May 13, 2020
Update on California’s Pandemic Roadmap
As of May 8, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Stage 2 of California’s 4-stage pandemic roadmap is being gradually phased in. Businesses are being asked to follow guidelines and the adaptations must be made before the businesses can reopen. Click here to review “California’s Roadmap to Modify the Stay-At-Home Order.”
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer
On May 8, 2020, the California Department of Social Services started issuing P-EBT benefits to CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs and Foster Care households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals as well as to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals whose schools are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency.

Households with children who qualify for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs or are Foster Care recipients will automatically be mailed their P-EBT card by May 22. Students who have not received their P-EBT card by May 22 will need to apply online before June 30, 2020.

Click here to access the Orange County Social Services Agency press release. 
 Combating Isolation in Older Adults
Older Californians who are isolating at home during the Stay-at-Home order can stay connected by calling any of these three lines:

  1. Friendship Line California provides emotional support to lonely and isolated older Californians. Seniors age 65 and older can call 888-670-1360.
  2. Institute on Aging’s National Friendship Line provides crisis intervention and non-emergency emotional support calls. Adults with disabilities and seniors age 60 and older can call 800-971-0016.
  3. Orange County Warmline provides emotional support and resources to Orange County residents at 877-910-WARM or 714-991-6412.
The National Council on Aging Shares COVID-19 Resources for Older Adults and Caregivers
The National Council on Aging compiled a list of COVID-19 resources for adults and caregivers. The resources offer information on:

  • Government programs
  • Caregiving
  • Finances
  • Food and nutrition
  • LGBTQ topics
  • Medicines
  • Mental health and social isolation
  • Physical activity
  • Veterans services

Access the resources in Spanish here.
Click the video to learn about finding affordable food.
WIC Nutrition and Breastfeeding Support During COVID-19
The Campus-Community Research Incubator Program (CCRI) is a small funding mechanism designed to foster collaborative research-oriented projects between university researchers and community organizations. Annually, there are two levels of grant funding available:

  1. Pilot CCRI $8,000–$10,000 (for research applications)
  2. Mini CCRI $3,000–$5,000 (for capacity and partnership building applications)

This special request for applications allows for the provision of COVID-19-related community-engaged research projects up to $20,000.

The application deadline is June 1, 2020. The estimated funding period is
July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021. Click here to learn more about this funding opportunity.
Orange County residents whose employment recently ended as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for the Orange County Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) program. The program is designed to meet employer needs by helping job seekers upgrade skills, obtain employment, gain credentials, improve job retention and increase earnings.

For more information on One-Stop Centers, visit the One-Stop Center
web page or call the Economic and Business Recovery Call Center at
714-480-6500.
The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program helps participants save 20% on their monthly SoCalGas bill. People who recently lost their jobs may qualify. Click here for more information.

In addition to the CARE program, SoCalGas is assisting the community during the COVID-19 pandemic by suspending service disconnections until further notice. Customers will not have their natural gas turned off due to non-payment.
The California Department of Education’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit (DHH Unit) and the California Schools for the Deaf are hosting a Deaf Education Webinar on Thursday, May 14, at 3 p.m. Learn about creative online resources to promote deaf children’s language and social opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to register.
Economic Impact Payments
The Economic Impact Payments (EIP) were distributed starting in April 2020. People who qualified received the payment through direct deposit or by check. To reference the FAQ, click here and to check on the status of an EIP, click here .
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:

  • CDPH All Facilities Letter AFL 20-36.2: Guidance for Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (posted 5/8/20)
  • Prenatal and Postpartum QI Postcard - Recommendations During COVID-19 (posted 5/7/20)
  • DHCS Medi-Cal Payment for Telehealth and Virtual/Telephonic Communication Relative to COVID-19 (posted 5/7/20)
  • CDC – Symptom Based Strategy to Discontinue Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 (posted 5/6/20)

For COVID-19 Regulatory Highlights prior to May 6, 2020, please visit the Providers section of our website at www.caloptima.org/en/Features/COVID-19/ProviderCommunication/RegulatoryHighlights.aspx
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 [email protected] . 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 .