November 5, 2023 - SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom, through the Department of Health Care Services, is investing $144 million across 145 organizations and providers throughout the state to increase access to health care services for millions of Medi-Cal members.

“California is making health care more accessible for people all across the state, regardless of their income. Today’s investment breaks down barriers so more Californians can get the care and support they need, where they live and when they need it – leading to healthier lives and a healthier California.”

Governor Gavin Newsom

California Awards $144 Million to Break Down Barriers to Care 

Investments will Further Transform and Strengthen Medi-Cal, Helping Millions of Californians 

November 5, 2023 - SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is investing $144 million in 145 Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports organizations and providers across the state as part of the Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) initiative. This investment and work will help create a more coordinated, person-centered, and equitable Medi-Cal system for millions of Californians.

“These investments will advance the goals of the broader Medi-Cal transformation by building the capacity and infrastructure of providers working to improve health outcomes for Medi-Cal members,” said DHCS Director Michelle Baass.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: ECM and Community Supports serve the highest-need Medi-Cal managed care members and are anchored in the community, where services can be delivered in person by community-based organizations (CBO) and providers.

“These investments will further our goals to integrate our delivery system with CBOs and providers that understand the health care and health-related social needs of our Medi-Cal members,” said Susan Philip, Deputy Director for DHCS’ Health Care Delivery Systems. “We know these organizations are critical partners in providing whole person care and building a more equitable delivery system.”

HOW TUESDAY’S ACTION SUPPORTS CALIFORNIANS: Tuesday’s investments will be used to support ECM and Community Supports services through investments in provider workforce, infrastructure and IT systems, and capacity building. ECM and Community Supports are foundational components of the transformation of Medi-Cal focused on:

• Breaking down the traditional walls of health care, extending beyond hospitals and health care settings into communities.
• Introducing a better way to coordinate care.
• Providing high-need members with in-person care management where they live.

Examples of capacity building efforts that entities will undertake include:

• Capacity and infrastructure building for ECM, partnering with street medicine, to outreach and engage with children and youth who are justice involved, transitioning from juvenile detention facilities, or are experiencing homelessness.
• Development of ECM and Community Support services capacity, including nursing home transitions and medically supportive foods/medically tailored meals for a CBO serving tribal populations.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: PATH CITED awards are already making an impact across California. Under Round 1, Homeward Bound of Marin, a nonprofit CBO serving families and individuals experiencing homelessness, received funding to build capacity for ECM and Community Supports services. The CBO used the funding to expand its workforce, including hiring, onboarding, and training essential program staff, such as a data coordinator and outreach and care management personnel. These critical staff members worked to double provider capacity to connect high-need residents with supportive housing programs and deliver in-person ECM. Additionally, the funding helped the CBO further expand technology enhancements, including the transmission of participant referral and data information, necessary to support residential programs.

ABOUT TUESDAY’S INVESTMENT: The awards to 145 organizations will be made through PATH CITED initiative Round 2 funding. The PATH CITED initiative provides funding to enable the transition, expansion, and development of ECM and Community Supports capacity and infrastructure. Tuesday’s awardees are committed to serving historically under-resourced and underserved populations.

BIGGER PICTURE: Tuesday’s awards are in addition to CITED Round 1 funding totaling $207 million announced earlier this year. Organizations in each of California’s 58 counties are represented in the funding rounds. PATH includes several aligned initiatives that provide funding, tools, technical support, and resources to Medi-Cal providers, including CBOs, counties, local governmental entities, and other community partners, to support improved care management and delivery through the Medi-Cal system. Awardees must be actively contracted to provide ECM/Community Supports or have a signed attestation from a Medi-Cal managed care plan or their subcontractor that they intend to contract with to provide ECM/Community Supports.

WHAT COMES NEXT: The CITED Round 3 application window is expected to open in early 2024. For more information about the PATH CITED initiative, please visit the PATH website.

Source: Office of the Governor