About Patients Experiencing Homelessness
Homelessness in California is at a crisis point, and hospitals are on the front lines. Teams of hospital social workers, case managers, nurses, doctors, and others, work tirelessly to meet the complex needs of Californians experiencing homelessness. They employ comprehensive strategies to care for and safely discharge their homeless patients, addressing their complex social needs with food, clothing, medications, connections to community-based services, and more. But just as the reasons for homelessness are multi-faceted, so too are solutions, which must include more than just hospitals. Civic leaders, elected officials, the business community, non-profit, and social service organizations all will play a vital role in addressing this crisis.
What ‘Stranger Things’ Shows Us About Relationships
If your house is anything like mine, lately you’ve probably been hearing a lot about Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things.” You may even be a fan of it yourself. You’re probably also well aware that the show centers on a number of mysteries and supernatural events occurring around the fictitious town of Hawkins, Indiana.
5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Eligibility, National Hospital Week, Rural Floor Court Ruling
MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY FOR NEW UKRAINIAN ARRIVALS: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released a Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letter to provide guidance to counties on the Medi-Cal eligibility of Ukrainian nationals arriving in California. It is anticipated that a significant number will resettle in California. The federal government has not provided any special benefit eligibility for this population, but has authorized the use of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainian arrivals who qualify. Many of the Ukrainian arrivals may enter under TPS or as humanitarian parolees and may not be eligible for the traditional federal services offered to immigrants granted refugee status. However, they may qualify for state-funded programs, including state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal. The letter provides guidance on how to establish Medi-Cal eligibility for this population (based on current Medi-Cal policy) for state and federal Medi-Cal benefits. DHCS will work closely with the state Office of Refugee Health and stakeholders to ensure that new Ukrainian arrivals receive the Medi-Cal benefits to which they are entitled.
5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Expansion, HASD&IC Partnership Championed, Youth Drug Webinar
IMPERIAL VALLEY HOMELESSNESS: At the April 12 Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Imperial Valley Continuum of Care Council Administrative Entity provided details of how they are addressing homelessness and overall accomplishments so far. Updates include a redesign of an operating Coordinated Entry System, the entity’s pandemic response (a region-wide survey to understand needs), update on current continuum of care programs, and projects such as the new Homeless Day Center that will provide services to over 700 individuals per year, Lotus Living Community (transitional housing) for Imperial Valley College students, and youth programs for those experiencing homelessness that have served 156 youth.
5 Things To Know: CHNA Survey, Homelessness Report, Medi-Cal Rx
CHNA SURVEY: ICYMI in the Feb. 16 Biweekly, HASD&IC asked for your help in connecting with communities across San Diego County for the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Please consider promoting the survey through your organization’s communication venues, including newsletters, public distribution lists, social media, employee distribution lists, etc. To assist members with promotion, HASD&IC has created a social media toolkit with text and images. The CHNA survey is available in six languages — English, Arabic, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
5 Things To Know: Workforce Council Meeting, Ambulance Patient Offload Times, Domestic Violence Training
MEDI-CAL MANAGED CARE RFP: On Feb. 9, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released a request for proposal (RFP) for its commercial Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) contracts. While this RFP is only for commercial Medi-Cal MCPs, the updated contract will be executed with all Medi-Cal MCPs, including County Organized Health Systems, Local Initiatives, and the new Single Plan Model. The updated MCP contract, which is released with the RFP, also serves as the minimum definition of requirements. MCP proposals are due April 11, and DHCS expects to award contracts to selected plans in August. New contracts will become effective Jan. 1, 2024. A voluntary pre-proposal web conference will be held on Feb. 24 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (PT). Pre-registration is required, and questions will be taken only via the webinar chat feature.
5 Things To Know: Governor’s Budget Proposal, Behavioral Health Grants, Skilled-Nursing Facility Updates
NEW LIVE WELL ON WHEELS BUS: During a Feb. 1 press conference, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and the Health and Human Services Agency announced the addition of a second Live Well on Wheels (WOW) bus. The bus will provide and deliver same-day services such as health care and food assistance, application assistance, or linkage to mental health services. In 2021, the Live WOW bus served nearly 23,000 people at more than 200 community events, mostly for COVID-19 services. Two additional Live WOW buses and one Public Health Lab bus are also on the way. These buses are available by request to attend community events that are co-hosted by community partners.
5 Things To Know: Vaccine Mandates Chart, Children’s Covid-19 Vaccine, Shigella Outbreak
IMPERIAL COUNTY LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY: The Local Health Authority Commission met in closed session on Nov. 8 for discussion of current and potential contracting models relating to Knox Keene licensing, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code § 14087.38 (m) (n).
5 Things To Know: Disaster Planning, EMS Changes, Addressing Chronic Homelessness
Addressing Chronic Homelessness: On June 28, the first phase of a partnership between the City and County of San Diego launched, with outreach teams hitting the streets to address the immediate and long-term challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. This month-long outreach campaign is designed to connect individuals to immediate shelter, housing navigation and behavioral health services, and medical care. The second phase, scheduled to launch in August, will address the struggle of those who experience chronic homelessness with severe substance use disorder. It will connect them with teams who can link them to health and social services, including specialized temporary housing, regardless of the status of their sobriety.
5 Things To Know: Cross-Border Vaccination Planning, Tiny Home Village, City Council Special Election
Medi-Cal Managed Care: Last fall, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) began the process of re-procuring Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts. At the end of April, DHCS provided updates on both San Diego and Imperial counties. Imperial County submitted a request to create a County Organized Health System with California Health and Wellness; San Diego County decided not to pursue a local health initiative model, and DHCS indicated that it will award no more than two Medi-Cal managed care contracts in San Diego County. The draft request for proposal is expected in the next few weeks, but the changes will not take place until 2024.
5 Things To Know: June 15 Reopening, Project 100% Eliminated, Imperial County COVID-19 Cases
New Ambulance Provider: The San Diego City Council voted 9-0 at its April 13 meeting to switch ambulance providers from American Medical Response (AMR) to Falck, a Danish company that is the largest ambulance operator in the world. This is the first time in 32 years that San Diego will have a new ambulance provider. The five-year contract requires a six-month transition period from AMR to Falck.