CalAim Allows Medi-Cal to Support Members’ Social Needs
California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal, known as CalAIM, is a five-year Department of Health Care Services plan to transform California’s Medi-Cal program, integrating health care more seamlessly with social services. CalAIM, which takes effect January 1, 2022, seeks to improve health outcomes for the millions of Californians covered by Medi-Cal, especially those with the most complex needs.
Today, Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) is hosting a virtual L.A. Health Collaborative panel called The Future of Health: CalAIM Implementation and Beyond. Among the panelists is Cynthia Carmona, MPA, the Senior Director of Safety Net Initiatives at L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest Medi-Cal health plan in Los Angeles County.
Carmona and the other panelists will discuss how Medi-Cal is evolving under CalAIM, with the launch of a new enhanced care management benefit that will provide a whole-person approach to care addressing the clinical and non-clinical issues of high-need Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Another change is the addition of In Lieu of Services (ILOS) community supports. These services will be provided to help members avoid a hospital stay or skilled nursing facility admission. The state gave health plans a list of 14 ILOS choices. Carmona will explain why L.A. Care chose housing transition navigation, housing tenancy and sustaining services, recuperative care, and medically tailored meals.
Other panelists include:
- Clemens Hong, MD, MPH, Acting Director, Community Programs Lead for COVID-19 Testing, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
- Karen Richmond, Regional Vice President of Medi-Cal, Health Net, LLC
ITUP is also bringing together organizations that will implement some of the ILOS in Los Angeles County. They will discuss how the services will meaningfully address the social determinants of health. Attendees will hear from:
- Richard Ayoub, Executive Director, Project Angel Food
- Amy Turk, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer, Downtown Women’s Center
Katie Heidorn, MPA, the Executive Director of ITUP, will moderate both sessions. The event is being held from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm today. You can register for the event here.