Title
Oral report from Department of Social Services regarding outreach efforts and data for the Medi-Cal Expansion
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receives an oral report from Department of Social Services regarding outreach efforts and data for the Medi-Cal Expansion.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Effective January 01, 2024, a new law in California provided full scope Medi-Cal to adults ages 26 through 49, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, if otherwise eligible. This initiative called the Age 26 through 49 Adult Expansion was modeled after the Young Adult Expansion, which provided full scope Medi-Cal to young adults ages 19 through 25, and the Older Adult Expansion, which provided full scope Medi-Cal to adults 50 years of age or older.
Prior to implementation the Department of Social Services outreach efforts included informing our county departments and community-based organizations of the Medi-Cal expansion during program overview presentations in 2023. Flyers were also provided at resource fairs and shared via email with over 50 community based partners including but not limited to the Monterey County Health Department, Alisal Health Center, Alliance on Aging, California State University Monterey Bay, Hartnell College, Catholic Charities, Clinica de Salud del Valley de Salinas, Castroville Family Resource Center, King City Mee Memorial, Natividad Medical Center, La Manzana Community Resource, Salinas and Soledad Women, Infants & Children (WIC), Salvation Army, Salud Para la Gente, Seaside Family Health Center and multiple school districts. Social media postings were completed on the department’s Facebook and Instagram platforms. On December 29, 2023, an interview was conducted by Telemundo 23 with our department’s Medi-Cal Analyst and Program Manager and most recently our department shared information during the Monterey County News Briefing on January 17, 2024.
In addition, the California Department of Health Care Services issued General Informational Notices and Frequently Asked Questions to the Medi-Cal restricted scope population at the end of October 2023. These notices were also included in the Medi-Cal application packets provided to all Medi-Cal applicants as of November 2023. The Statewide Automated Welfare System initiated a batch process to transition the Age 26 through 49 recipients from restricted scope Medi-Cal to full scope Medi-Cal effective January 01, 2024. The transition included 8,333 individuals in Monterey County from the existing 189,595 active recipients receiving Medi-Cal services.
Other outreach efforts have included the Health Department’s Planning, Evaluation and Policy (PEP) team who actively engaged in outreach, application support, and expansion notifications for Medi-Cal. The dissemination and application support efforts have reach over 1,000 community members across various locations, including farmers markets, food banks, WIC offices, laundromats, health fairs, agricultural fields, churches, and libraries from July to December 2023. The PEP unit, a part of the Administration Bureau, secured the Farmworker Resource Center grant in January 2023. Employing the Community Health Worker (CHW) model and collaborating with community-based organizations. Between July and December 2023, the Farmworker Resource Center conducted outreach to inform community members about general resources, emphasizing six programmatic areas. Notable activities included supporting public benefit applications like CalFresh and Medi-Cal, advocating for the expansion of Medi-Cal, and facilitating sessions for Medi-Cal and CalFresh information and application assistance. Additionally, in the fall of 2023, the Monterey County Department of Social Services provided training on the age expansion and Medi-Cal application form to county PEP staff, the Farmworker Resource Center (FRC), and VIDA CHW to stay up to date and informed on changes and training of new hires.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Health Department and Natividad Medical Center.
FINANCING:
There is no effect to the County General Fund resulting from the receipt of this presentation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Monterey County Department of Social Services outreach coordination with county departments and community-based organization will continue to ensure program and services are provided equitably for the health and wellbeing of Monterey County residents.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X_Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Annette Gallegos, Special Pay Assistant Deputy Director, Ext. 8952
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, Ext. 4430
Attachments: PowerPoint Presentation