California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal
California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), is a multi-year initiative by DHCS to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of our population by implementing broad delivery system, program and payment reform across the Medi-Cal program. The major components of CalAIM build upon the successful outcomes of various pilots (including but not limited to the Whole Person Care Pilots, Health Homes, and the Coordinated Care Initiative) from the previous federal waivers and will result in better quality of life for Medi-Cal members as well as long-term cost savings/avoidance.
CalAIM has three primary goals:
- Identify and manage member risk and need through Whole Person Care approaches and addressing Social Determinants of Health;
- Move Medi-Cal to a more consistent and seamless system by reducing complexity and increasing flexibility; and
- Improve quality outcomes and drive delivery system transformation through value-based initiatives, modernization of systems and payment reform.
DHCS formally released the CalAIM proposal on October 29, 2019, at the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) and Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee (BH-SAC) meetings. Throughout the remainder of 2019 and 2020, DHCS will conduct extensive stakeholder engagement for both CalAIM and the renewal of the federal authorities under which Medi-Cal operates (i.e. 1115 and 1915b waivers).
Stay Involved
Due to the comprehensive scope of the CalAIM initiative, stakeholder engagement is critical. There are many ways to stay involved and engaged during the current planning and policy development phase. Additional information about ways to stay involved can be found in this CalAIM Stakeholder Engagement memo.
While the majority of CalAIM issues will be discussed through the CalAIM workgroups, some will be presented for discussion during the SAC, BH-SAC, and other DHCS sponsored stakeholder meetings. This CalAIM Proposals and Stakeholder Engagement document takes each component outlined in the CalAIM proposal and provides more information about stakeholder engagement opportunities and venues.
Please subscribe to DHCS' stakeholder email service to receive CalAIM updates and information about upcoming stakeholder meetings. For other comments, questions, or concerns, please contact CalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov.
CalAIM Updates
Regional Technical Assistance Meetings
DHCS has scheduled a series of CalAIM Regional Meetings to provide technical assistance to health plans, counties, and community-based organizations as they prepare to implement the enhanced care management benefit and in lieu of services. These meetings are not open to the public. Health plans, lead entities for WPC, county behavioral health agencies, county public health agencies, and Tribal Health Programs will be invited to attend the meeting in their region. (Registration information will come in a formal invitation email tailored to each meeting).
This
table indicates which CalAIM Regional Meeting each health plan and county is assigned, as well as the dates and locations for the meetings. Health plans that participate in multiple counties may need to attend more than one Regional Meeting.
Long-Term Care (LTC) and Transplant Information
Effective January 1, 2021, DHCS will carve in long-term care and coverage of transplants to become the responsibility of all Medi-Cal managed care plan model types, and will carve out the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) benefit from the Coordinated Care Initiative (including managed long-term services and supports requiring Medi-Cal managed care plans and Cal MediConnect plans) in all seven counties of operation.
Additional details pertaining to this announcement can be found in this
September 3, 2019 memo.
Please see the
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to address questions regarding the LTC Carve-In. Topics include:
- Medi-Cal Benefits
- Long-Term Care Carve-In Transition
- Rates
- Quality Improvement
- Oversight and Monitoring
Expanding Access to Integrated Care for Dual Eligible Californians Policy Memo
DHCS released “Expanding Access to Integrated Care for Dual Eligible Californians" policy memo, updated based on stakeholder feedback. This memo outlines the Department's transition plan for dual eligibles and CCI within the CalAIM initiative to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of the Medi-Cal population by implementing broad delivery system, program and payment reform across the program.
On February 24, 2020, DHCS discussed the proposal to transition Cal MediConnect (CMC) and CCI to a statewide Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) structure. DHCS reviewed the updated policy as well as preview a new information sharing policy proposal for D-SNP plan year 2021 based on new federal guidance, engaged stakeholders around consumer messaging and protections, and invited questions and public comment. The meeting materials are available on this webpage.
Mandatory Managed Care Enrollment Initiative
DHCS hosted a webinar on February 27th, 2020; the webinar was intended to provide an opportunity to discuss the Mandatory Managed Care Enrollment initiative, as part of the CalAIM proposal. (Please see page 59, and Appendix G, for information specific to Managed Care Enrollment within the proposal.)
Foster Care Model of Care
The CalAIM Foster Care Model of Care Workgroup is being established to create a long-term plan for how children and youth in foster care receive health care services (physical health, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, social services, and oral health) and as an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on ways to improve the current system of care for children and youth in foster care. The workgroup also will determine whether or not a new system of care should be developed.
CalAIM Workgroups
DHCS established five topic-specific stakeholder workgroups to further explore specific sections of the CalAIM proposal. Workgroups will meet between November 2019 and February 2020 as stated in this CalAIM Workgroup meeting schedule.
The workgroup application period closed on September 27, 2019 and DHCS notified applicants of their membership status on October 18th. Group size was limited to ensure a productive discussion environment, but the public is welcome to participate and provider feedback. Below is more information on the five CalAIM stakeholder workgroups.
Note: While most aspects of CalAIM will be discussed through workgroups, updates on those that are not will be included in the SAC, BH-SAC meetings, and other stakeholder venues.