_______________________________________
October 2021 Updates - New County Medi-Cal Plan, State Considers Equity Issues
by Marian Shostrom and Pat Snyder, Co-chairs, Health Care Issues
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pass an ordinance authorizing Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) to serve as the single local plan for Medi-Cal managed care enrollees in the County. It is called a County Organized Health System (COHS) Model. Beginning January 1, 2024, Contra Costa County will change from a Two-Plan Model (CCHP and Anthem Blue Cross) to a Single Plan Model. CCHP has been managing care for 80% of the Medi-Cal patients in the county. CCHP Director Anna Roth assured the Board of Supervisors that CCHP has the capacity to serve the additional Medi-Cal patients.
Mendocino County currently uses that model, and ten Northern California counties are in the process of working with their boards to leave the Regional Model (two commercial plans) and affiliate with a nonprofit plan. Those counties are: Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Butte, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Plumas and Placer.
The 13 members of the Healthy California for All Commission meet regularly to develop a plan for advancing progress toward achieving a health care delivery system for California that provides coverage and access through a unified financing system, including but not limited to a single payer financing system. The Commission met three times in September. Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Bob Ross, MD, CEO of the California Endowment, and Antonia Hernandez, CEO of the California Community Foundation, made presentations on the critical need for Anti-Racism, Affordability, and Equity in our Health System. The Commission will meet October 11th to discuss Provider Payments. Topics for November 4th, December 9th, and January 12th have not been decided. The commission will report to Governor Newsom in January.
LWVC has set up a statewide Health Care Working Group google group listserv for LWVC members to discuss healthcare topics. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 26th from 7:00 - 8:30 on Zoom. To join the group, send an email to Andrew Muse-Fisher at amusefisher [at] lwvc.org.
September 2021 Updates
by Marian Shostrom and Pat Snyder, Co-chairs, Health Care Issues
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Contra Costa Health Services department has worked to address disparities in public health outcomes. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) will be used to support and improve the ongoing response to COVID-19 within Contra Costa County in three main project areas:
- Prevention and Mitigation of COVID- 19,
- Delivery System COVID-19 Treatment and Medical Services, and
- Addressing Disparities in Public Health Outcomes,
with the goal of mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and reducing disparities in vaccination rates and other COVID-19 health outcomes. Read the 2021 Recovery Plan.
LWVC has set up a statewide Health Care Working Group google group listserv for LWVC members to discuss healthcare topics. The group meets the 4th Tuesday of the month on Zoom from 7-8:30 pm. To participate in the discussions and conveniently email other members of the group, you can join by sending an email to Andrew Muse-Fisher at amusefisher [at] lwvc.org. At the next meeting, September 28, 2021, the group will discuss its Mission and Goals.
LWVC continues to follow and support Health Care bills and Mental Health Care bills currently in the California Legislature. LWVC updates bill status daily.
The Healthy California for All Commission met August 25, 2021, on Zoom. The Commissioners discussed systems of accountability to assure improved equity, quality and access to Behavioral Health integration. If you missed the meeting, the video and the presentation can be accessed here. The agenda for the next Commission meeting will be posted ten days prior to the September 23, 2021, meeting. The Commission welcomes public comment before and during the meeting. The Commission will make a report to the Governor when its work is complete.
August 2021 Updates
by Marian Shostrom and Pat Snyder, Co-chairs, Health Care Issues
LWV Diablo Valley co-sponsored a Health Care Caucus at the LWVC Convention. Guest speaker Susan Rogers, MD, president of Physicians for a National Health Program, and nationally recognized advocate for equitable health care, gave a powerful presentation about health care inequities in our current system. LWVDV member Janet Hoy moderated the program which was attended by more than 80 people. If you missed the caucus, you can view it online here.
In late June, about 35 LWV members from 17 local Leagues attended a follow-up meeting. LWVC Board members Susan Rice and Gloria Chun Hoo attended that meeting. The group met again on July 27, 2021. The agenda included time for local Leagues to share health care education programs.
LWVC has set up a statewide Health Care Working Group listserv for LWVC members to discuss various healthcare topics at the state level. By joining this email group, you'll be able to participate in the discussion and conveniently email other members of the group. To join, please reach out to Andrew Muse-Fisher at amusefisher [at] lwvc.org.
The Healthy California for All Commission met July 8, 2021, on Zoom. There was a presentation on Unified Financing Direct Payment Models, as well as a discussion of barriers faced by Vermont in trying to pass a universal health care bill. The Commissioners discussed accountability, integration and care coordination under Unified Financing. If you missed the meeting, you can watch a video, and view the presentation here. The agenda for the next Commission meeting will be posted ten days prior to the August 25, 2021 meeting. The Commission welcomes public comment before and during the meeting.
July 2021 and Earlier
