Understanding CalAIM Implementation Across California - February 2024

The purpose of the WPC pilots was the coordination of health, behavioral health, and social services in a patient-centered manner for particularly vulnerable groups of Medi-Cal beneficiaries, with the goals of improved beneficiary health and well-being through more efficient and effective use of resources. [...] The most significant components of CalAIM for people experiencing homelessness, as well as the housing and service providers that participate in the homeless assistance system, are Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Support Services allowed these WPC pilots to receive federal matching funding and other support to share data between system, and to integrate care through collaborative lead. [...] One of the main challenges for CalAIM will be to continue to incentivize and create the conditions that will bridge the relevant actors and systems in each county and build the partnerships needed for successful implementation. [...] Structured as an incentive payment program, DHCS has established HHIP performance metrics to incentivize MCPs to expand access to housing services and street medicine and to increase the number of people who move into housing and do not return to homelessness.35 To receive HHIP payments, MCPs must collaborate with CoCs and counties to develop plans based on a shared understanding of local needs an. [...] And I think it just speaks to the level of frustration people have with the different revenue streams, and an effort, real effort, to try to take care of the patients as best as they can with the resources that they have.