New Data on California’s CHW/P Workforce
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THE CHCF WEEKLY
November 29, 2022
Despite being a critical part of California’s health workforce, relatively little comprehensive data exists on the state’s community health workers and promotores (CHW/Ps). In 2021, Healthforce Center at UCSF fielded surveys of CHW/Ps, training institutions, and employers. The results will be published in a series of reports over the next few months that will describe the CHW/P workforce and the challenges and opportunities related to training and employment.
The first report describes the results of the survey of CHW/Ps. Key findings include:
The majority were women and Latinos/x.
Nearly half were paid $20 to $25/ hour.
Nearly 70% had completed CHW/P training; most reported training of 40 hours or less.
The vast majority of respondents were employed full-time in a paid position.
From the Blog
Ana Ibarra The changes will improve access to health care in many communities where it is lacking, supporters say. |
Brian Rinker The project is an ambitious effort to expand the sharing of health information across the antiquated and siloed information systems used by medical, behavioral health, and social services providers. |
Recent Release
This issue brief provides an overview of the transition to Medicare managed care plans in California, describes evidence supporting why integrated, aligned care is better for dually eligible people, and shares lessons from state leaders about their experiences integrating care for this population.
Upcoming Events
CHCF will hold its first in-person briefing since before the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, November 30 in Sacramento. The briefing will provide high-level framing for the problem of health care affordability in California and update attendees on the early implementation of the Office of Health Care Affordability. Attend in-person or virtually.
Join Mathematica for a webinar to share new research about the effect of UC PRIME on the state’s physician workforce. UC PRIME is a specialty track program within UC medical schools to recruit and train physicians to meet the needs of California’s underserved populations.
New Almanac
The medical loss ratio (MLR) is the percentage of premium that health insurers spend on medical care and quality improvement activities. These resources include the most recent MLR database with data from 2012 to 2020, as well as documents that describe the MLR and how to use the database.
Stories That Caught Our Attention
- Hospitals Often Don’t Help Needy Patients, Even Those Who Qualify (Wall Street Journal — paywall)
Some nonprofit hospitals make getting aid hard, delay checking eligibility, and press for payments that aren’t refunded. Many of these hospitals act like for-profit businesses in their efforts to get paid, even by those who can’t afford it. Related: One in four Californians had trouble paying a medical bill in the last 12 months, according to the 2022 CHCF California Health Policy Survey.
- Designed to Fail: Measurement of Patient Experience (MindSite News)
If you are hospitalized for a cardiac condition, your experience matters to the staff. But if you are hospitalized for a mental health condition, your experience doesn’t count at all. Related: Mental health conditions are common across the country and in California where one in seven adults experiences a mental illness, according to a recent CHCF publication.
- FDA Could Approve Over-the-Counter Nasal Spray, Autoinjectors to Treat Opioid Overdoses (CNBC)
The FDA is encouraging manufacturers to submit applications for nonprescription use of naloxone products. Related: In the meantime, California makes naloxone available for free to schools, libraries, and community organizations.
- COVID-19 Taught Me That I Don’t Matter as an ER Doctor. So I Quit (San Francisco Chronicle — paywall)
After nearly 20 years as an emergency room doctor, I walked away from the profession I once loved. I’m not the only one.
- Bonta Investigates Hospital Algorithms for Racial Bias (California Healthline)
California Attorney General Rob Bonta wants to target racial discrimination in health care, including through an investigation of software programs and decision-making tools used by hospitals to treat patients. Related: Learn about CHCF’s approach to building health equity in California.
- California Aims to Maximize Health Insurance Subsidies for Workers During Labor Disputes (California Healthline)
A new state law means eligible workers can have their premiums paid by Covered California as if their incomes were just above the Medicaid eligibility level.
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