Californians, like the rest of the country, are facing significant mental health challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic. The need for new and enhanced behavioral health supports and interventions has come into strong focus in recent years and states are leveraging their Medicaid programs to respond.

In November 2022, United States Senators Cassidy, Carper, Scott, Warner, Cornyn, and Menendez issued a request for information (RFI) regarding approaches for improving coverage for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Dual eligible beneficiaries are more likely to have  complex health needs that are difficult and often expensive to treat. Too often, they experience a lack of integration and coordination that often results in confusing encounters with the health care system and negative health outcomes.

In November 2022, United States Senators Cassidy, Carper, Scott, Warner, Cornyn, and Menendez issued a request for information (RFI) regarding approaches for improving coverage for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Dual eligible beneficiaries are more likely to have  complex health needs that are difficult and often expensive to treat. Too often, they experience a lack of integration and coordination that often results in confusing encounters with the health care system and negative health outcomes.

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports are core components of CalAIM, a multiyear initiative led by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that take a person-centered approach to social service delivery and care management for individuals with complex health and social needs.

Thanks to tireless advocacy combined with impressive outcomes data, funding was allocated in the California state budget to support the continuation of the program. This is a prime example of how initial federal investments can ultimately lead to long-term sustainability of successful programs.

Last year, Aurrera Health Group teamed up with the California Department of Health Care Services to provide early education and targeted technical assistance for providers on implementing Enhanced Care Management and Community Support services, two key parts of the CalAIM initiative. This experience revealed several promising practices for other states pursuing whole-person approaches to health care delivery.