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Approve an agreement with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. to administer the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Transitional Rent benefit for specialty mental health clients effective March 1, 2026; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the agreement and any amendments, with County Counsel concurrence
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X __
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X __
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health & Social Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve an agreement with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. to administer the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Transitional Rent benefit for specialty mental health clients effective March 1, 2026; and
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the agreement and any amendments, with County Counsel concurrence.
SUMMARY:
Through CalAIM, eligible Medi-Cal members experiencing homelessness or housing instability may receive a new Community Supports benefit, Transitional Rent, which provides up to six months of rental assistance. The California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) requires Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs) to offer County Behavioral Health agencies the opportunity to administer Transitional Rent for individuals with serious mental illness.
The Department of Health & Social Services (H&SS) Behavioral Health Division has opted into this new benefit. Approval of this contract will enable Behavioral Health to operationalize this new benefit, expand the suite of housing-stability tools available to clients, and ensure alignment with State expectations under Proposition 1 (Behavioral Health Services Act "BHSA") and CalAIM implementation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
DHCS will reimburse MCPs the actual cost of rental assistance or temporary housing paid to landlords or property owners, not to exceed a reimbursable ceiling. DHCS is also provi...
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