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CalAIM ECM/Community Supports 

The goal of CalAIM ECM (Enhanced Care Management)/Community Supports is to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of Medi-Cal recipients. Learn more about these programs, services offered and how to request prior authorization.

Questions?

Just call us at 1-855-772-9076 (TTY: 711). We’re here for you Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

What is CalAIM?

CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal) is a multi-year initiative led by the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS). The program aims to promote the health and well-being of Medi-Cal recipients by implementing delivery system and payment reforms across the program.

 

By leveraging Medicaid as a tool, CalAIM helps address many of the complex challenges facing California’s most vulnerable residents. It takes a person-centered approach that targets social determinants of health and reduces health disparities and inequities.
 

Note: Whole Person Care (WPC)/Health Homes Program has transitioned to Enhanced Care Management (ECM)/Community Supports (as of January 1, 2022).  

What are the key populations of focus?

CalAIM ECM services focus on those who fall within these specific groups:
 

  • High utilizers
  • Homeless
  • Transitioning from incarceration
  • Individuals at risk for institutionalization

    • Adults: serious mental illness (SMI) or substance use disorder (SUD) 
    • Children: SMI, serious emotional disturbances (SED) or SUD
    • People eligible for long-term care primary care provider (LTC PCP), specialist or group 
  • Nursing facility residents who want to transition to the community 
  • Children or youth with complex health needs (examples: California Children’s Services (CCS), foster care, etc.) 

Aetna Better Health® of California offers members these Community Supports services:
 

  • Housing transition/navigation services

  • Housing deposits

  • Housing tenancy and sustaining services 

  • Short-term post-hospitalization housing

  • Recuperative care (medical respite)

  • Respite

  • Day habilitation programs 

  • Nursing facility transition/diversion to assisted living facility

  • Nursing facility transition to home

  • Personal care and homemaker services

  • Environmental accessibility adaptations 

  • Meals/medically tailored meals

  • Sobering centers

  • Asthma remediation

How do you request prior authorization? 

You can submit PA requests by:
 

ECM referral forms:

PA decision turnaround times

  • Urgent pre-service approval: within 72 hours from receipt of request

  • Non-urgent pre-service approval: within 5 calendars days from receipt of the request

  • Post-service approval: within 30 calendar days from receipt of the request 

To see additional time frames, you can refer to your provider manual (PDF).

You can submit PA requests by:
 

Community Supports member referral form (PDF)

More resources and information

Providers who can’t submit compliant claims electronically may instead submit invoices to Aetna Better Health of California. 

New invoice submissions

  • Must be submitted within 180 calendar days from the date the service unless there is a contractual exception

Invoice resubmission

  • Must be filed within 90 days from the date of adverse determination of an invoice

    • Providers may resubmit an invoice that was originally denied because of:

      • Missing documentation 
      • Incorrect coding
      • Processing errors which resulted in the invoice being incorrectly labeled as paid or denied  

How to submit an invoice

To submit an invoice, providers must use the approved ECM/Community Supports invoice template (PDF).
 

Be sure to include this information with the invoice:
 

  • Member’s name, date of birth and Aetna® member ID number

  • Date(s) of service(s) provided

  • Service(s) provided

  • Provider information

Ready to submit?

You can send your completed invoice to us via email.

 

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