Medi-Cal Waiver

Getting Out of Prison Is ‘Terrifying’

February 13, 2023

Nisi Marie Wilder, J. Duncan Moore, Jr.

Medi-Cal, Behavioral Health, Health Equity

A Californian recounts her experience of being released from incarceration before her Medi-Cal coverage kicked in.

Beyond the Doctor: Helping Trusted Care Managers Increase Vaccination Rates

Heather Stringer

Older Adults with Complex Needs, Medi-Cal

Researchers partner with community-based organizations to reach homebound, older adults at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Aligning Housing and Health Care to Support People Experiencing Homelessness: Opportunities in CalAIM

Homelessness & Health Care

To take advantage of new housing-related opportunities under CalAIM, homeless service providers and managed care plans need expert guidance. CHCF is partnering with the Corporation for Supportive Housing to provide training and ongoing technical assistance to these groups across the state.

Whole Person Care Pilots Set the Stage for CalAIM

December 9, 2021

Increased community collaboration improves outcomes and saves money for payers.

How Medi-Cal Expanded Substance Use Treatment and Access to Care

Allison Valentine, Patricia Violett, Molly Brassil

Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal

Five years after the pilot program was implemented, 96% of Californians insured through Medi-Cal live in a county with a program. More people who need substance use disorder treatment are accessing it, and patient surveys of treatment are very positive.

Voluntary Behavioral Health Integration in Medi-Cal: What Can Be Achieved Under Current Law

Anil Shankar, Diane Ung

Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal

This paper was prepared by two attorneys with extensive experience in structuring Medicaid financing for safety-net providers. It explores different contracting structures through which a county could lead efforts to create opportunities for integration of physical and behavioral health care.

Webinar — Technology Successes and Challenges in the Whole Person Care Pilots

This webinar reviewed the technological successes and barriers that California's 25 Whole Person Care pilots have encountered while striving to deliver more integrated care to Medi-Cal enrollees with high-cost, complex needs.

Catalyzing Coordination: Technology’s Role in California’s Whole Person Care Pilots

Keira Armstrong, Mark Elson, John Weir

Investing in Innovation, Data Exchange, Behavioral Health

Across California, 25 pilot programs are working to closely coordinate physical and behavioral health care with social services to help Medi-Cal enrollees with high-cost, complex needs. This paper delves into the technological successes, barriers, and opportunities encountered by the pilot programs thus far.

Whole Person Care Pilot Program: A Mid-Point Check-In

Lucy Pagel, Carol Backstrom, Hilary Haycock

Behavioral Health

Across California, 25 pilot programs are working to closely coordinate physical and behavioral health care with social services to help Medi-Cal enrollees with high-cost, complex needs. This paper provides an update on their progress and outlines remaining challenges.

Explaining Medi-Cal

February 27, 2019

Kristof Stremikis

CHCF has launched Medi-Cal Explained, a project that will include papers and briefings describing how the nation’s largest Medicaid program organizes, finances, and provides care for Californians with low incomes.

Medi-Cal Explained

Medi-Cal is the foundation of California’s health care safety net and a major component of the state’s budget. The Medi-Cal Explained series provides an overview of the program, including the people it serves, the services it provides, and how it is organized, managed, and financed.

The Medi-Cal Program: An Overview

Margaret Tatar, Health Management Associates, Athena Chapman, Chapman Consulting

This publication offers an overview of the Medi-Cal program, which provides health coverage in California for children and their parents with low incomes, pregnant women, seniors, and nonelderly adults, including people with disabilities.

The Medi-Cal Budget

Health Management Associates

This fact sheet describes the organization, funding sources, and process for developing the Medi-Cal program budget.

February 25, 2019

Briefing — Medi-Cal Explained: An Overview of Program Basics

February 25, 2019

This briefing provided an overview of the basics of the Medi-Cal program, including eligibility and enrollment, organization, oversight, and financing.

Medi-Cal Moves Addiction Treatment into the Mainstream

Molly Brassil, Carol Backstrom, Erynne Jones

Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal

A fundamental shift is underway in California to expand, improve, and reorganize Medi-Cal’s system for treating people with substance use disorders. This report summarizes the experiences of the first counties to implement this new approach.