California Standardizes Medically Supportive Food Services in Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans

California has evolved its approach to nutrition interventions within Medi-Cal managed care, moving from its 2022 launch of medically tailored meals as an optional "in lieu of services" Community Support to increasingly standardized offerings based on stakeholder feedback. The state's experience illustrates how managed care plans are implementing social drivers of health benefits that aim to prevent costly downstream medical care for members with diet-sensitive conditions. This progression reflects broader Medicaid policy trends as CMS has formalized the in lieu of services authority that California pioneered for addressing social determinants through managed care.

Managed Care

This is outside commentary from Manatt Health, not part of Medicaid Monitor's independently scored news coverage.

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