June 26, 2026

Report Highlights Record Enrollment, Expanding Provider Networks, and Strong Cost-Effectiveness of Community Supports

SACRAMENTO —The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today released the latest quarterly report on Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports. These services help Medi-Cal members stay healthier and avoid other, costlier health care services, such as emergency department visits and hospital stays. These data from July through September 2025 (Q3 2025) and a recent report highlight the continued expansion and impact of these services for Medi-Cal members.
 
“The continued growth of ECM and Community Supports reflects the strength of our statewide partnerships and the dedication of the care managers, providers, and community organizations who show up for Medi-Cal members every day,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “These services are strengthening stability, dignity, and health for members across the state.”
 
KEY FINDINGS FROM THE Q3 2025 REPORT:

• Nearly 453,000 Medi‑Cal members have received ECM services since 2022, with nearly 227,500 members served in Q3 2025 alone—an increase of 59 percent from Q3 2024.
• Growth is especially strong among children and youth, whose participation increased 90 percent over Q3 2024.
• ECM enrollment rose 56 percent among adults living in the community and at risk of long‑term care, and by 83 percent among youth at risk of avoidable hospital or emergency department use.
• Managed care plans have significantly expanded ECM provider networks, adding more providers serving adults at risk of long‑term care and children and youth with the highest needs. DHCS continues to encourage plans to fully utilize contracted providers and ensure services are delivered at the appropriate level of intensity.
• More than 528,000 members have accessed Community Supports since launch, with more than 1.5 million services delivered.
  Nearly 191,000 members used Community Supports in Q3 2025, up 40 percent from last year.
• Statewide availability has expanded, with 94 percent of Medi-Cal members having access to at least 10 Community Supports and 78 percent having access to all 15.
• The most frequently used services remain Medically Tailored Meals/Medically Supportive Food (MTM/MSF) and the Housing Trio: Housing Navigation, Housing Deposits, and Tenancy Support.
• Assisted Living Facility Transitions saw the largest increase in use to date, rising 74 percent this quarter as more members received support transitioning to community living.

ECM offers California’s highest level of care management, pairing members with a Lead Care Manager who coordinates physical, behavioral, and social services to support stability and improve health outcomes. Community Supports are cost-effective, optional services offered by Medi-Cal managed care plans that address health‑related needs, such as housing instability, nutrition, transitions from institutional care, and chronic condition management.
 
WHY THIS MATTERS: ECM and Community Supports are key pillars of California’s work to build a more coordinated, equitable, and prevention-oriented Medi-Cal system. These programs help members with complex needs connect to consistent, community‑based supports that stabilize health and reduce the need for higher levels of care. By emphasizing prevention and whole‑person care, ECM and Community Supports continue to improve health outcomes for Medi‑Cal members statewide.
 
Managed care plans have significantly expanded ECM provider networks, adding more providers serving adults at risk of long-term care and children and youth with the highest needs. DHCS continues to encourage plans to fully utilize contracted providers and ensure services are delivered at the appropriate level of intensity.
 
COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND LONG-TERM IMPACT: Findings from DHCS’ latest In Lieu of Services (ILOS) annual report show that Community Supports are helping members avoid costlier forms of care. The report studies service costs and utilization before and after members received at least one of the 12 Community Supports authorized as ILOS between January 2023 and June 2024. Ten of the 12 Community Supports studied are already demonstrating cost-effectiveness across applicable Medicaid State Plan service categories, such as emergency department visits, inpatient hospital stays, and nursing facility stays. Key findings include:

• Environmental Accessibility Adaptations: 51.4 percent net cost reduction.
• Respite Services: 19.9 percent net cost reduction.
• Housing Deposits: 15.2 percent net cost reduction.
• Medically Tailored Meals/Medically Supportive Food: 10.5 percent net cost reduction.
• Community or Home Transition Services: 9.1 percent net cost reduction.
• Assisted Living Facility Transitions: 9.7 percent net cost reduction.

Early results underscore long-term value, demonstrating that investing in services that address social drivers of health not only improves member well-being, but also reduces costs across Medi-Cal’s delivery system. For more information, see this fact sheet.

ECM AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ARE HERE TO STAY: ECM is a statewide Medi-Cal managed care benefit for members with the most complex needs. Community Supports are also an option for state Medicaid programs, primarily grounded in federal Medicaid managed care regulations and memorialized in approved managed care contracts. Because these services are built into the core structure of Medi-Cal managed care—not temporary pilots—DHCS will continue to oversee implementation, expand provider networks, and support long-term program stability.

This permanency ensures that members, care managers, providers, and community partners can continue investing in relationships and care models that make ECM and Community Supports effective. It also guarantees continuity of intensive care coordination, housing and nutrition supports, behavioral health services, and other critical resources relied upon by hundreds of thousands of Californians.

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Office of Communications
(916) 440-7660
DHCSPress@dhcs.ca.gov