State Policy · CA
NAMD Honors California's Medi-Cal Community Supports Program
The National Association of Medicaid Directors gave California a 2026 Spotlight Award for its Medi-Cal Community Supports initiative, which has reached more than half a million members. NAMD credits the program's non-medical services, such as housing and nutrition supports, with improving health outcomes while generating net savings for the Medicaid program. The recognition highlights California's approach as a model for other states seeking to address social drivers of health within managed care. No new policy action or funding mechanism accompanies the award; it is a recognition of existing program results.
Why it mattersState Medicaid agencies and MCOs evaluating social-needs interventions can point to California's documented outcomes and savings data as evidence supporting investment in similar community supports benefits.