March 17, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
The state announced that, as of March 15, people ages 16–64 who have underlying medical conditions became eligible to be vaccinated.  Those individuals will need to “self attest” that they have one of the identified conditions when scheduling an appointment:

  • Cancer, current with debilitated or immunocompromised state
  • Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
  • Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent
  • Down syndrome
  • Weakened immune system from solid organ transplant
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (excludes hypertension)
  • Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1C level greater than 7.5%

For more information about vaccine eligibility, click here.
Orange County Returns to Red Tier
As of Sunday, March 14, Orange County returned to the Red Tier per the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

As a result, many local businesses and activities in Orange County will either be allowed to expand capacity or resume operations. Visit the state’s website and enter county and business or activity of interest. For more information, click here to read the County of Orange's Press Release.
Vaccinations for School Employees
The Orange County Health Care Agency is required to set aside 10% of its vaccine supplies for education-specific PODs. Based on the limited Pfizer allocation and the governor’s directive to channel supplies to the most vulnerable communities, doses will be restricted to school districts in the highest impacted ZIP codes, including Santa Ana, Garden Grove and those serving the Anaheim area.

School employees seeking a vaccine are encouraged to pursue any alternative options including pharmacy chains such as Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Costco, Target and Albertsons, who are taking appointments — or planning to — based on state eligibility requirements. Many educators have reported successfully receiving their vaccinations through these options. School employees who are over 65 are still eligible to be vaccinated at one of the HCA’s Super PODs.

For more information about vaccinations for school employees, visit the OCDE Newsroom webpage.
Treasury and IRS Begin Delivering 2021 Economic Impact Payments
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department began delivering the third round of Economic Impact Payments.

For more information about the 2021 Economic Impact Payments, key information will be posted on www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments. You can check the status of your payment at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment. 
Social Services Agency Re-Opens
Cypress Regional Center
The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) re-opened the Cypress Regional office on Monday, March 15, 2021. The Agency’s Cypress Regional Center located at 6100 Chip Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630, joins the following open SSA public assistance benefits offices with lobby hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

  • Anaheim Regional Center, 3320 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806
  • Laguna Hills Regional Center, 23330 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
  • Garden Grove Regional Center, 12912 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, CA 92840
  • Santa Ana Regional Center, 1928 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705

The same services provided by the regional offices can be accessed online via www.mybenefitscalwin.org and through the SSA Call Center at 800-281-9799. SSA urges OC residents to use alternative access points, if possible.

Click here to read the press release.
Interim Public Health Recommendations for
Fully Vaccinated People
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of recommendations on activities that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume.

Fully vaccinated people can:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
  • Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low-risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
  • Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic.
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness
Three brands of vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) are currently being dispensed under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization. Learn some quick facts on these vaccines by clicking here.
Upcoming Webinars in the Community
Play Therapy and ACEs
Click on the image below to be re-directed to the registration page.
Triple “P” (Positive Parenting Program) 
For more information about Triple “P” click on the flier below.
CalOptima Regulatory Alerts
Due to the rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19, CalOptima posts a roundup of federal/state rules, guidance and news related to COVID-19 and updates it frequently.

Recent COVID-19 Regulatory Highlights:

  • CDPH Provider Bulletin — Updates Since 02/12/2021 (posted 3/11/21)
  • CDPH SNF Conference Call Notification Weekly COVID-19 Update Call Notes (posted 3/5/21)
  • CDPH HCF Conference Call Notification Weekly COVID-19 Update Call Notes (posted 3/3/21)
  • CMS COVID-19 — Vaccines Fraud Alert and Reporting to CMS (posted 3/2/21)

Providers and other health care professionals with questions can contact the Provider Relations department at 714-246-600 or 
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 711
  • PACE: 1-714-468-1100; toll-free: 1-855-785-2584
  • PACE TTY: 1-714-468-1063

Our buildings are closed to members, but we are continuing to serve our members through our Customer Service phone lines, as we adhere to guidelines to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission.

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
Westminster, CA 92610
(Limited community partners are providing services on-site. CalOptima services are being provided remotely to ensure the safety of our members and employees.)

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

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 (HCA) website at www.occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.
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