Enhanced Care Management

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) is a new, statewide Medi-Cal benefit available to eligible members with complex medical and social needs. 

The goal of ECM is to provide a whole-person approach to care that addresses the clinical and non-clinical needs of CenCal Health members in San Luis Obispo County. 

ECM provides comprehensive care services to specific populations of focus through systemic coordination that is collaborative, interdisciplinary, community-based, high-touch, and person-centered. 

The overall goal of the ECM benefit is to provide comprehensive care and achieve better health outcomes.

The seven core services are:

1. Outreach and engagement
2. Comprehensive assessment and care management plan
3. Enhanced care coordination
4. Health promotion
5. Comprehensive transitional care
6. Member and family supports
7. Coordination of and referral to community and social support services

Who qualifies for Enhanced Care Management?

San Luis Obispo County’s Enhanced Care Management program is currently available to SLO County residents including: 

• Individuals and families experiencing homelessness 

• Individuals who are at risk for avoidable hospital or emergency department care 

• Adults and youth transitioning from jail, prison or juvenile correctional facility within the past 12 months. 

To be eligible for ECM, members must be enrolled in CenCal Health (San Luis Obispo County’s Medi-Cal managed care health plan) and fit into at least one of the populations mentioned. ECM will provide these members with long-term help coordinating their services across delivery systems to address their needs. 

The ECM Program provides extra services to help individuals get the care they need to stay healthy at no cost by coordinating the care received from various doctors and services. 

How to enroll into the ECM Program for interested individuals

If you are a service provider for San Luis Obispo County, click the link here to fill out the ECM referral form for clients you believe are ECM eligible. All types of social services, non-profit and medical providers can refer clients by completing this form. 

Note it may take up to ten business days to confirm ECM eligibility and be assigned a Provider. 

If you qualify for San Luis Obispo County’s ECM Program, you will be contacted by an ECM Provider also known as the ECM Lead Care Manager. This person will coordinate care between: 

• You 

• Our doctors  

• Specialists  

• Pharmacists  

• Case Managers  

• Social services providers  

• Other additional resources and services 

Your ECM Lead Care Manager will make sure everyone works together to get the care you need and can help you find and apply to other services in your community.  

Through the Enhanced Care Management Program, the Health Agency hopes to improve population health, enhance the care experience for Members, and improve care coordination between providers. 

For more information, please visit the Enhanced Care Management guide provided by the California Department of Health Care Services here.

Contact us

If you would like to speak to someone about your eligibility for this program, contact us by phone at 805-781-4838. You can also email us at ph.ecm@co.slo.ca.us.

Health Care Access / Health Care Navigation

Health Care Navigation is a service that helps SLO County residents get access to the health care they need. This is a personal service that is different for every individual. It may mean connecting you with insurance, helping find a doctor who accepts your insurance, answering questions about a medical bill, or helping you navigate the health care system in other ways. 

If you do not currently have health insurance: Health Care Access and Navigation staff can help you find insurance so you can get the care you need. Our nurse navigator and eligibility worker gather information to determine if you may be eligible for Medi-Cal, the Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP) or Covered California. They can also help you apply for these programs. 

If you do have health insurance: Our knowledgeable staff also answer questions and help find solutions for people who have insurance but are not sure how or where to access care or how to find affordable health care solutions to their problems. 

If you have not been successful meeting your medical needs and aren’t sure what to do next, contact the Health Care Access and Navigation staff for a free, confidential evaluation of your needs at 805-781-4838 or by email.

Language Support Services

Public Health is committed to providing services in the language you speak. We provide qualified interpreters upon request to ensure effective communication and accessibility. 

Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)

Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP) assists qualified low-income residents who have an immediate medical need but have no source of health coverage available and no other way to pay for necessary medical care.

You may qualify for MISP if:

• You are 19–64 years old
• You have income over 138% and up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
• You have limited assets (cash and property)
• You have a current medical need that MISP covers   
• You have no other source of health coverage available
• You are not eligible for Medi-Cal or any other public health coverage
• You are a resident of SLO County and a legal resident of the U.S.
• You have a qualified hardship (see list below) exemption from the tax penalty for not having minimum essential health coverage. A qualified hardship, or exemption, is the reason or cause that prevented you from obtaining health insurance. Click here for more information about the federal law, tax penalty, and the exemption.

Oral Health

The Public Health Department works with numerous community partners on policy development, oral health education, increasing access to dental care, and ensuring every child has a primary or 'home base' dentist. Since preventing cavities in early childhood reduces the risk of dental disease for a lifetime, the program also provides limited preventive services for children enrolled in the WIC program and home-based Head Start programs. The Oral Health Coalition meets regularly at the Public Health Department. Coalition members help set direction and establish a strategic plan every three years.