California’s CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 29, 2021 and is effective through December 31, 2026. The CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver authorizes the Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) program, as well as Medi-Cal managed care, dental managed care, and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS). For more information about the CalAIM initiatives and stakeholder engagement process, please visit the CalAIM homepage and CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver webpage.

CalAIM Section 1915(b) Waiver

12 – 29 – 2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver CMS approval Letter
12 – 29 – 2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver worksheet for reporting member months
12 – 29 – 2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver Special Terms and Conditions (STCs)
12 – 29 – 2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver approved application and attachments
12 – 29 – 2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver appendix: Cost Effectiveness BH SMHS & DMC-ODS
12 – 29 – 2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver appendix: Cost Effectiveness MCMC & Dental MC
6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver application
6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) cover letter
6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) waiver attachments
6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) appendix: Cost Effectiveness BH SMHS & DMC-ODS
6-30-2021 – CalAIM Section 1915(b) appendix: Cost Effectiveness MCMC & Dental MC
4-6-2021 – Notice of General Public Interest re: Section 1115 Demonstration and Section 1915(b) Waiver Amendment and Renewal Application
4-6-2021 – Proposed Section 1915(b) waiver overview 

Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver

3-23-2021 – CMS Approval of California’s Section 1915(b) Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver Extension
12-16-2020 – Response from CMS for Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
7-31-2020 – Notice of General Public Interest re: Request Letter for 12-month Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
6-8-2020 – Certified Public Expenditure Protocol Update Letter
Specialty Mental Health Services Certified Public Expenditure Protocol COVID-19 Amendment
6-1-2020 – Response from CMS for Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
5-8-2020 – Request Letter for Extension of California’s Section 1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
1915(b) Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Waiver
Appendices D1-D7
Attachments 1-16

Waiver Resources

• June 24, 2015 CMS Approval Letter and STCs
• October 5, 2016 CMS Supplemental Approval Letter and Certified Public Expenditure Protocols
• Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee (BH-SAC)
• 1915(b) Waiver Standard Funding Questions
• CalAIM 1115 Demonstration & 1915(b) Waiver
• CalAIM Homepage

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