Housing Support Plan (HSP) Quality Review Tool - Managed Care Plan (MCP) and Provider Checklist

Sep 21, 2026

Housing Support Plan (HSP) Quality Review Tool outlines how Managed Care Plans (MCPs) and Housing Community Supports providers should authorize, reauthorize, review, and improve Housing Support Plans tied to Transitional Rent and related housing Community Supports. The tool defines minimum HSP content for authorization and explains what constitutes a strong HSP aligned with DHCS policy. It also addresses Medi-Cal access barriers, helping referrals, documentation quality, and consistent UM decision-making while clarifying when HSPs are not required for certain services.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Why HSPs are needed

Shared understanding goals

Instructions

Purpose and usage

For Providers and Referrers

For Managed Care Plan Staff

About CSH CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 170 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit [www.csh.org](www.csh.org). Copyright © December 2025. CSH. All rights reserved. This tool or any portion thereof may be reproduced or used to support implementation of housing and service programs. Other uses require the express written permission of CSH. Authors Lauren Turner, CSH Alison Klurfeld, Klurfeld Consulting, LLC We thank the California Health Care Foundation for their generous support of this work. Housing Support Plan (HSP) Quality Review Tool: Managed Care Plan (MCP) and Provider Checklist Background: California will launch Transitional Rent in January 2026, adding to the existing suite of housing Community Supports. Housing Support Plans (HSPs) will be required for authorization of Transitional Rent and Housing Deposits and may also be required by MCPs for reauthorization of some other services, and/or for oversight of housing Community Supports providers’ service quality. HSPs are developed based on member housing needs assessments and other member information. Medi-Cal Members have a hard time accessing permanent housing because housing supply is scarce and highly competitive, so placement can often take a significant time to secure. Providers need time to identify and document a viable permanent housing strategy in the HSP. Given these challenges, MCPs and providers will need to have a shared understanding of: 1) What minimum information an HSP must contain for authorization, and 2) What makes a good (or even great) HSP. This understanding should be aligned with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) policy and consistent within and across MCP and provider organizations so that authorization decisions are fair and uniform. It will also help Medi-Cal members receive high-quality services that promote successful housing placement and retention outcomes. This checklist was created by the Housing Community Supports Implementation Advisory Committee with input from DHCS and CBHDA. In addition, 24 Advisory Committee members voted on the required elements, including 11 MCPs, 4 Housing Community Supports providers, 2 County Housing/Homeless departments, 3 County Behavioral Health Departments, 2 consultants, 1 person with lived experience of homelessness, and 1 Public Housing Authority. For more information regarding the Advisory Committee, visit our website: [HousingCSTools.org](HousingCSTools.org). Instructions: This checklist is designed to be used by Housing Community Supports providers and referrers as well as by MCP Staff. This checklist can support authorization and reauthorization processes, quality oversight and improvement for housing Community Supports, and the development of effective and compliant HSPs for members. • This checklist is NOT an HSP template. This checklist can be used to review any HSP, in any format. • This checklist can be used to review both new and amended HSPs. • Consistent with DHCS policy, MCPs may not require HSPs for initial authorizations of Housing Transition Navigation Services (HTNS), Housing Tenancy Sustaining Services (HTSS), recuperative care, or short-term post-hosp

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Housing Support Plan (HSP) Quality Review Tool?

It supports authorization and reauthorization processes and enables quality oversight and improvement for Housing Community Supports by helping reviewers assess whether HSPs meet minimum requirements and best practices.

What minimum information should an HSP contain, according to the tool?

The tool sets a framework for minimum HSP elements required for authorization, aligned with DHCS policy, and guides consistency across MCP and provider organizations.

When can MCPs avoid requiring HSPs for initial authorization of certain services?

Consistent with DHCS policy, MCPs may not require HSPs for initial authorizations of Housing Transition Navigation Services (HTNS), Housing Tenancy Sustaining Services (HTSS), recuperative care, or short-term post-hospitalization housing.

Sep 21, 2026

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