The 2022 CHCF California Health Policy Survey
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February 8, 2022
This is the first edition of our weekly digest of new releases, blogs, events, grantee spotlights, and stories that caught our attention. We hope you find the content relevant and welcome your feedback.
Each year since 2019, CHCF has conducted a survey of residents’ views on a variety of health care topics to help show what issues are top of mind for Californians. This year we asked about health care costs, experience of health care, equity in health care, and more. Some of the findings were deeply troubling, including:
Health care costs. Half of Californians skipped or postponed some type of health care in the last 12 months because of cost. Of those who postponed care, 47% say their condition worsened as a result, an increase from 41% last year.
Homelessness. One in five Californians (19%) say they or someone close to them has experienced a period of homelessness in the past five years. The same proportion (19%) are “very” or “somewhat” worried about experiencing homelessness themselves.
Equity. Nearly 6 in 10 Californians (59%) believe that the health care system treats people unfairly based on their race or ethnic background. Eighty-three percent of Black Californians expressed this belief, a significantly higher percentage than any other racial or ethnic group.
The 2022 CHCF California Health Policy Survey shows data broken down by race and ethnicity, income, and political party. All the charts are available for download for use in your own presentations.
One in four Californians say they or a family member had problems paying at least one medical bill in the last 12 months.
From the Blog
Avram Goldstein A conversation with Joanne Spetz, director of UCSF’s Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies. |
Ivan Fernandez The nation’s largest independent federally qualified health center has partnered with other organizations to provide tens of thousands of COVID-19 shots as part of a comprehensive public education campaign. |
Recent Releases
California's health care system is moving toward acknowledging substance use disorders (SUDs) as chronic illnesses, yet only about 10% of people with an SUD in the last year received treatment. This Almanac report provides an overview of substance use and addiction in the state.
Many Californians are not able to apply for or effectively use Medi-Cal because they can’t understand forms and documents from the program. This project conducted an expert review of selected Medi-Cal print communications, made actionable recommendations to improve them, and put steps in place for long-term change at DHCS.
California offers home- and community-based services (HCBS) to people with low incomes who rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage. Yet few public data exist to demonstrate whether these services are equitably available and used by those who qualify. This paper aims to support state staff, policymakers, and other stakeholders in ensuring the robust collection and reporting of HCBS data.
Medi-Cal spends an estimated $22 billion per year to provide home- and community-based services to older adults and people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, serious mental illness, and disabling chronic conditions. However, few data are currently collected to monitor the quality and outcomes of these services.
Stories That Caught Our Attention
- US Covid Death Toll Surpasses 900,000 as Omicron’s Spread Slows
New case reports are waning, but deaths have yet to peak, and Americans are wondering what long-term coexistence with the coronavirus might look like. (New York Times)
- "Exhausted": In Rural California, the Unvaccinated and Ill Overwhelm Hospital Staff
Coronavirus transmission rates have been dropping in California in recent weeks, a sign that the current surge is easing. But while the pandemic has been a series of ups and downs, its sheer longevity has become a nemesis of its own, making extended periods of relief an elusive commodity. (Los Angeles Times)
- Medi-Cal to Contract Directly with Kaiser; Local Plans Express Concern
Executives of other managed care insurance plans in Medi-Cal say they stand to lose hundreds of thousands of patients and millions of dollars a year. (Kaiser Health News)
- A Disaster in Plain Sight
Fentanyl is a public health crisis. Is San Francisco treating it like one? A team of journalists talked to dozens of people over the past year in reporting this gripping story, which underscores the importance of CalAIM reforms designed to bring people better care. (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Answering the Call: America's New Mental Health Crisis Line
Starting in July, Americans nationwide will be able to dial 988 to reach a new mental health crisis line. What will it take for this hotline to meet the needs of people experiencing a behavioral health crisis? (Tradeoffs podcast)
- Imperfect Paradise: Home Is Life
A new podcast series showcases California stories with universal significance. These three episodes explore the fervent opposition to building permanent supportive housing in Fullerton, California. (LA Studios podcast)
Grantee Spotlight
In partnership with the California Health Care Foundation and Cedars-Sinai, the Center for Care Innovations is launching a new program designed to reduce disparities in telehealth care called the Connected Care Accelerator: Equity Collaborative. The goal of the collaborative is to improve access to telehealth for patients in historically underinvested communities. Participating organizations will receive $75,000, access to monthly coaching, an online learning community, virtual convenings, and tools to reduce and/or eliminate disparities in access to telehealth. Visit Center For Care Innovations for more information.
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