Biweekly Briefing Articles

5 Things To Know: Hospital Leaders Must Let Congress Know Californians Support Medi-Cal

On March 3, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) released a statewide poll that found Californians across party lines overwhelmingly support Medi-Cal. As Congress works on a federal budget for 2026 that could result in devastating cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), it is imperative that hospital leaders let members of Congress know directly the impact these cuts will have on the people and communities they represent.  

5 Things To Know: Imperial County Prepares for 44th Annual Children’s Fair

April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, and this year’s event theme is “It takes a village to raise a child.” On April 5, the 44th Annual Children’s Fair — sponsored in part by the Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention Council — is taking place at Bucklin Park in El Centro from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 100 organizations; businesses; service groups; and federal, state, and local government offices and services will be present to share information about resources to help strengthen families in Imperial County. Emergency services and law enforcement staff will greet families, activities will be available for children of all ages, and food vendors and music will be on site for everyone’s enjoyment. 

5 Things To Know: Public Comments Streamlined at San Diego County Board of Supervisors Meetings

Previously, anyone wanting to speak at a San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting had to fill out a speaker slip before the meeting (either a written slip in person or online to make a public comment by phone). Beginning April 2, anyone can submit a simplified speaker’s slip online during the meeting — at any time before the board starts taking public comment on the item. If commenting by phone, the new system will alert callers when the meeting starts and give real-time notifications about the order of agenda items.

5 Things To Know: Public Comment Requested on Mental Health Services Act Annual Update

From April 1 through May 1, San Diego County is holding a 30-day online public review and comment period for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Update. Final comments will be heard at the Behavioral Health Advisory Board’s May 1 meeting. The annual update will go before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on June 3, subject to change, for review and approval, as required by the Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission, also known as MHSOAC. This will be the final MHSA Annual Report completed before San Diego County Behavioral Health Services shifts to the new Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Integrated Plan. Planning is underway to assess the impact and implement the BHSA’s various new requirements. 

Tackling San Diego’s Behavioral Health Crisis 

As Southern California residents continue to face increased financial pressures, the demand for behavioral health services has grown significantly. With hospitals also under financial duress, it is becoming more challenging to meet the needs of those who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. But with hospitals also under financial duress — 53% of all hospitals statewide lose money every day to deliver patient care — it is becoming more challenging to meet the needs of those who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. At HASD&IC, we understand that behavioral health has a lasting impact on the entire health care system, evidenced by behavioral health being elevated to a top HASD&IC board priority by both the community and our hospitals.

5 Things To Know: Register by Thursday for Upcoming Imperial CalAIM PATH Collaborative Meeting

On March 27 from noon to 3 p.m. (PT), community organizations, county agencies, health care providers, and managed care plans serving Imperial County are invited to an in-person meeting and lunch at the Community Health Plan of Imperial office, hosted by the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Collaborative. The CalAIM PATH Collaborative’s purpose is to build awareness of local enhanced care management and community support services, identify and address gaps, share best practices, explore funding and collaborative opportunities, and use collective resources to make a difference in the community. Attendees must register by March 20. 

5 Things To Know: Street Medicine Summit Offers Hands-On Training and CME

On April 4 from 8:30 a.m. to noon (PT), Live Well San Diego is hosting the quarterly Street Medicine Summit at the county operations center. The summit includes two back-to-back sessions: The first is hands-on wound debridement training and the second is a care coordination solutioning workshop. Participants are eligible to receive continuing medical education (CME) credit for their participation. Event registration closes March 25. 

5 Things To Know: Upcoming Generational Poverty Workshop Brings Fresh Perspectives

On April 3 from 10 a.m. to noon (PT), the Alliance for Regional Solutions is hosting a virtual interactive workshop aimed at bringing a fresh perspective to the long-standing dialogue surrounding generational wealth and poverty in America. The community is invited to register for this free event, where they will use role-playing and discussion to examine the establishment of slavery, the policies that perpetuated racism and inequality, and the social climate that fostered both generational wealth and poverty. MS Dispatch Enhanced Care Access (and its related template is included for comment).