Community Reinvestment | LHPC Local Impact

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Local Plans Invest
In The Community

What sets Local Health Plans of California members apart is their commitment to not only providing quality care to 70% of Medi-Cal enrollees in 51 counties but also investing beyond Medi-Cal requirements into the communities they serve.

This is best told by VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY.

HEALTH EQUITY & QUALITY

HOUSING

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLBEING

FOOD STABILITY

& NUTRITION

HEQ

Health Equity
& Quality

Local health plans are committed to reducing health care disparities and improving access to quality care for all Californians. Through strategic investments, they are addressing critical needs in underserved communities, from expanding clinic capacity to providing targeted support for maternal health. These efforts are designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, has access to the care and resources they need to live healthier lives.

Street Medicine Reaches Members Where They Are

CalOptima Health provided $4 million to Healthcare in Action to launch its first street medicine program in Garden Grove, CA. Funding covered the first two years of operations, including purchase of a medical van, equipment, supplies, computers/technology, and staff costs for administrative personnel, health care providers, and peer navigators. Using the medical van to canvas the community and reach members living in parks, under freeways, and other unsheltered spaces, the program provides primary care, behavioral health, and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness. Recently, they have expanded the program to Anaheim and Costa Mesa.

“The goal … was to deliver primary care to up to 200 homeless individuals using a medical van. As of the end of the first quarter 2024, a total of 263 individuals have been served… Trained medical staff take the necessary steps to build trust over time and ensure this vulnerable population is treated with the care and respect they deserve…[T]he program has exceeded our expectations and had a positive impact in our community.

—Monica Covarrubias, Sr. Project Manager, City of Garden Grove

Expanding Clinics to Increase Access

To meet an escalating demand for behavioral health services among adolescents and children in San Mateo County, Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) provided a grant to Wellity Health to help them lease additional space and hire more therapists. As a result, Wellity Health will be able to see up to 600 additional HPSM patients, offer a more comprehensive range of treatment options, and provide workforce development opportunities for their staff. This capacity-building program reduces wait times and promotes better access to care.

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Rural Mobile Health Clinics for Central Valley Farmworkers

Kern Family Health Care is supporting rural mobile health clinics serving farmworkers in the Central Valley. Through a partnership with local providers, these clinics focus on outreach and education, chronic conditions, and full physicals for men’s and women’s health. They are also approved through BenefitsCal to enroll eligible farmworkers in Medi-Cal, promoting access to full-scope health coverage and coordinated care.

“We are currently providing 1-2 clinics per week at farmworker worksites. In most cases this is the first time that these individuals have been seen by a doctor… We are able to help a community that is being impacted by diabetes by bringing these clinics to their worksites.

“This community struggles with transportation and basic literacy… Through outreach and education, we must gain the trust of this community and through preventative chronic illness education the community can become healthier…

“We must hold ourselves and the providers accountable to making sure that the experience is flawless and respectful. The only way that we can create a healthy sustainable farmworker community is to ensure that we educate and inform them of the importance of having Medi-Cal and a long-term healthcare plan.”

—Darrell Muniz, COO, California Farmworker Foundation

Addressing Racial Disparities and Lifting Up Black Mothers

Based on data showing significant disparities in maternal and infant outcomes among Black mothers and babies, L.A. Care Health Plan awarded $150,000 to support quality health care and education through the St. John’s Community Health Committed to Black Wellness and Health Program. The program includes classes tailored to Black mothers and families, covering racism, advocacy, prenatal care, childbirth education, breastfeeding, infant care, postpartum wellness, case management, and life-planning in a culturally competent environment. Preliminary data indicates better birth outcomes and lower depression/anxiety scores among mothers who have completed the program.

“By providing education, resources, and advocacy, the program empowered Black mothers and families to make informed decisions about their health care. This led to increased access to quality prenatal care, better understanding of childbirth and infant care practices, and improved postpartum support. Ultimately, these efforts contributed to reducing disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates among Black communities, fostering healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies.

—Heather Alexander, Program Director, St. John's Community Health Committed to Black Wellness and Health Program (CBWH)

Medi-Cal Enrollment Campaigns Increase Access, Lower Costs

During the Medi-Cal redetermination process, millions of Californians were at risk of losing access to care and comprehensive health benefits and services. Without significant outreach and enrollment efforts, populations already experiencing health disparities and who often face barriers to care because of linguistic, cultural, or other reasons could have been disenrolled due to lack of paperwork or confusion.

To prevent widespread loss of vital health coverage, Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) partnered with five CBOs and three FQHCs to ensure Medi-Cal members completed their paperwork and did not lose coverage. As a result of this commitment to health equity and access for all, CBOs reached thousands of residents and helped hundreds of individuals enroll in Medi-Cal.

CCHP’s funding also supported targeted enrollment campaigns for Californians who became newly eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal beginning January 2024. Relying on their trusted relationships with vulnerable populations, local FQHCs successfully enrolled undocumented immigrants into comprehensive benefits and services through Medi-Cal or connected those who were income-ineligible to Covered California.

Housing

Stable housing is a critical foundation for good health, and local health plans are investing in solutions to support vulnerable populations. By funding affordable housing projects, permanent supportive housing, and recuperative care facilities, they are addressing the social determinants of health and helping individuals move from instability to long-term wellness. These initiatives provide not only shelter but also essential services that promote healing and improve overall quality of life for Californians in need.

Multidimensional Housing Supports

Partnership HealthPlan of California helped fund Paul’s Place, an innovative multi-use four-story building that includes a day-use resource center and emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. Created with broad input across the city of Davis, it is designed to help those who are or are at risk of becoming homeless move from the streets to stable housing and improve individual and community health and wellbeing. The resource center connects individuals to public benefits, housing and employment opportunities, and health and human services. It also provides access to food, showers, clothing, restrooms, and laundry facilities. The building, which is owned and operated by Davis Community Meals and Housing, includes 10 transitional housing units and 18 permanent supportive housing apartments. 

“Paul’s Place is an innovative vertical tiny home village that will provide not only shelter but customized wraparound supportive services to meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness – whether for mental health support, addiction recovery, the medically fragile, and/or other social service needs.”

—Robb Davis, Paul’s Place Committee Co-Chair