California has taken steps to support the “whole-person” needs of Medicaid beneficiaries, with a focus on the social drivers of health, including housing. The state is in the third year of a 5-year transformation of its Medicaid program called CalAIM: California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal. The CalAIM framework encompasses broad-based delivery system, program, and payment reform across the Medi-Cal program to shift to a statewide population health approach that prioritizes prevention and addresses social drivers of health, including housing.

To end homelessness and address the needs of its most vulnerable populations, California is working to leverage the state Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) to provide its Medicaid members with a range of housing services and supports. While California has made great strides, participating in the Accelerator will help state agencies better coordinate services across housing, health, and social care systems to prevent and end homelessness for older adults and people with disabilities.

The team is led by California’s Medicaid office and includes representatives from state and community housing and homelessness, health, aging and disability organizations.