CalOptima Health is participating in the Department of Health Care Services' (DHCS) Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP) and is offering a $36.5 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for CBOs to support the delivery and coordination of health and housing services for Medi-Cal members who are experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness. The online portal to submit applications will close end of day Tuesday, January 31. The funding areas include the following three priority areas:

1. Infrastructure to coordinate and meet member housing needs
2. Partnerships and capacity to support referrals for services
3. Delivery of services and member engagement.

There is also a dedicated pool of funding for organizations with small operational budgets (less than $5 million) serving equity populations. For questions and to learn more about the application process, contact CalOptima Health Program Manager Jasmine Awadallah at jasmine.awadallah@caloptima.org or 657-900-1459. 

Get Informed. 

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix. The cervix is the lower structure of the uterus or womb, where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. The Pap test, also known as a Pap smear, screens for cervical cancer and can help find cervical cancer early. A Pap test is quick and simple. Some women may feel minor discomfort that goes away after the test is over. 

Get Screened.

At 21 years of age and older, women should talk with their doctor about routine Pap tests and how often they should be done.

Get Vaccinated.

Most people don’t realize that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Most people get it, but it often goes away on its own. However, if HPV doesn’t go away, it can cause cancer. 

There is a vaccine to prevent HPV. The HPV vaccine protects individuals against the infection and cancers. The schedule for getting vaccinated depends on age and health status. Ask a doctor if the HPV vaccine is right for you. You can get the HPV vaccine at no cost.

CalOptima Health Medi-Cal member ages 21 to 64 may be eligible for a gift card after completing a cervical cancer screening. Visit www.caloptima.org/healthrewards to learn more. 

Latino Health Access (LHA) has been a pioneer in the Promotor de Salud/Community Health Worker (CHW) model in the U.S. Promotores are community members trained in health education, systems navigation, and advocacy. They use a peer approach and popular education to engage with hard-to-reach populations on sensitive topics such as mental health, childhood sexual abuse and immigration. Promotores also provide support and coaching to participants navigating different systems (i.e., medical, education, immigration, legal) and cultivate their leadership to take personal or community action to support decisions affecting their health and wellness.

LHA provides family-centered services, including COVID-19 resources, Diabetes classes, youth groups, tenant counseling, support groups, and weekly food distribution. In addition, LHA houses the Downtown Family Resource Center. 

To learn more about LHA’s services and current projects, please visit their website www.latinohealthaccess.org.

On January 10, the Orange County Board of Supervisors (OC BOS) appointed Supervisor Don Wagner to serve as Chairman and Supervisor Andrew Do to serve as Vice Chairman for the 2023 calendar year. The OC BOS has also re-appointed two Supervisors to serve on the CalOptima Health Board of Directors: Supervisor Andrew Do, Supervisor Doug Chaffee and appointed Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento as alternate.

Starting April 1, DHCS is returning to regular Medi-Cal eligibility and enrollment operations. During the declared COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Medi-Cal members retained coverage regardless of any changes in circumstances. However, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 signed by President Biden, the continuous coverage requirements will end after March 31, regardless of whether the PHE has ended. Counties will then have to determine if members are still eligible for Medi-Cal. CalOptima Health members will receive a mailed letter from the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) asking to confirm their contact information as an initial step in this verification effort. If a member has changed addresses or other contact information during the PHE, they should notify the SSA by calling 855-541-5411 or visiting ssa.ocgov.com. 

The California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) has released Emergency Resource Guides in English and Spanish, offering resources for personal emergency plans, mental health services, social services, health care services and more. Access and share the guides with those in your community who could benefit from them. Visit chhs.ca.gov to learn more.