About Medi-Cal
Every year, California’s hospitals treat millions of patients, many of them covered by Medi-Cal, the state’s health care safety net. This includes numerous essential health care services for Californians, including care for more than 50% of all births, 46% of behavioral health-related emergency department visits, 58% of rural hospital patient care days, 1 million inpatient stays, and nearly 16 million outpatient visits in 2018. CHA is committed to protecting Medi-Cal rates and assuring that the state’s neediest maintain access to the high quality of care that all Californians deserve.
5 Things To Know: San Diego County Budget, State Budget May Revision, Mental Health Awareness Month, Mark Your Calendars, New Substance Use Disorder Resources
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BUDGET: The county has released its 2023-24 budget, which addresses a number of issues — homelessness, building healthy and safe communities, investing in working families, mental health and substance use disorders, sustainability, and justice reform. There is an opportunity for the community to comment and provide input before the board deliberates and adopts a budget at the end of June. Community meetings are being held this week, and next month, public hearings will take place.
5 Things To Know: Fentanyl Awareness Day, Hospitals Needed For Performance Improvement Project, Base Station Hospital System And Trauma Center Catchment Area Designations Assessment, Covid-19 Data Reporting, Medi-Cal Scam Alert
FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY: People are dying at alarming rates due to illicit fentanyl, and May 9 is dedicated to raising awareness about this growing problem. Data from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office show that fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased 2,375% in San Diego County, from 33 in 2016 to at least 817 in 2021. In Imperial County, seizures of fentanyl increased 272% from fiscal year (FY) 2019 to the third quarter of FY 2022, from 40 pounds to 149 pounds. More information is available on the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency’s website.
5 Things To Know: Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Medi-Cal Rx, Minority Fellowship Program, Patient Safety Evaluation Summit, Behavioral Health System
PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) is conducting two public safety power shutoff (PSPS) exercises and welcomes the attendance and participation of external stakeholders:
PSPS Tabletop Exercise: April 11, 8 a.m.-noon
PSPS Full-Scale Exercise: May 1-2
If you are interested in participating, please complete the Extent of Play Agreement and email a PDF copy to EMTrainingExercise@sdge.com. If you are interested in scheduling a tour for your organization, please reach out to EmergencyServices_SDGE@sdge.com
5 Things To Know: COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program, Medi-Cal and CalFresh, Funding Opportunity, Health Plans, COVID-19 Health Orders
COVID-19 UNINSURED GROUP PROGRAM: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is clarifying that coverage for this group expires on May 31 — the last day of the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency ends — not May 11. California has taken advantage of the “optional COVID-19 group,” which provides uninsured and underinsured individuals with Medi-Cal coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment at no cost to the individual through the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program. Beginning March 20, DHCS will send the individuals in this group a sunset notice in their preferred language with a copy of the “Application for Health Insurance” and a “Notice of Language Services.”
5 Things To Know: Office of Health Care Affordability, Medi-Cal Budget Request, Veterans in Suicidal Crisis, Empath Unit Deadline Extended, Behavioral Health Playbook
OFFICE OF HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY: The California Hospital Association (CHA) has developed a web page for the new Office of Health Care Affordability. The web page contains background information on the office’s main responsibilities and implementation timelines. It will be updated as new information becomes available. Contact Ben Johnson at bjohnson@calhospital.org with any questions.
5 Things To Know: Webinar Speakers Needed, Care Court Implementation Funding, CHA Advocacy Materials, Medi-Cal RX, Scholarship Applications
WEBINAR SPEAKERS NEEDED: As part of their commitment to advancing safe, quality care, the Hospital Quality Institute/Collaborative Healthcare Patient Safety Organization, are launching a campaign to identify and recruit experts/front-line professionals who can speak on a variety of topics. Those topics include:
Please reach out to Asma Ahmad at aahmad@chpso.org or (916) 552-2601 if there are individuals within your organization who have expertise in these subject areas (or on a topic that’s not listed) and would be willing to present for a one-hour webinar. In addition to the presentation, when appropriate, HQI/CHPSO intends to present real cases from the CHPSO database that will augment and enhance these forums.
5 Things To Know: Fentanyl Screening, Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), CHA Forum, State of Emergency, Behavioral Health
FENTANYL SCREENING: The California Department of Public Health has issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL) 22-25 on fentanyl screening. The AFL notifies general acute care hospitals (GACH) of the passage of Senate Bill 864 (Chapter 169, Statutes of 2022) and its requirement that a GACH that is conducting a diagnostic urine drug screening must also include testing for fentanyl, until Jan. 1, 2028. For questions about this AFL, hospitals should contact their respective district office.
5 Things To Know: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), Nursing Grants, Report on State Legislation, Medi-Cal RX Expansion, AHA Suicide Prevention Resources
COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA): Please join HASD&IC and CHNA-participating hospitals, health systems, and health districts for a community stakeholder briefing from 10 to 11:30 a.m. (PT) Nov. 29. The briefing will include a presentation on the 2022 CHNA as well as a discussion about potential future research and the next steps to address the identified community needs. Please forward this information to anyone in your network who might be interested in attending. The 2022 CHNA report is available on the HASD&IC website. After reviewing the report, please consider sharing your feedback through our survey.
5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Fraud Prevention Training, Retention Payment Program, Behavioral Health Funding Opportunities, Skilled-Nursing Facilities, Community College Instructors Needed
MEDI-CAL FRAUD PREVENTION TRAINING: The Department of Health Care Services Investigations Division will join HASD&IC for a webinar on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon (PT) to provide Medi-Cal Fraud Prevention Training. The main objective of this training is to help preserve professional ethics and integrity to ensure that Medi-Cal benefits and other public program benefits are provided only to eligible persons. Attendees will hear potential fraud indicators and appropriate actions to take if they do encounter a suspicious situation. This training opportunity is highly encouraged for any hospital or vendor staff who assist patients with their Medi-Cal application and is a great opportunity to ask any questions about Medi-Cal fraud concerns. Please pass along the invitation to any staff and colleagues who would be interested in attending.
5 Things To Know: Imperial County, Reminder — CDPH Leadership Updates and District Session, Addressing Homelessness, MEDICARE MEDI-CAL Plans (MMPS), Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program Application Cycles
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Larry Lewis, who has been Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District CEO since 2012, has been hired to lead the Imperial County Local Health Authority. The announcement was made at the commission meeting on Oct. 10. He will assume responsibilities with the health authority on Nov. 14. We thank Larry for his years of service on the HASD&IC board and for his leadership at Pioneers to enhance the health and well-being of Imperial County communities. We wish him the best in his next endeavor and look forward to working with him in his new role.