California DHCS’s Community Supports Program Showing Promising Outcomes

On June 3, California’s Department of Health Care Services issued its annual report that highlights how all 12 of its Community Supports studied have addressed needs of Medi- Cal beneficiaries while reducing costs and improving efficiencies. These Community Supports were approved as part of the 1915(b) CalAIM waiver and were phased in by Medi-Cal managed care plans starting in 2022. The Community Supports services include such efforts as supporting in-home care, providing nourishing meals, and fostering housing stability, with an end goal of helping Medi-Cal patients avoid costlier hospital or emergency care.