California’s CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver was approved by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 29, 2021, and is effective through December 31, 2026. The waiver authorizes the Specialty Mental Health Services program, as well as Medi-Cal managed care, dental managed care, and the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System. 

The proposed CalAIM Section 1915(b) Waiver Renewal Summary is available for public comment from Thursday, May 21, through Saturday, June 20, 2026, by visiting the CalAIM homepage and CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver webpage.

CalAIM Section 1915(b) Waiver

• 12 – 29 – 2021 –
  CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver CMS approval Letter
• 12 – 29 – 2021 –
  CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver worksheet for reporting member months
• 12 – 29 – 2021 –
  CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver Special Terms and Conditions (STCs)
• 12 – 29 – 2021 –
  CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver approved application and attachments
• 12 – 29 – 2021 –
  CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver appendix: Cost Effectiveness BH SMHS & DMC-ODS
• 12 – 29 – 2021 –
  CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver appendix: Cost Effectiveness MCMC & Dental MC
• 6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver application
• 6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) cover letter
• 6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver attachments
• 6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) appendix: Cost Effectiveness BH SMHS & DMC-ODS
• 6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) appendix: Cost Effectiveness MCMC & Dental MC
• 4-6-2021 – Notice of General Public Interest re: Section 1115 Demonstration and Section 1915(b) Waiver Amendment and Renewal Application 
• 4-6-2021 – Proposed Section 1915(b) waiver overview 

Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver

• 3-23-2021 –
  CMS Approval of California’s Section 1915(b) Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver Extension
• 12-16-2020 – Response from CMS for Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
  
• 7-31-2020 – Notice of General Public Interest re: Request Letter for 12-month Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
• 6-8-2020 –
  Certified Public Expenditure Protocol Update Letter
  
  • Specialty Mental Health Services Certified Public Expenditure Protocol COVID-19 Amendment
• 6-1-2020 – Response from CMS for Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
  
• 5-8-2020 – Request Letter for Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
  
• 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
  • Appendices D1-D7
  • Attachments 1-16

Waiver Resources

• June 24, 2015 CMS Approval Letter and STCs
• October 5, 2016 CMS Supplemental Approval Letter and Certified Public Expenditure Protocols
• Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee (BH-SAC)
• 1915(b) Waiver Standard Funding Questions
• CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver
• CalAIM Homepage

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