The 2023 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference closed with an informative keynote about progress being made under CalAIM. Speakers included Bihu Sandhir, MD, chief quality officer at AltaMed Health Services; Les Ybarra, president of Anthem’s California Medicaid Health Plan; and Louise McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los … Read more

California Assembly Health Committee members unanimously passed the Behavioral Health Services Act through Senate Bill 326 during their meeting last month, despite strong opposition from meeting attendees. The bill aims to address the remaining gaps within behavioral healthcare services, and it will be up for a public vote during the March 5th statewide primary election.  … Read more

At the 2023 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy conference, leaders discussed a key issue facing both the state of California and the entire country—permanent and affordable housing.  Earlier this year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency to accelerate resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. A primary issue contributing … Read more

Healthcare leaders discussed the implementation of CalAIM, a multi-year plan to transform the state’s Medi-Cal program for a more seamless connection to additional social services, at the 2023 State of Reform Southern California Health Policy Conference.  Part of the CalAIM initiative engages community-based health organizations for better integration between clinical providers and health plans through … Read more

At the 2023 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference last week, leaders of local public health departments discussed crucial lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to bolster public health in the region going forward.  Muntu Davis, MD, is the county health officer of the Public Health Department of Los … Read more

The California Black Women’s Health Project (CABWHP), a statewide nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of Black women, is continuing the fight to address medical racism and emphasize that Black women are able to have joyous births amidst a nationwide Black maternal and infant mortality crisis.  Raena Granberry, senior manager of Maternal and … Read more

At the California Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) Affordability Board meeting earlier this week, members discussed new protocols healthcare entities engaging in transactions must take, including the potential for a cost and market impact review (CMIR).  Regulatory changes will go into effect on Jan. 1st, 2024, and fall under Senate Bill 184, which was … Read more

The ongoing opioid crisis has led to more Californian state officials and healthcare leaders promoting MAT, or medication assisted treatment. While research has shown that MAT increases positive outcomes for those living with substance use disorder (SUD), it comes with its own barriers.  MAT combines the use of medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to … Read more

Last month, California’s Department of Health Care Services announced the availability of over $41 million in funding available to community-based and tribal organizations to widen youth substance use prevention services. Organizations have until August 28th to submit applications of up to $1 million to implement the Elevate Youth Program.  The goal of the Elevate Youth … Read more

At the beginning of the month, California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) opened a 30-day public comment period to gain feedback on its Section 1115 demonstration request for the California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment, or BH-CONNECT. The department hosted a forum to explain initiatives for the waiver demonstration, … Read more