$5 Million Offered in Notice of Funding Opportunity for Provider Workforce Training and Development | |
Provider groups and other organizations can now apply to receive funding from the second round of grants available through CalOptima Health’s Provider Workforce Development Initiative.
These grants, approved by our Board of Directors in June 2024, focus on innovative programs and partnerships committed to the training, development and retention of non-physician primary care, behavioral health and allied health professionals who serve Medi-Cal members in Orange County. A total of $5 million in grants are available, with individual health systems, provider organizations and community-based organizations able to apply for up to $1 million per organization.
The funding is part of our five-year $50 million Provider Workforce Development Initiative, approved by the Board in June 2023. The first $25 million in grants were awarded in March and targeted education initiatives that increase the number of students entering health professions.
CalOptima Health is accepting applications until 5 p.m. on Monday, August 19, 2024. To learn more about these grants, visit the Provider Workforce Development Initiative page on our website. If you have questions about this grant funding or need assistance applying, please email strategicdevelopment@caloptima.org.
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Tell Us How to Better Serve You With the 2024 Provider Satisfaction Survey | |
At CalOptima Health, we place a high degree of importance on provider satisfaction. As a health plan, we consider all of you partners in delivering quality care to our members.
To help us better serve you, we invite you to participate in a quick provider survey that will aid us in understanding your experience with both CalOptima Health and our contracted health networks. We will be sending the 2024 Provider Satisfaction Survey via email at the end of August.
Your practice’s opinions are an important source of information for us to identify needs and deliver solutions while streamlining our work together. The survey results will be used to improve the level of service provided by CalOptima Health and will be shared with our health networks. Thank you in advance for responding to the survey. We appreciate your time and look forward to receiving your valuable feedback.
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Grants Available for Quality Improvement Initiatives | |
CalOptima Health’s Quality Analytics team is announcing the Quality Improvement Medi-Cal Grant Program for 2024.
This program provides support to health networks, community clinics and CalOptima Health Community Network (CHCN) primary care providers (PCPs) for planning and implementing quality improvement activities for Medi-Cal members.
Focus measures must be from the MY 2024 Pay for Value (P4V) Program (please see Appendix A from this Notice of Funding Opportunity). Grants may be awarded for individual measures or groups of measures targeting similar member populations, for example, well-child visits and childhood immunizations.
Grant amounts may range from $50,000 to $250,000 per measure/measure group. The number and amount of grants awarded will be contingent upon available funds and the determination of acceptable grants.
The funds may be used for staff who directly provide or coordinate patient care under the quality improvement initiatives. However, funds may not be used for administrative staffing or any indirect costs.
To apply, please complete the Quality Grant Application Form for each program for which you are requesting a grant (please refer to Appendix B in the Notice of Funding Opportunity).
Also, include an itemized budget for each program proposal. You can submit your proposal to qualitygrants@caloptima.org. If you are applying for multiple grants, please include them all in one email.
CalOptima Health will accept applications through 5 p.m. on August 23, 2024. Approved grants will be announced on September 23.
If you have questions about the grants or how to apply, please email qualitygrants@caloptima.org.
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CalOptima Health Holding Listening Sessions About Participating in Covered California | |
Please join us for a community listening session on the benefits of CalOptima Health’s participation in Covered California!
Providers, members and community partners are encouraged to attend one of two identical virtual listening sessions to learn more about the value proposition for CalOptima Health’s participation in Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace. Benefits of our participation include ensuring access and continuity of care for members, bolstering safety net providers, and streamlining community resources for Orange County residents who no longer qualify for Medi-Cal due to income limits.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback. Click the links below to register for one of the Zoom listening sessions:
Session 1: Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Session 2: Thursday, August 29, 2024, 8–9 a.m.
Feel free to share this flyer with anyone who may be interested in joining. For more information, please email the Strategic Development department at StrategicDevelopment@caloptima.org.
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Digital Annual Wellness Visit Attestation Form Coming to Provider Portal | |
Starting August 15, 2024, providers will be able to complete and submit digital attestation forms for the Medi-Cal Annual Wellness Visits (AWV) through the CalOptima Health Provider Portal.
Similar to the current PDF form, the digital form includes member-specific year-over-year chronic and non-chronic conditions, health screenings, and the ability to add other identified diagnosis codes. It also allows you to upload member medical records and relevant attachments, submit social determinants of health questionnaires, and provide additional comments.
Providers may use the digital form submission process or continue to download, fill out and submit the PDF form.
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Order Free Naloxone for Delivery to Your Office | |
CalOptima Health continues to offer free cases of life-saving naloxone and free delivery directly to provider offices as part of our Drive to Revive campaign.
Providers who sign a simple distribution agreement can receive an unlimited number of cases that contain single-use, prescription-strength nasal spray doses of Kloxxado, naloxone’s brand name.
Naloxone can potentially save lives if administered to someone having a known or suspected opioid overdose or fentanyl poisoning. Naloxone is easy to use, requires no special training and is safe even for use on children. CalOptima Health has information and a training video at www.caloptima.org/naloxone.
Providers can order naloxone through CalOptima Health by following the steps below:
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Email naloxone@caloptima.org with the name and email address of your organization’s authorized representative. We will then send that person a Naloxone Distribution Agreement via DocuSign.
- Once you have the agreement, identify the number of cases you want.
- Sign and return the agreement.
- Receive the naloxone. CalOptima Health will deliver the naloxone during the business hours identified on the DocuSign.
For questions about the event or the naloxone distribution program, email naloxone@caloptima.org.
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CalOptima Health Supports Maternal Mental Health With Training and Provider Survey | |
To help our providers offer better maternal mental health care, we are sponsoring a no-cost training and offering an incentive for filling out a quick survey.
CalOptima Health is offering the Postpartum Support International Maternal Mental Health Training Course, a $500 value, at no cost to our contracted providers and community partners who serve perinatal CalOptima Health members.
This online webinar series includes eight live sessions, small group discussions, supplemental reading materials, 16 continuing education credits and a certificate of completion. Live sessions are held on two Mondays a month from 10 a.m. to Noon. Classes are recorded and can be watched at any time.
Individuals who provide perinatal health services to pregnant and postpartum CalOptima Health members, including OB/GYNs, midwives, PCPs, doulas, clinic staff, mental health professionals and paraprofessionals, maternal health educators, etc., are invited to attend.
Space is limited, and participants will be prioritized based on their ability to improve maternal mental health services for perinatal CalOptima Health members. To apply, complete this application form by August 28, 2024. Once approved, CalOptima Health will email you a code to register for the training at no cost. Use this discount code when registering online for the Postpartum Support International: Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training Course no later than September 1, 2024.
We also invite providers and their office staff to complete this survey regarding maternal mental health by Friday, August 16. Responses will be analyzed to determine targeted initiatives to support Medi-Cal members at risk of maternal mental health conditions. To show our appreciation for providing your feedback, we will be raffling off 10 $50 Target gift cards for participating offices.
If you have any questions, please email populationhealthmanagement@caloptima.org and include Maternal Mental Health Training in the subject line.
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CalOptima Health Members Can Access Behavioral Health Telehealth Service | |
On April 1, 2024, CalOptima Health launched telehealth services for behavioral health care through contracted vendor TeleMed2U.
This service will improve options and access to care for routine outpatient services and support timely post-hospitalization follow-up appointments. TeleMed2U behavioral health professionals will treat a range of mild to moderate conditions for our Medi-Cal and OneCare members, delivering services for outpatient mental health evaluation, medication management, therapy and more.
TeleMed2U can provide therapy services to all CalOptima Health members 13 years and older and medication management services to members 5 years and older. Members can access these services by calling CalOptima Health’s Behavioral Health Line at 855-877-3885 or by directly dialing 562-268-0955.
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Creating Health Bootcamp Series to Focus on Patient and Provider Health | |
Providers are invited to attend the Creating Health Bootcamp to learn how to maintain and optimize their patients’ and their own health.
CalOptima Health is sponsoring the 10-week virtual seminar series presented by the University of California, Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. Participants will learn the latest evidence-informed approaches to health maintenance and receive practical tools for their clinical practice.
The boot camp is open to all Orange County physicians and clinicians, and attendees can earn 10 continuing medical education credits by attending.
The one-hour seminar sessions will be held on Zoom, starting on September 11, 2024, at Noon.
Topics will include:
- Health and Wellness: What’s That Really Mean?
- Clinician Happiness: How Does it Work?
- Nutrition and Diet: What the Best Way to Eat?
- Culinary Medicine, Depression: What You Need to Know
- Anxiety in You and Your Patients
- Cognitive Behavioral Motivation
- Tips for Better Sleep
- Strategic Thinking for Healthier Living
- Practical Pointers for Better Daily Health
To register, please visit SSIH’s Creating Health Bootcamp website. For questions regarding this series, please contact ssihieducation@hs.uci.edu.
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Select Only Contracted Vendors When Ordering Incontinence Supplies | |
Providers requesting incontinence supplies through the Provider Portal should make sure to select the correct vendors to avoid authorization issues.
No authorization is required for orders that meet the Medi-Cal supply limit if they are requested through one of CalOptima Health’s contracted providers for incontinence supplies. These providers are:
- Byram Healthcare Centers
- Caremax Pharmacy
- Schraders Medical Supply
- Shield-California Health Care Center Inc.
If quantities above the Medi-Cal limit are needed, providers will need to submit a prior authorization. The proper code for ordering incontinence supplies above the Medi-Cal limit can be found on CalOptima Health’s Medi-Cal Wrap Services Authorization List.
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State SUN Bucks Program Aids Low-Income Children With Nutrition During Summer | |
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has launched SUN Bucks, a new federal food program designed to ensure that children of low-income families have adequate nutrition while school is out for the summer.
SUN Bucks will provide $120 per child, or $40 per month for the three months schools are typically closed during the summer. Most eligible families do not need to take any action, as children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or an alternative income form, or who receive CalFresh, CalWORKs or Medi-Cal are automatically enrolled.
Children who are not automatically enrolled for SUN Bucks can apply for free or reduced-price school meals by submitting a completed school meal application or alternative income form by August 31, 2024. Families can obtain these applications from their school or school administrator’s office.
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DHCS Updates Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens Materials | |
On July 3, 2024, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) informed Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) that it has revised the Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens (MCKT) child and teen/young adult brochures, the Know Your Rights (KYR) Letter, and the MCKT Provider Training slide deck.
MCPs, such as CalOptima Health, must post the updated materials on their website and mail them to current members no later than September 3, 2024. Additionally, the updated versions must be used in annual mailings, and new members must receive the updated materials within seven calendar days of enrollment in the MCP. The updated MCKT Provider Training slide deck will be uploaded to the Provider Trainings page on our website by September 3.
DHCS has already uploaded the Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens KYR letter and brochures in English and Spanish to the DHCS Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens website. The translated materials in all threshold languages are forthcoming.
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Providers Can Apply for Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship | |
The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine is sponsoring a year-long fellowship for PCPs looking for training in primary care psychiatry.
The Train New Trainers (TNT) Primary Cary Psychiatry Fellowship is currently accepting applications from providers working in internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics and neurology. The course consists of 45 hours of required training on:
- How to complete an evidence-based and efficient psychiatric interview in the busy primary care/medical setting
- How to effecitvely diagnose and treat commonly encountered psychiatric conditions, such as mood, anxiety, psychotic and substance use disorders
- How to teach these principles to their primary care colleauges.
Tutiion for the program is $15,500 per fellow, with scholarshps available through the Department of Health Care Access and information.
Applications are due by October 31, 2024. For more information about the fellowship, please visit medschool.uci.edu/pcp. For questions, please email tntpcpfellowship@hs.uci.edu.
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On June 21, DHCS sent out APL 24-008: Immunization Requirements, which clarifies requirements related to the provision of immunization services for MCPs. This APL supersedes APLs 18-004 and APL 16-009.
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Health Education: Trainings and Meetings | |
Click below for training webinars and meetings happening in August 2024:
Health education webinars
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- CalOptima Health Board of Directors: September 5 at 2 p.m.
- Joint Meeting of the Provider and Member Advisory Committees: August 15 at Noon
All meetings have an option for virtual attendance. Visit the CalOptima Health website for more information.
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Follow Us on Social Media | | |
CalOptima Health regularly posts on social media to engage members with health tips, community resources, event dates, program updates and other pertinent information. Follow the agency on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
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CalOptima Health, A Public Agency www.caloptima.org
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