At a CalOptima press conference on Friday, March 18, Chief Executive Officer Michael Hunn, CalOptima Board Chair and Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and other leaders announced a five-year strategic vision featuring major innovations and investments that will shape the future of the agency.

The new vision aims to remove barriers to health care access for members by implementing same-day treatment authorizations and real-time claims payments for providers, and annually assessing members’ social determinants of health. To achieve this new vision, CalOptima is investing $100 million in technology advancements that will facilitate sharing critical data with community partners by developing a state-of-the-art Health Information Exchange program to break down silos and enhance care for members.

In response to the growing health care crisis among the homeless population, CalOptima and other agencies joined to form the Orange County Interagency Council on Homeless Health Care (OCICHHC) in December 2021. In conjunction with this partnership, CalOptima plans to launch the Street Medicine Program to support Medi-Cal members who are experiencing homelessness. This program will include health and social services designed to meet individuals where they are to reduce or eliminate barriers to care and follow-up services.

The Board-approved new mission and five-year vision statement are as follows:

CalOptima Medi-Cal members are encouraged to report any changes in their household to their local county office online, by phone, email, fax or in person in advance of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

During the COVID-19 PHE, Medi-Cal members could keep their coverage regardless of changes in their circumstances. However, when the PHE ends, the county will check members’ Medi-Cal eligibility and may send them letters asking for information.

Members should report changes to their income, disability status, phone number or mailing address, as doing so may help them continue to receive Medi-Cal coverage when the COVID-19 PHE ends. They should also report if someone in their household becomes pregnant, if someone moves in or anything else that may affect their Medi-Cal eligibility.

Members can update their contact information online at CoveredCA.com or BenefitsCal.org. Visit the California Department of Health Care Services website for more information.

CalOptima is collaborating with the County of Orange Social Services Agency to host three virtual CalFresh & Healthy Living presentations in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Each session will cover the same information and will be held from 6–7 p.m.

The virtual information sessions can be accessed at the following Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3rUOAlq.

CalOptima is hosting a scholarship contest for 2022 to support the educational needs of two promising young students. To be eligible, applicants must be a CalOptima member (or have immediate family who are members) and pursuing a career in health care or social services fields.

CalOptima will award $2,500 scholarships to two students — one high school student and one post-secondary school student — chosen by a panel of judges. One of the first-place winners will also be entered into the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) national scholarship program for the opportunity to win an additional $5,000.

Please share this opportunity with your community, and encourage those who are eligible to fill out and submit an application form by May 1. Scholarship awards are funded solely through fundraising activities conducted by CalOptima employees, and no public money will be used.

On March 30, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated recommendations for a second booster dose of the Moderna (SpikeVax) and Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID19 vaccine to certain individuals. The CDC’s updated guidance expands eligibility for a second booster dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine to be administered at least 4 months after the first booster dose for the following individuals:

To read the full press release, click here.

Children ages 5–11 accompanied by a parent/guardian and unvaccinated community members of all ages are invited to upcoming CalOptima clinics from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on:

CalOptima will be on-site to check CalOptima Medi-Cal eligibility, give $25 Member Health Rewards to eligible members and host a resource table. The County of Orange Social Services Agency will also be on-site to provide CalFresh and Medi-Cal enrollment. Vaccine event flyers are available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Register at 1-714-834-2000 or www.othena.com. CalOptima Medi-Cal members can arrange transportation at 1-888-587-8088.

CalOptima partners with the University of California, Irvine (UCI) for regular contributions to the Community Announcements. The contributions are COVID-19 hot topics from UCI infectious disease experts.

This week’s articles address Omicron Variant BA.2 and additional vaccines. Click here to read about these hot topics.

The Office of Care Coordination offers three pocket guide resource directories. The directories list resources in the different service areas throughout Orange County. Click here to access them.

CalOptima Customer Service remains ready to respond to member needs as we adhere to guidelines to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission. Our building is closed to visitors. 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. Members can also visit www.caloptima.org and access their member portal.