In response to the statewide impacts of COVID-19, DHCS announced
the postponement of the California Advancing and Innovating
Medi-Cal (CalAIM) implementation activities. In addition to the
postponement DHCS will request the extension to the current
Medicaid Section 1115 and Section 1915(b) Specialty Mental Health
waivers from the federal government.
The CalAIM package, which was intended to replace the Section
1115 and 1915(b) waivers, planned to simplify and streamline the
Medi-Cal program, including county specialty mental health
services, county social services eligibility functions, and
initiatives focused on children, foster youth, and those who are
homeless or incarcerated. DHCS will continue to seek approval for
these CalAIM proposals at a later date.
As state and local governments divert their immediate attention
and resources to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, CSAC
commends DHCS for postponing CalAIM and instead seeking waiver
extensions. If approved by the federal government, the waiver
extensions would preserve critical public hospital funding and
Whole Person Care, as well as the operations of county specialty
mental health plans.
