​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023​

California Co​mmunity Transition Project

​In January 2007, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) was awarded special federal grant number 1LICMS30149 to implement a Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration, known as “California Community Transitions" (CCT). 

DHCS works with designated CCT Lead Organizations to identify eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have continuously resided in state-licensed health care facilities for a period of 60 consecutive days or longer. Facility stays for short-term rehabilitation services reimbursed by Medicare are not counted toward the 60-day required period.  60 days or longer in a medical facility with at least 1-day of Medi-Cal qualifies the individual for the federally funded CCT program.

CCT Lead Organizations employ or contract with transition coordinators who work directly with willing and eligible individuals, support networks, and providers to facilitate and monitor beneficiaries' transitions from facilities to the community settings of their choice. Eligible individuals of all ages with physical and mental disabilities have an opportunity to participate in CCT. Refer to the link below for information on specific CCT Lead Organizations and their service areas.

• California Community Transitions Lead Organization​​​​s​​ ​​   
  

The MFP Demonstration was amended by section 2403 of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019; the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019; the Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019; the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, 2020; and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

In December 2022, the federal government extended the term of the MFP grant and appropriated additional funding for allocation to state grantees. CCT transition services are currently available through 2027. 

Upon transitioning to the community, the transition coordinator monitors the participant for 365 days, this is known as the demonstration period. The demonstration period  allows participants and transition coordinators to respond to needs that are identified post-transition, CCT participants live in their own homes, apartments, or in approved community care facilities, and receive long-term services and supports included in their individual comprehensive service plans. At the end of the demonstration period, individuals who remain eligible for Medi-Cal continue to receive Medi-Cal and other home and community-based services (HCBS) where they live.

The approval of AB 133 allows for the roll out of a state-funded, California Community Transitions (CCT)–like program that had been rendered invalid because of a federal amendment to the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration authorizing statute.  AB 133 aligns state statute with the amended federal statute, by reducing the required period of residence in an inpatient facility from 90 to 60 days. The State-funded, CCT-like program allows CCT Lead Organizations to provide transition services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have not yet met the federal, MFP residency eligibility criteria, to help reduce the amount of time beneficiaries are required to remain in an institution during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). 24 hours through 60 days in a medical facility with at least 1-day of Medi-Cal qualifies the individual for the State funded CCT. 

See Welfare and Institutions Codes, Article 6.2 Community Transitions 14196.2​. 

On September 30, 2022, California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 14196.6 was amended to extend the CCT-like program’s end date from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2026.