CalAIM Community Support
CalAIM Assisted Living Transitions
Nursing Facility Transition & Diversion
Zeal supports eligible Medi-Cal managed care members with Assisted Living Facility Transitions—from a nursing facility, or to avoid long-term nursing-facility placement—when authorized by their health plan.
Please do not send medical records, Social Security numbers or detailed health information through ordinary email.
This service was formerly called Nursing Facility Transition/Diversion to Assisted Living Facilities and may also be described as an SNF-to-ALF or SNF-to-RCFE transition.
Medi-Cal Community Support
Health-plan authorization required
Room and board are not covered
Eligibility
Who may qualify?
The member’s Medi-Cal managed care plan determines eligibility and authorization. People who may qualify include:
People living in the community
A person who wants to avoid nursing-facility placement, can reside safely in assisted living and meets applicable nursing-facility level-of-care criteria.Members in acute or post-acute care
Members receiving facility-level health care on an acute or post-acute basis, including hospitalization or a short-term skilled nursing facility stay, may qualify if they otherwise meet the eligibility criteria.For this Community Support, an assisted living facility (ALF) includes a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) or Adult Residential Facility (ARF).
A clear path forward
How to make a CalAIM referral
A referral starts a review. It does not guarantee authorization or placement.
Start a referral inquiry
Contact Zeal or ask the member’s health plan or care team to consider ALF Transitions.Plan review
The Medi-Cal managed care plan reviews eligibility, medical appropriateness and authorization.Assess needs and fit
The care team considers goals, support needs, safe facility fit, admission requirements and capacity.Coordinate the transition
When authorized and appropriate, the team coordinates documents, communication, move planning and approved supports.How Zeal can help
Support may include
Specific services depend on the member’s needs and health-plan authorization. Explore Zeal’s assisted living services.
Goals and needs review
Review the member’s goals, care needs and potential assisted living options.Applications and documents
Help coordinate applications, documents and communication with the health plan and care team.Residence selection
Support the search for an appropriate residence based on safe fit, requirements and capacity. View Zeal assisted living communities.Move planning
Coordinate approved moving needs, essential supplies and communication with facility administration.Daily living support
Coordinate authorized help with daily activities, meals, medication oversight, transportation and social programming.Care coordination
Support communication among the member, family, health plan, care team and assisted living setting.Before you refer
Important coverage limits
- Room and board are not covered by this Community Support.
- A referral does not guarantee health-plan authorization, facility admission, placement or payment.
- Availability depends on county, Medi-Cal managed care plan, authorization, provider capacity and safe facility fit.
- Members may be eligible for ALF Transitions and the Assisted Living Waiver or California Community Transitions, but they cannot receive duplicative services or payments at the same time. The health plan coordinates services to avoid overlap.
- Transition services end once the member establishes residence in the ALF. Authorized ongoing assisted living services have no fixed time limit and may continue while the member maintains ALF residency.
Start here
Start a CalAIM Assisted Living Transition referral
Healthcare providers, social-service providers, community-based organizations, members, family members, caregivers and guardians may ask the member’s Medi-Cal managed care plan to consider ALF Transitions.Zeal can explain the next steps, but the member’s plan determines eligibility and authorizes benefits.Phone(858) 222-2787
Press 3 for CalAIM
Privacy note Use email only for an initial inquiry. Do not send medical records, Social Security numbers or detailed health information through ordinary email. Our team will explain the secure information and documents needed for referral screening.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Does the ALF Transitions Community Support cover room and board?
No. Room and board are not included in this Community Support. Members may receive room-and-board assistance from other sources.
Is enrollment in Enhanced Care Management required?
No. Enhanced Care Management enrollment is not required. For members already enrolled in ECM, the health plan coordinates ALF Transitions with the ECM care manager. ALF Transitions complements but does not replace ECM or required Transitional Care Services.
Does a referral guarantee placement?
No. The member’s health plan determines eligibility and authorization. Placement also depends on safe facility fit, admission requirements and available capacity.
Who can ask for a referral?
A member, family member, caregiver, guardian, healthcare provider, social-service provider or community-based organization may request consideration through the member’s Medi-Cal managed care plan.
Where can I find official program information?
Program notice: Eligibility and authorization are determined by the member’s Medi-Cal managed care plan. A referral does not guarantee approval or placement. Room and board are not covered by this Community Support. Services and participating providers vary by county and health plan.
Last reviewed August 28, 2026. Program information is based on the California DHCS Community Supports Policy Guide.