May 6, 2020
Governor Outlines Four Stages for Modifying
Stay-at-Home Order
Governor Gavin Newsom outlined four stages California will consider before modifying the stay-at-home-order and other COVID-19 interventions during his press conference on April 28, 2020.

Click here to view the official "California's Roadmap to Modify the Stay-At-Home Order."
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)
On April 24, 2020 the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced California was approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), a new food assistance program for children in California who are living in households struggling with food insecurity. Each eligible child in the household will receive $5.70 per day for each day of the month in which school was cancelled due to COVID-19. To learn more click here .

For Orange County Department of Education news related to COVID-19 please click here .
Launch of Great Plates Delivered Program
The  Great Plates Delivered   program will enlist community restaurants to prepare nutritious meals that will be delivered to older Californians three times a day. It is for seniors who are ineligible for other nutrition programs and is expected to run until May 10. To read the full press release, click here .
Be Well OC
Did you know 1 in 5 Americans is affected by mental illness? May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn how Be Well OC works to positively impact the mental health and well-being of all in Orange County and includes a Suicide Prevention Initiative for increasing awareness and access to resources. Click here to watch the "Hope Happens Here" video.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s mental health and well-being, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention — also known as the Action Alliance — is launching the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19. The Action Alliance serves as the nation’s public and private partnership for suicide prevention.

Visit the National Response website to learn more.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Military and veterans: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1
  • Spanish: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 2

Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

The Trevor Project:
  • TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386
  • TrevorText: Text START to 678678

Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
  • For stories from attempt survivors and finding hope, click here.
Possibility of Schools Reopening Earlier
In a news release published on April 29, 2020 the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that he is working with groups of leaders from throughout California and the nation to determine whether schools can safely re-open as early as July.

“We look forward to working closely with Governor Gavin Newsom and our partners in education to ask the right questions and seek the urgent answers schools need to determine their next steps in this new, uncharted future,” said Thurmond. “We share the Governor’s aspirations for re-opening our schools as soon as possible. If we are going to do this, it can only be done when we are sure we can protect the health and safety of everyone in our school communities.”

Click here for the California Department of Education news release.
Affordable Internet Access in Orange County
To ensure that academic, professional, and personal enrichment remains part of a growing quality of life, OC Public Libraries has explored options for free and low-cost internet access. View the list here .
People Infected with COVID-19 Should Restrict Interaction with Pets
The CDC suggests people with COVID-19 and in-home isolation should be advised to restrict interaction with household animals to protect others from COVID-19. To read more about the suggested guidance for homes with pets click here . 
OC Social Services Agency Announces Hotline for IHSS Recipients
COVID-19 Regulatory Highlights
Due to the rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19, CalOptima is posting a round-up of federal/state rules, guidance and news related to COVID-19. It will be updated frequently, as we receive information from our regulatory agencies.

Below are recent COVID-19 Regulatory Highlights:

  • CMS COVID-19 - Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (posted 4/30/20)
  • CMS COVID-19 - New FAQs on Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) (posted 4/30/20)
  • CMS COVID-19 - Second Round of Regulatory Updates to Support U.S. Health Care System During the Pandemic (posted 4/30/20)
  • DHCS California Children’s Services (CCS) Guidance Relative to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (posted 4/30/20)
  • CMS COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs Reevaluation and Suspension (posted 4/28/20)
  • CMS COVID-19 - Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System Updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, and FAQs (posted 4/28/20)
  • CMS COVID-19 Summary of Recent Actions 4/27/20 (posted 4/28/20)
  • DHCS Revised All-Plan Letter (APL) 20-004: Emergency Guidance for MCPs in Response to COVID-19 and Additional Guidance (posted 4/28/20)
  • CDPH AFL 20-48 Transfers to Low Acuity Alternate Care Sites During COVID-19 Pandemic (posted 4/24/20)
  • CDPH AFL 20-49 Suspension of Professional Certification Requirements for Home Health Aides (posted 4/24/20)
  • DHCS APL 20-011: Governor’s Executive Order N-55-20 in Response to COVID-19 (posted 4/24/20)
  • DHCS CCS MTP Guidance Relative to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (posted 4/24/20)
  • DHCS Well-Child Visits During COVID-19 (Medi-Cal) (posted 4/24/20)

For COVID-19 Regulatory Highlights prior to April 24, 2020, please visit the Providers section of our website at www.caloptima.org/en/Features/COVID-19/ProviderCommunication/RegulatoryHighlights.aspx
CalOptima Provider Alerts
Below is the recent Provider Alerts:
 
  • Requirements and Procedures for Emergency Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment and CCS Paneling (posted 5/5/20)
  • Orange County COVID-19 Testing Recommendations, Testing Supplies, PPE Resources and Testing Locations as of April 28, 2020 (posted 4/29/20)

For Provider updates prior to April 29, 2020, please visit the Providers section of our website at: www.caloptima.org/en/Features/COVID-19/ProviderCommunication.aspx
 
Providers and other health care professionals with questions can contact the Provider Relations department by phone at 714-246-8600 or email at providerservices@caloptima.org . 
How to Contact CalOptima During the COVID-19 Pandemic
CalOptima Customer Service remains ready to respond to member needs. Members can call Customer Service from the safety of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have staff who speak their language.

  • Medi-Cal toll-free: 1-888-587-8088
  • OneCare Connect toll-free: 1-855-705-8823
  • OneCare toll-free: 1-877-412-2734
  • TTY users can call toll-free at 1-800-735-2929.
  • PACE at 1-714-468-1100 or toll-free at 1-855-785-2584
  • PACE TTY users can call toll-free at 1-714-468-1063.

We are continuing to serve our members through our Customer Service phone lines, as we adhere to guidelines to reduce the possibility of transmission. Our buildings are closed to visitors .

CalOptima
505 City Parkway West
Orange, CA 92868
 
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly ( PACE)
13300 Garden Grove Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92843
 
County Community Service Center
15496 Magnolia Street, Suite 111
Orange, CA 92610

For CalOptima specific updates on COVID-19, please visit our home page at www.caloptima.org .

Providers and other health care professionals with questions can contact the Provider Relations department by phone at 714-246-8600 or email at providerservices@caloptima.org . Providers can also visit the Providers section of our website at: www.caloptima.org/en/Features/COVID19/ProviderCommunication.aspx

 National information can be found on the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) website at  www.coronavirus.gov and local information can be found at the Orange County Health Care Agency (OC HCA) website at www.occovid19.ochealthinfo.com .