California has begun work to prepare a 2026 submission for the state’s next 1115 and 1915(b) waivers for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. In a July 2025 concept paper, the state’s Department of Health Care Services stated that it will seek renewal of key elements of the ongoing transformation of its Medicaid program, known as California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal, or CalAIM.

The Center for Health Care Strategies prepared a brief presentation, National Context for CalAIM Renewal, with support from the California Health Care Foundation. The presentation:

• Reviews current CalAIM authorization for Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports;
• Outlines other states’ approaches for covering similar services;
• Provides evidence of ECM and Community Supports’ impact on health and cost outcomes; and
• Summarizes recent federal changes on health-related social needs.