MEDI-CAL CARE INNOVATIONS REACH MORE CALIFORNIANS THAN EVER
New data show notable growth in Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports
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, key components of California’s Medi-Cal transformation under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative.
“These services help Medi-Cal members stay healthier and avoid other, costlier care, such as emergency department visits and hospital stays,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We appreciate the hard work and commitment of Medi-Cal managed care plan providers and partners. Together, we are building a health care delivery system that supports whole-person care for Medi-Cal members.”
The latest quarterly report includes trends since January 2022 and new data from April through June 2025, covering state, county, and managed care plan-level information on members served, service use, and provider networks.
ECM REACHES MORE CALIFORNIANS: ECM helps people with complex health and social needs, including homelessness, serious mental illness, or frequent hospital visits, coordinate the care they need, wherever they are. Since its launch in January 2022, ECM has connected more than 451,000 Medi-Cal members to high-touch, person-centered care coordination through a Lead Care Manager who helps navigate physical, behavioral, and social services.
In the second quarter of 2025, ECM enrollment rose, particularly among children and youth. More than 47,000 children and youth received ECM, a 102 percent increase from the same period last year. Nearly 3,600 adults transitioning from incarceration and more than 16,000 children and youth experiencing homelessness also received ECM, increases of 83 percent and 164 percent compared to the same period last year, respectively. To meet this demand, provider networks expanded significantly, with providers serving these populations increasing by more than 80 percent year-over-year.
“Every expansion means more Californians have access to services that keep them stable, healthy, and supported,” said State Medicaid Director Tyler Sadwith. “We’re focused on making these programs even more accessible and responsive to the communities we serve.”
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS GROWTH: Community Supports provide
cost-effective, community-based alternatives to traditional medical care, addressing housing, nutrition, and other social drivers of health. Since launching in January 2022, these services have become a cornerstone of whole-person care in Medi-Cal.
As of June 2025, more than 520,000 Medi-Cal members have accessed Community Supports, with more than 1.3 million services delivered statewide. Access continues to expand, as nearly all Medi-Cal members now have access to at least 10 Community Supports, and most (94 percent) can choose from the full suite of services. Medically tailored meals and housing-related services remain among the most utilized.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The growth of ECM and Community Supports reflects California’s commitment. These services are critical tools in addressing challenges, such as homelessness, behavioral health access, and support for families and youth with complex needs.
As a part of this commitment to improving health outcomes, California expanded the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, which requires managed care plans to provide care coordination and medical and behavioral health services up to 90 days before release, ensuring continuity of care during reentry to communities. This initiative, which is supporting members with pre-release services and making connections for ongoing care through post-release ECM, went live in October 2024 with three counties, expanded to state prisons in February 2025, and is now active in 13 counties. All counties statewide are required to offer these services by October 2026.
INVESTING IN CAPACITY: To support the expansion of ECM and Community Supports, DHCS has awarded more than $1.66 billion through its Providing Access and Transforming Health (
PATH) initiatives, including Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (
CITED),
Collaborative Planning and Implementation, Justice-Involved Capacity Building program, and
Technical Assistance Marketplace. These funds help community-based organizations, clinics, and local agencies grow their capacity by hiring staff, upgrading systems, and improving care coordination. The fourth and final round of
PATH CITED grant awardees was announced in November 2025.
WHAT’S NEXT: DHCS will continue listening to Medi-Cal members who use ECM and Community Supports. Feedback gathered through surveys, focus groups, and other outreach will guide improvements to make these services easier to access, more effective, and more responsive to California’s diverse communities.