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.

Recruitment and retention of the direct care workforce has been a longstanding challenge among states. Low wages are a particular barrier because direct care worker wages often compete with gig employment, where the work is less physically and emotionally taxing.

In July 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 133, which calls for the development and implementation of a statewide Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework — consisting of a data sharing agreement, policies, and procedures — to govern the exchange of health information among health care entities and government agencies by January 31, 2024.

States are leveraging American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to support a multi-faceted policy approach to strengthening state health care infrastructure and the health workforce.

California’s Federally Qualified Health Centers experienced many financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.