Access to Care for the Expansion Population (ACE) Program Launches
In partnership with Cottage Health System, Dignity Health, Lompoc Valley Medical Center and Tenet Hospitals, CenCal Health has created a unique program to coordinate the many health care needs of approximately 37,802 previously uninsured individuals that now have health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Access to Care for the Expansion Population (ACE) program will help identify, address and coordinate the medical and social needs of these individuals to successfully transition them into seeking appropriate care in the appropriate setting, as opposed to utilizing hospital emergency departments. Our hospital partners are well-suited to provide patient education and connect these patients into primary care clinics.
The ACE program reinforces the commitment of both CenCal Health and its hospital partners to maintain a healthy population. Community care management programs will be successful in ensuring that high-risk patients served by CenCal Health are able to connect to resources that enable them to thrive in their home environment.
CenCal Health contracted hospitals will help facilitate some of the following for CenCal Health patients who are part of the ACE Program:
- Arrange primary care provider follow-up after hospital discharges
- Improve and simplify medication management for patients after hospital stays
- Help patients avoid readmission to the hospital for the same or similar health events
- Connect patients to community resources that support health and well-being
- Enhance care coordination across the health delivery system through partnerships with
skilled nursing facilities, physician clinics, home care agencies and other post-acute care
agencies
- Improve patient health outcomes and reduce the risk of adverse events by arranging
home visits, providing case management services and coordinating with primary care
Effective January 1, 2014, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), CenCal Health saw a dramatic increase from the originally projected 15 percent thought to expand into Medi-Cal Managed Care with CenCal Health, to approximately 30 percent. To the right are the current total population figures, including the current Medi-Cal expansion population figures. CenCal Health now provides health insurance for one in four residents of Santa Barbara County, and one in five residents of San Luis Obispo County.
New Law Will Expand Medi-Cal to 170K Undocumented Children
On Oct. 9, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill (SB 4) to extend health care coverage to low-income undocumented immigrant children, the Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" reports.
CenCal Health is proud to announce our new website, set to launch November 9th. It will have many new features and resources for providers, members, and a new community section. Be sure to check it out!
CenCal Health Membership Report
