Many older adults and people with functional needs or disabilities require stable housing with supportive care to maintain their health and independence. Assisted living communities offer a promising alternative to institutional care, such as nursing facilities, by providing essential supportive care in home-like environments, often at lower costs.
While assisted living is primarily paid for out-of-pocket or through private insurance, several pathways exist for Medi-Cal enrollees to receive financial support for care in these settings, including through California’s assisted living waiver (ALW), CalAIM Community Supports, county behavioral health and mental health plans, Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and hospital contracts. However, the use of assisted living for Medi-Cal enrollees remains limited and has not reached its full potential.
This webinar, hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) with support from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), is the first in a five-part virtual learning series that will explore opportunities to strengthen cross-sector partnerships to improve appropriate, timely, and effective use of assisted living communities for older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health needs enrolled in Medi-Cal. This first webinar will provide an overview of California’s assisted living landscape — including types of facilities, resident characteristics, and services provided — and examine how this setting fits into the broader care and housing continuum for Medi-Cal enrollees. It will also highlight common pathways to access and finance assisted living for Medi-Cal enrollees, as well as identify key opportunities to expand the use of assisted living services while addressing access barriers. A preview of upcoming topics in the learning series will also be shared.
Managed care plan staff, enhanced care management and Community Supports providers, ALW care coordination agencies, county behavioral health and mental health plan providers, assisted living operators and providers, hospital and skilled nursing facility providers, and social services providers, among other interested stakeholders, are encouraged to attend this 90-minute event.
Agenda
I. Welcome
Speakers: Kate Meyers, Senior Program Officer, CHCF; Emma Rauscher, Program Officer, CHCS
K. Meyers will welcome participants on behalf of CHCF and introduce the Assisted Living for Medi-Cal Enrollees: Virtual Learning Series. E. Rauscher will review the objectives of the series and this first webinar. She will discuss: (1) CalAIM’s broad goal of helping Medi-Cal enrollees remain safe and well in home- and community-based settings; (2) the shifting responsibility of Medi-Cal managed care plans in providing institutional long-term care and home- and community-based services; (3) the promise of assisted living in the Medi-Cal care and housing continuum; and (4) the need for cross-stakeholder collaboration to better use assisted living to support populations with functional needs.
II. Assisted Living 101
Speaker: Paula Hertel, independent consultant
P. Hertel will discuss how assisted living can help achieve stable housing and living supports for people with functional needs in the most appropriate, least restrictive, and cost-effective setting. She will describe what assisted living is, who it can serve, the various types of assisted living settings, and how appropriate use of this care option benefits all stakeholders.
III. Panel Discussion: California’s Assisted Living Landscape
Speakers: Sarah Triano, Associate Director, Long-Term Services and Supports and Disability Policy, CHCS; Katie Panarella, Program Director, Community Supports, Anthem Blue Cross; Kerry Landry, independent consultant; Mark Cimino, CEO, CiminoCare; Paula Hertel, independent consultant
S. Triano will provide an overview of the major Medi-Cal financing streams for assisted living services and how these streams are used across California. She will then moderate a panel discussion on opportunities, pain points, and barriers to expanding assisted living for key Medi-Cal populations.
IV. Moderated Q&A
Moderator: Zackiya Grant-Knight, Program Officer, CHCS
V. Preview of Upcoming Sessions and Wrap-Up
Speaker: E. Rauscher, CHCS
E. Rauscher will provide a preview of upcoming webinars in the learning series, including what to expect from each session.
