SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today released
new data showing continued growth and impact from
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports as part of the state’s Medi-Cal transformation under California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). These services help Medi-Cal members stay healthier and avoid other, costlier health care services, such as emergency department visits and hospital stays.
In just the first three months of this year:
- 38,000 children and youth received ECM — a 120 percent increase from the same period last year.
- 68,000 adults and nearly 13,000 children and youth experiencing homelessness were served — increases of 86 percent and 172 percent, respectively.
- Providers serving youth experiencing homelessness nearly doubled.
- More than 429,000 Medi-Cal members have accessed Community Supports, with more than 1.1 million services delivered to date.
“This is what Medi-Cal transformation looks like,” said Michelle Baass, Director of the Department of Health Care Services. “We’re not just expanding services. We’re reaching more people than ever.”
ECM helps people with complex health and social needs, including homelessness, serious mental illness, or frequent hospital visits, get the care they need, wherever they are. A Lead Care Manager helps coordinate all aspects of care, from doctor visits and mental health services to housing and nutrition support. Since launching in January 2022, ECM has connected more than 372,000 Medi-Cal members to high-touch, person-centered care.
Community Supports are also growing rapidly. These services offer cost-effective, community-based alternatives to traditional medical care, addressing housing, nutrition, and other social drivers of health. As of early 2025: - Nearly all Medi-Cal members have access to at least 10 Community Supports.
- Most have access to the full suite of 14 Community Supports.
- About 42 percent used housing-related services, such as help finding and keeping housing or paying for housing deposits.
“Behind every number is a story: a parent who found stable housing, a teen who got mental health care, a senior who received meals tailored to their condition,” said State Medicaid Director Tyler Sadwith. “This is how we build a healthier California.”
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The growth in ECM and Community Supports comes as California rolls out historic policies under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), aimed at reducing homelessness and expanding behavioral health care. ECM and Community Supports are proving to be vital tools to help people navigate housing, nutrition, and health systems with dignity and support. From ECM and Community Supports to Transitional Rent and permanent housing, California is building a continuum of care that supports people across every stage of their recovery journey.
To support this expansion, DHCS has awarded more than $1.43 billion through its
Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) initiatives, including Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED), Collaborative Planning and Implementation, and the Technical Assistance Marketplace. These funds help community-based organizations, clinics, and local agencies grow their capacity to deliver ECM and Community Supports by hiring staff, upgrading systems, and improving care coordination. The final round of CITED funding closed in May 2025, with new awardees to be announced later this year.
WHAT’S NEXT: DHCS will continue listening to Medi-Cal members who use ECM and Community Supports. Member feedback, gathered through surveys, focus groups, and other outreach, will help improve how these services are delivered, making them easier to access, more effective, and more responsive to different cultures and communities.