Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports
Medi-Cal Transformation
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports are foundational parts of the transformation of Medi-Cal focused on:
- Breaking down the traditional walls of health care, extending beyond hospitals and health care settings into communities;
- Introducing a better way to coordinate care; and
- Providing high-need members with in-person care management where they live.
What this change means for Californians
ECM is a new statewide Medi-Cal benefit available to eligible members with complex needs, including:
- Access to a single Lead Care Manager who provides comprehensive care management and coordinates their health and health-related care and services.
- Connections to the quality care they need, no matter where members seek care—at the doctor, the dentist, with a social worker, or at a community center.
- Reference the ECM Provider Toolkit to help you navigate this new benefit for your patients.
Community Supports are services that help address members’ health-related needs, help them live healthier lives, and avoid higher, costlier levels of care. Examples include:
- Housing transition and navigation services to secure housing
- Access to medically tailored meals and medically supportive food to manage nutrition-sensitive health conditions.
- Asthma remediation to remove in-home environmental triggers
These services are available to eligible Medi-Cal members regardless of whether they qualify for ECM services. All Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) are encouraged to offer as many of the 14 pre-approved Community Supports as possible. See which services are offered in your county.
New Community Supports data shows improving outcomes and reduced costs. View the fact sheet to learn more.