MEDI-CAL REPORTS STRONG GROWTH IN ENHANCED CARE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS
Children and Youth Enrollment in Enhanced Care Management Nearly Tripled; Close to 1 Million Community Supports Services Delivered to Members Since Launch
SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today shared new data showing how Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports are increasing and helping more people as part of the state's Medi-Cal transformation under California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM).
“The trends reflected in the data demonstrate the real and growing impact of CalAIM in supporting the health and well-being of Medi-Cal members," said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We're seeing especially strong progress in reaching children and youth, expanding access to critical supports like housing and food, and growing the provider networks needed to deliver these services. Together, these efforts are helping more Californians live healthier, more stable lives."
WHAT THE NUMBERS SHOW: Since ECM launched in January 2022, more than 326,000 unique Medi-Cal members have enrolled in this benefit that provides comprehensive, person-centered care coordination for members with complex needs. In the last three months of 2024 alone, more than 149,400 members received ECM services, including more than 31,000 children and youth under 21, nearly four times more than when ECM launched for these groups in July 2023.
Community Supports are also reaching more Medi-Cal members. By the end of 2024, approximately 368,400 members had used these services, with more than 920,000 total services delivered. These supports offer cost-effective, community-based alternatives to traditional medical care, addressing social factors that impact health. Of those who accessed Community Supports in Q4 2024:
- Nearly 60 percent accessed Medically Tailored Meals/Medically Supportive Food.
- About 40 percent used one or more of the Housing Trio services (Housing Transition Navigation Services, Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services, and Housing Deposits).
WHY THIS MATTERS: More Medi-Cal members with complex medical and social needs are accessing ECM and Community Supports. Key drivers of growth include: - Significant expansion in services for children and youth, whose ECM enrollment increased by nearly 160 percent over 2024.
- Steady provider growth for justice-involved members, with contracted ECM providers growing by 14 percent per quarter for adults and 32 percent per quarter for youth between late 2023 and late 2024.
- Increased access and scale of Community Supports, now available in 40 counties, with 91 percent of Medi-Cal members having access to at least 10 services.
PROVIDER NETWORKS ARE GROWING: The number of providers delivering ECM and Community Supports has grown significantly. Managed care plans now hold approximately 2,600 provider contracts for Community Supports alone, up from about 750 in early 2022. This reflects a strong commitment from community-based organizations, housing providers, and local health systems to support CalAIM's goals. COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ARE COST-EFFECTIVE: DHCS' June 2025 cost-effectiveness report shows that Community Supports help reduce overall health care costs by preventing avoidable hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and long-term institutional care, while improving health outcomes. LO QUE SIGUE: Starting January 1, 2026, Transitional Rent will become a mandatory Community Support and will be available to provide up to six months of rental assistance to members who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, are experiencing significant behavioral health needs, and meet certain risk factors. This is another important step in making sure Medi-Cal members have the support they need to live healthy, stable lives in their communities. DHCS will continue to center feedback from Medi-Cal members to ensure ECM and Community Supports are responsive, accessible, and equitable. By listening closely to people who are directly impacted, California aims to enhance the effectiveness of these programs and better support members' health and well-being.