June 11, 2019

In this issue:

Governor Newsom's Impact on 340B Program Health4All Immigrant Day at the Capitol State Superintendent of Public Instruction Visits AltaMed Southwest Voter Registration Education Project Dinner Celebrating our Graduates Monthly Citizenship Workshops

Government Affairs

Governor Newsom’s Budget Revisions May Impact 340B Program  Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised 2019-2020 budget was released on May 9th. In his May Revise , Newsom and his team are predicting a $21.5 billion surplus. The revised budget aims to promote affordability and economic opportunity for Californians through policies that would make health care more affordable, increase housing development, and focus on children and education. The updated proposal kicks off the final weeks of negotiations with lawmakers, who now face a June 15 deadline to pass a spending plan for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The Revise aims to increase access to health care by expanding Medi-Cal coverage eligibility to young adults ages 19-25, regardless of immigration status. It also includes subsidies for middle-income earners to be able to purchase health care coverage on Covered California and establishes a state individual health mandate to replace the lapsed federal penalty, with proceeds used for additional Covered California subsidies.   The Governor’s Executive Order to create a single purchaser-system for prescription drugs, which effectively eliminates savings from the 340B Drug Discount Program, continues to be included in his revised budget proposal. These savings have enabled community health centers, critical access hospitals, and other safety-net providers to serve more patients, build more comprehensive services, and provide drugs at a lower cost. AltaMed is engaged in extensive advocacy on this issue in partnership with our state and local clinic associations. As part of these efforts, Shauna Day , Director of Government Affairs, participated in a statewide trade association 340B Peer Network in-person meeting on June 4 th in Sacramento on behalf of AltaMed. During this visit, Shauna met with lawmakers to urge their support in protecting vital 340B savings.  The budget negotiation process has begun and will continue until June 15. The Government Relations team will continue to track developments on all these issues, advocate for the protection of vital programs and funding for AltaMed throughout this process.

Health4All Immigrant Day at the Capitol    On May 20, AltaMed joined a coalition of community health centers at the “Health4All Immigrant Day” event in Sacramento to advocate in support of our immigrant communities. The event featured several speakers and performers, ARTivism, and legislative visits. AltaMed met with Assemblymember Jim Wood to speak on behalf of community health centers, and how expanding health care access for immigrant young adults and seniors would be a significant victory for the communities we serve. AltaMed also met with Senator Holly Mitchell to thank her for the Senate Budget’s commitment to prioritizing health care for young adults and seniors, regardless of immigration status.  Pictured above, left to right: Rocio Gonzalez, Senior Policy Analyst, with community health center advocates.

Special Election Update Senate District 33 Councilmember Lena Gonzalez, Long Beach, won the Senate District 33 special election on June 4 and will serve the remaining two-year term from previous Senator Ricardo Lara. She is expected to be sworn-in next week in Sacramento. Her seat at the Long Beach City Council is expected to be filled with a special election in November. District 33 includes the communities of Cudahy, Bell, Bell Gardens, Lynwood, Maywood, Signal Hill, Paramount, South Gate, Vernon, Walnut Park, Huntington Park, and most of Long Beach with portions of Lakewood and Los Angeles.

Senator-elect Lena Gonzalez.

Community Events

A Visit by Superintendent Tony Thurmond We were honored to receive Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Public Instruction, at AltaMed’s corporate headquarters on Friday, May 24th. The Superintendent met with AltaMed leadership and staff to discuss our voter and census mobilization efforts, which target low propensity voters and hard-to-count populations. We also highlighted AltaMed’s Institute for Health Equity and AltaMed’s Workforce Development program, and how we are working to address the shortage of medical providers in underserved communities.

Left to right: Fernando de Necochea, AltaMed Board Chair; Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Public Instruction; Jennie Carreon, AVP of Civic Engagement; Dr. Marie Torres, SVP of Government Relations; Berenice Nuñez Constant, VP of Government Relations; Erika Sockaci, VP of Strategic Workforce Planning; Dr. Efrain Talamantes, Medical Director, AltaMed Institute for Health Equity; Monica Guardian, Director of Workforce Development.

Celebrating Our Graduates Congratulations to our Government Relations team’s two recent Master's graduates, Maggie Escobar and Sheila Salinas Navarro. Maggie has graduated with a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Cal State LA. Sheila has graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Sheila will be pursuing a second Master’s degree at USC in the Fall. We are so happy to share their amazing accomplishments. Onward and upward!

Maggie Escobar, Executive Assistant. Sheila Salinas Navarro, Policy Analyst, and family.

SVREP "Sabor de las Americas" Dinner  On May 30, AltaMed sponsored and attended the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) “Sabor de las Americas Dinner”, where our President and CEO, C á stulo de la Rocha, was named Dinner Chair. Jennie Carreon, AVP of Civic Engagement, delivered remarks on behalf of AltaMed highlighting our robust voter mobilization efforts and census outreach. Secretary of State Alex Padilla was honored by SVREP, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo acted as the Latino Vote Chair. As the largest organization of its kind in the United States, SVREP is dedicated to building the Latino voter base and empowering communities to make their voices heard at the polls.

Left to right: Cynthia Zepeda, Project Intern; Rocio Gonzalez, Sr. Policy Analyst; Gaston Lassalle, Policy Analyst; Fernando de Necochea, AltaMed Board Chair; Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State; Jennie Carreon, AVP of Civic Engagement; Fabiola Saavedra, PACE Marketing Manager; David Escobar, Policy Analyst; Veronica Alvarez, Executive Assistant.

Monthly Citizen Workshops

AltaMed provides assistance to individuals who are legal permanent residents and need help with the citizenship process so they can obtain their citizenship and ultimately become more civically engaged in their communities.   Upcoming Session:   Informational Session – Saturday, July 20th Provides information on how to begin the naturalization process and walk attendees through the steps necessary to become a U.S. citizen. This session must be attended before attending the Application Workshop.   Application Workshop – Saturday, July 27th Offers one-on-one support, including eligibility screenings and application assistance. Immigration specialists and attorneys are also available to answer any questions.   Location:        AltaMed Medical & Dental Group – Santa Ana, Bristol                        2720 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, CA 92704 Reserve your spot today! Please contact David Escobar at davescobar@altamed.org to register for these upcoming workshops. Volunteer opportunities are also available!

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