Multi-payer Alignment in California
A recent California Health Care Foundation publication details a collective effort by the state’s largest public purchasers, which provide care to more than 18 million Californians, to negotiate contracts with health plans.
- The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Covered California and California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) have focused on strengthening and aligning their contract provisions related to primary care measurement using CQC's defined Advanced Primary Care Measure Set, reporting, payment and investment.
This kind of multi-payer alignment is essential to driving primary care investment across the market without increasing total costs. The California Advanced Primary Care Initiative, led by CQC and the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA), is driving similar alignment among large commercial health care payers to enable primary care practices to transform to a high-performing, value-based care model.
Behavioral Health Integration into Primary Care Practices
A recent CQC webinar featuring speakers from the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association highlighted key concepts of behavioral health integration into primary care based on lessons gained from 20 years of experience supporting integration efforts.
CQC's CalHIVE Behavioral Health Integration Improvement Collaborative will support California primary care practices as they integrate behavioral health services and provide assistance with launching or expanding screening, treatment and referrals for patients with mild-to-moderate depression, substance use disorders and other conditions.
Advanced Primary Care Key to Reducing Health Inequities
A report, produced by the California Health Care Foundation, underscores the variety of ways in which advanced primary care can advance equity in care access and quality for underserved populations.
CQC's quality improvement collaborative, Equity and Quality at Independent Practices in LA County (EQuIP-LA), will build quality improvement and advanced primary care capabilities for small, independent, primary care practices and independent physician associations (IPAs) serving Medi-Cal enrollees of color in Los Angeles County.
- The program is a joint project of PBGH’s California Quality Collaborative (CQC), California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), Community Partners, Health Net and L.A. Care Health Plan.
The program launched in April 2023 with four IPA partners, with 28 practices serving approximately 30,000 Medi-Cal enrollees across LA County.
Resources
Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Payer Investment in Doula Care: This brief examines the perspectives of Medi-Cal managed care plans as they prepared to implement the doula benefit and commercial plans and large employers who are not legally required to, but may consider, supporting and investing in doula care, which can lead to improved post-partum care.
This work is integral to achieving CQC Aims impacting cardiovascular disease, hypertension and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1/3 of maternal deaths are in the postpartum period following hospital discharge, and the most common causes of mortality and are heart-related conditions and mental health-related conditions.California Data Exchange Framework Grants Available to Provider Organizations: California IPAs and Medical Groups can apply for up to $35,000 grant from the state to buy technical assistance for implementing data exchange framework. Watch this Grant Workshop recording for application how-to tips.
The CalHHS Data Exchange Framework (DxF) is California’s first-ever statewide data sharing agreement, aimed at improving the secure and appropriate exchange of health and social services.Two New Behavioral Health Scholarships - Applications Due August 15: To advance equitable access to health care, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is offering two new scholarships:
The Golden State Social Opportunities Program (GSSOP) aims to increase the number of licensed behavioral health professionals providing direct patient care in California. This scholarship gives priority to those who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness, as well as community-based organization employees.
The Behavioral Health Scholarship Program (BHSP) aims to increase the number of appropriately trained allied and advanced behavioral health professionals providing direct patient care in California. This scholarship includes individuals pursuing behavioral health careers in reproductive health settings.
Examining the Impact of Racism on Sexual and Reproductive Health Webinar: The second session in a four-part webinar series, hosted by the Primary Care Development Corporation, focused on the integration of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) into primary care services.
