NEWS & UPDATES

The Butte County Sobering Center is transforming how individuals experiencing substance-related crises receive care. This inspiring case study highlights how a collaborative, cross-sector approach can reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, ease the burden on law enforcement, and connect individuals to the support they need.

This is a powerful example of how community-based interventions can enhance public safety and promote long-term recovery. 

With the numerous changes occurring at the federal level in recent months and the CMS CalAIM waivers sunsetting at the end of 2026, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has been receiving questions about the future of CalAIM and other programs. In response, DHCS issued the below statement to share with PATH Collaborative Planning and Implementation group members.

DHCS will continue the ongoing implementation and delivery of all California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) and Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) services. DHCS, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and Medi-Cal providers will continue to provide Community Supports to address Medi-Cal members’ HRSNs [health-related social needs], help them live healthier lives, and avoid higher, costlier levels of care.

California will continue to work collaboratively with our federal partners to ensure that families in our state are healthy, and our communities are vibrant places to live and work. While we don’t typically speculate on the potential impacts of a new federal administration, we remain committed to protecting Californians’ access to the critical services and programs they need.

Susan Philip, DHCS deputy director of health care delivery systems, spoke on a similar topic at a California Health Care Foundation briefing on Community Supports in March. Click here to watch the 2-minute video clip. 

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released the online application for the fourth and final round of PATH CITED funding on January 6.  This is your opportunity to expand Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports services for Medi-Cal members with complex needs in your community. Awards in three previous CITED rounds averaged $1.1 million for two-year milestone periods. Click here to start your application.

DHCS is providing webinars, office hours, application guides, and other resources on the PATH CITED website. Please use the contact form at the bottom of the page to ask any questions.

DHCS has updated the timing for transitional rent and outlined plans in the Transitional Rent Concept paper. Beginning on July 1, 2025, coverage of transitional rent as a Community Support service will be optional for Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCP), and it will be a mandatory benefit offered by all MCPs on January 1, 2026.