Like their counterparts across the country, California's Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (SPDs) face serious obstacles and challenges navigating fragmented systems of medical and long-term services and supports to get the care they need. Yet, through the reform elements proposed in its California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, the state has the potential to increase system integration and coordination of care for the approximately two million SPDs--including those with Medi-Cal only and those enrolled in both Medicare and Medi-Cal (dually eligible enrollees). The state's commitment to improving how the Medi-Cal program works for SPDs is underscored by the 2021-22 budget proposal of California Governor Gavin Newsom, which allocates significant funding for CalAIM and integration efforts, and the Governor's recently released Master Plan for Aging, which includes recommendations for improvements and innovation in care delivery for SPDs. In addition, the California Department of Health Care Services continues to solicit input and feedback from relevant stakeholders--including Medi-Cal managed care plans, long-term services and supports providers, and SPDs and their families--that can inform CalAIM implementation. To support stakeholders in preparing for these changes, this issue brief reviews foundational challenges that the state, its Medi-Cal managed care partners, and other stakeholders face in implementing proposed reforms; highlights key success factors for the innovation and integration of care from the perspective of representatives from Medi-Cal managed care plans interviewed by the authors; and describes opportunities to advance capacity to develop an integrated system of medical and long-term services and supports for all SPDs.
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