Title
Receive an oral report from the Health Department updating County efforts of the Whole Person Care (WPC) pilot program.
Presenter: Ezequiel Vega, Assistant Director, Health Department
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors:
Receive an oral report and PowerPoint Presentation from the Health Department regarding County efforts of the Whole Person Care pilot program.
Presenter: Ezequiel Vega, Assistant Director, Health Department
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
WPC is a system changing program that coordinates comprehensive health, behavioral health, and social services case management to (1) improve enrollee health and reduce over-utilization of hospital resources. The program will serve a minimum of 600 Medi-Cal enrollees before December 2020 who are (1) homeless/chronically homeless, (2) may have mental illness and/or substance use, and/or (3) may have multiple chronic disease diagnoses. Beyond 2020, the WPC model will become the “new normal” with sustainable Medi-Cal funding.
The initial WPC focus population (high utilizers) of this program is exclusively homeless and chronically homeless Medi-Cal recipients or Medi-Cal eligible persons (including those released from jail) and having three two or more of the following characteristics: diagnosed mental illness, four two or more MHU admissions in the prior year, diagnosed substance use disorder, two or more chronic health diagnoses, three two or more ED visits within the prior six 12 months, two one or more hospital admissions within the prior six 12 months, or five two or more prescribed medications.
New approaches developed under WPC are:
• Complex, comprehensive care coordination
• Interdisciplinary teams headed public health nurses
• Health, mental health, housing, and vulnerability assessments
• Health & services appointment navigation and transportation
• Individual health care plans
• Warm hand-off referrals and peer navigators
• Individual health, housing, & services plans and coordination
• Crisis support, substance use treatment, life skills, tenant education & coaching, paths to employment
• Service integration for WPC-qualified individuals leaving jail or institutions of mental health
New facilities developed under WPC are:
• An 8-bed, 24/7 Sobering Center that opened December 2017
• A 6-bed Respite Center for medically fragile enrollees - RFP is pending
• 88 units at 21 Soledad Street. WPC is providing funds for MidPen case managers
• 47 apartments in Marina. WPC is providing CHISPA with case managers
This work supports one or more of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 4) Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems; 5) Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts; 7) Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other agency was involved in development of this report.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the County General Fund from this report.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
☐ Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐ Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒ Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐ Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐ Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared by: Patricia Zerounian, Management Analyst III x 4583
Approved by: Elsa Jimenez, Director of Health x 4526