiary is participating in the program.

In order to protect the address in MEDS from being changed accidentally or automatically at reconciliation or renewal, the DHCS Medi-Cal Eligibility Division (MCED) and the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) have developed a process to protect the address and county of residence fields in MEDS.

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Confidentiality of Resident Address

• The assigned SAH P.O. Box and four-digit ID number must be used in lieu of the beneficiary’s address.
• At no time should a SAH participant’s home address be displayed in the LEADER Replacement System (LRS) or MEDS.

Note: If currently displayed, update LRS with the SAH address.

SAH Enrollment

• Participants must provide a copy of their SAH ID card to verify enrollment.
  • If not available, staff may call SAH toll-free at (877) 322-5227 with the  participant’s consent to verify.
• Participants must provide a certificate from the Secretary of State verifying disenrollment from the SAH program. 

Terminating a SAH Address in MEDS

A SAH address in MEDS can only be changed by designated DHCS staff.

Disclosure of Information

• A SAH participant's case information must remain confidential and not disclosed to the public.
• Any requests for disclosure of case information requires written authorization from the SAH participant.

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