California Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS)

Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) is Medi-Cal’s adult day health benefit. It pays for a day program at a licensed center that provides nursing, therapy, personal care, meals and social activities to adults with chronic medical, cognitive or mental health conditions. For the wider picture, see our California Long-Term Care Medicaid guide.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

At a glance

Item	Details
Type of program	Medicaid adult day health benefit
Who runs it	California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), through Medi-Cal managed care plans; centers licensed by the California Department of Aging
Age	18 and older
Care need	Meets CBAS medical criteria (for example, a nursing facility level of care, dementia, or other qualifying conditions)
California 2026 income rule (long-term care)	No fixed cap for nursing home care (income above allowances goes toward the cost of care)
California 2026 asset limit (single applicant)	$130,000 in countable (nonexempt) property
Waiting list	Depends on center capacity

CBAS in brief

In short, CBAS is run by California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), through Medi-Cal managed care plans; centers licensed by the California Department of Aging. It serves 18 and older, and the care requirement is: Meets CBAS medical criteria (for example, a nursing facility level of care, dementia, or other qualifying conditions). As for waiting: Depends on center capacity. More detail on each point follows, and the California state guide covers the shared financial rules. If CBAS is not the right fit, the related pages at the end point to other California programs and general guides.

What the program is

CBAS replaced California’s older Adult Day Health Care benefit and is now delivered mainly through Medi-Cal managed care plans. Each participant has an individual plan of care developed by the center’s team, which typically includes a nurse, social worker and therapists. Transportation to and from the center is often included.

Adult day health is a daytime program in a licensed center: a participant usually attends several days a week and goes home in the evening. Centers add nursing oversight, therapy and medication help to the meals, activities and supervision of an ordinary day program. For working caregivers, this daytime coverage often keeps a parent at home. See Adult day care.

Who qualifies in 2026

Eligibility for CBAS comes down to these points. The person:

Is 18 or older and has Medi-Cal (usually through a managed care plan)
Meets CBAS eligibility criteria, such as a nursing facility level of care, moderate to severe dementia, a developmental disability, or a chronic mental or brain condition with need for help
Needs the services a CBAS center provides and can benefit from them

Income and assets. The person must have Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal’s rules are explained in our California guide. The table’s figures are California’s 2026 long-term care numbers, taken from our state guide. Exempt items generally include the home within the equity cap, a car, household goods and a modest burial fund. If only one spouse needs CBAS, spousal impoverishment rules protect assets and income for the other. See Spousal impoverishment rules.

How the care assessment works. Medi-Cal’s assessment covers daily activities, from bathing and dressing to toileting and medications, plus memory and safety. The visit is normally face to face, at home or in a hospital or facility. Have a relative present to describe the hard days, and keep a medication and diagnosis list handy. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.

What services it can pay for

Services depend on the person’s assessed needs and written care plan. Depending on the plan, they can include:

Professional nursing
Physical, occupational and speech therapy
Personal care and supervision
Social services
Meals
Therapeutic activities
Transportation to and from the center

The menu is broad, but the plan is built from need, and unpaid family help is factored in. If needs change, ask for a new assessment.

How to apply

Getting CBAS means passing a money test and a care test. Step by step:

Find a CBAS center near you and visit.
Contact your Medi-Cal managed care plan (or the center) to request a CBAS eligibility assessment.
A face-to-face assessment is done to check whether you meet the criteria.
If approved, the center’s team writes an individual plan of care and sets days of attendance.

For the paperwork, use our documents checklist before applying for CBAS; Applying for a waiver explains the general process.

Waiting lists

There is no statewide waiting list, but individual centers may be full.

More on how lists work: Waiver waiting lists.

How it relates to nursing home Medicaid

CBAS helps people who might otherwise need a nursing home by providing health care and supervision during the day. It does not replace overnight care, which family or IHSS often provide. Medi-Cal’s financial rules (see our California guide) apply.

Where the nursing home rules still apply. Most money rules carry over from nursing home Medicaid. The five-year look-back still matters: a transfer for less than fair value can delay payment for long-term care services. Medi-Cal can also use estate recovery to seek repayment for long-term care services received after 55. Some participants pay a monthly share of income toward services.

If a nursing home becomes necessary. A California nursing home resident keeps a 2026 personal needs allowance of $35 a month, and most other income goes to the facility. Our state guide covers the nursing home rules in detail.

Tips for families

Start early. If there is a waiting list or a slow assessment, the clock usually starts when you ask, not when the crisis comes.
Document everything, from forms and letters to who you spoke with at Medi-Cal and when.
Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
Tell Medi-Cal about changes in money, address or household as they happen.
Mark renewal dates. Eligibility and the care plan are usually reviewed annually; see Renewals.
Think about the spouse at home. Couples have extra protections, but they have to be claimed. A certified Medicaid planner or a legal aid office can explain how the rules apply to a particular family.

Common questions

How many days a week can someone attend? Days are set in the individual plan of care, based on need.

Is transportation included? Usually yes.

Can I use CBAS with IHSS? Yes. Many people use both.

Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.