COVID-19 VACCINATIONS BY ZIP CODE: San Diego County’s Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Report shows the percentage (as of Dec. 4) of the total population of San Diego County residents who are fully vaccinated, by ZIP code of residence. Note that the data only include vaccines that have been recorded in the San Diego Immunization Registry. Some health care providers, including Veteran’s Affairs, the Department of Defense, some tribal entities, and prisons, do not report to the registry.
ICYMI — HASD&IC ANNUAL MEETING DONATIONS: HASD&IC would like to thank the meeting attendees, who donated a total of $2,250. That amount will be matchd and donated to local nonprofit organizations — Monarch School in San Diego County and Imperial Valley College’s Student Housing Program in Imperial County. Both of these organizations help youth experiencing homelessness.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FEDERAL GRANTS UPDATE: On Oct. 25, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded nearly $77.3 million to the Sierra Health Foundation: Center for Health Program Management to implement the Recovery Services Project. The center will make available more than $73.5 million through a request for application to support statewide recovery services for individuals with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders. DHCS and the center will conduct extensive community engagement with diverse stakeholders to define recovery services programs and better understand the unique recovery services needs of local communities. For more information, email BHRRP@dhcs.ca.gov or visit the DHCS website.
CHA AREA WAGE INDEX LITIGATION: CHA has extended the deadline to Dec. 23 for members to join its legal challenge to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ harmful area wage index policies. While CHA’s challenges to the agency’s federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020 and 2021 policies are ongoing, action is required to challenge the policies carried forward into FFY 2022. More details, including the next steps for hospitals interested in participating, are available on the CHA website.
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FOR HOSPITAL STAFF: Powered by SANDAG and in cooperation with the 511 transportation information service, iCommute is the Transportation Demand Management program for the San Diego region. It encourages use of transportation alternatives to help reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions by providing free assistance to employers in the San Diego region to establish and implement customized employee commuter benefit programs. Benefits include lower costs, increased productivity and morale, and demonstrated social and environmental responsibility. From carpooling to vanpooling, iCommute will provide the information, resources, and tools that hospital staff need to leave their solo commute behind. For more information, call 511 and ask for employer services or email iCommute@sandag.org.
