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County accepts $2.5 million CalAIM Path 3 award to strengthen reentry services; supervisors cautious on sustainability
Summary
Inyo County accepted a roughly $2.5 million CalAIM Path 3 planning and implementation grant to improve continuity of Medi‑Cal services for people leaving incarceration. Probation and health officials said funds are short‑term and will support IT, billing and warm‑handoff systems; supervisors raised concerns about long‑term sustainability.
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 7 to accept a CalAIM Path 3 planning and implementation award intended to help coordinate Medi‑Cal–claimable health and behavioral services for people leaving incarceration.
Chief Probation Officer Jeff Thompson described the award as “path 3 funding” intended for planning and implementation that allows counties to establish billing systems, protocols with contracted juvenile and adult facilities, and IT tools to improve continuity of care. “They came back with the fundings that you see here, 2 and a half million dollars,” Thompson said, explaining that the funding is available through the state and is expected to be expended by March 31, 2026.
Thompson and other staff emphasized the award is a short‑term planning and implementation grant rather than a permanent operating subsidy; small rural counties such as Inyo will still need other funding sources if they are to maintain services beyond the grant period, Thompson said. Supervisors pressed on sustainability and whether small counties can generate enough Medi‑Cal billings to support ongoing operations. Thompson and Health & Human Services staff outlined that the county has already built significant parts of the electronic health record and billing infrastructure for adult services and plans to “piggyback” juvenile reentry services onto those systems.
Board members generally supported application of the funds for system building and warm‑handoffs but asked staff to be cautious on hiring commitments and to monitor waiver continuation nationally. The board voted to accept the CalAIM funds and direct staff to coordinate implementation and periodic progress reports.
What happens next: Probation and Health & Human Services will develop implementation plans and protocols, pursue necessary vendor and IT work, and report back to the board on progress and sustainability options.
