November 30, 2022

In This Issue

CalOptima Health News


CalOptima Health and Orange County Health Care Agency Receive OCBC Award


CalOptima Health CIO Honored


Community Alliances Forum


Housing & Homelessness Incentive Program Community Forum


CalFresh Enrollment Event and Resource Fair for the Community 


COVID-19 News


Find a COVID-19 Vaccine


COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Continues to April 2023


Community News


Monkeypox Vaccines


Help Community Members Access Internet Service


Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Poisoning in OC


Older Adult Mental Health Training for Professionals



Veterans Homebuyer Orientation


2022 General Election Results

Portrait of mother and daughter smiling
CalOptima Health News

CalOptima Health and Orange County Health Care Agency Receive OCBC Award

From left to right: Alyssa Napuri, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of O.C. Supervisor Katrina Foley; Mark Taylor, Chair, Orange County Business Council (OCBC) Awards Committee,; Paulette Chaffee, Amabassador, Office of O.C. Supervisor Doug Chaffee; Dr. Veronica Kelley, Chief of Mental Health and Recovery Services, Orange County Health Care Agency; Andrew Do, CalOptima Health Board Chair and O.C. Supervisor; Yunkyung Kim, CalOptima Health Chief Operating Officer; Blair Contratto, CalOptima Health Board Member; Jeffrey Ball, President and CEO, OCBC; Donald P. Wagner, O.C. Supervisor (Photo courtesy of Tsutsumida Pictures) 


CalOptima Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) received the Public-Private Partnership Award from the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards during their awards event on November 17. The award recognizes the Be Well OC campus in the City of Orange, which CalOptima Health and HCA launched as a first-of-its-kind center to provide comprehensive behavioral health care and improve mental health and substance use disorder services for Orange County residents. Opened in 2021, the Be Well OC Orange campus provides an integrated model for mental health and substance use disorder services by breaking down barriers between the public and private sectors, and it has served more than 4,600 patients, including 2,500 CalOptima Health members. CalOptima Health, the HCA, private hospital systems, nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups and other community stakeholders came together to support Orange County’s existing mental health services and identify gaps in care, ultimately creating Be Well OC in response to community needs.

CalOptima Health CIO Honored


Wael Younan, CalOptima Health's Chief Information Officer, was recently honored as a finalist for the CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards. The ORBIE Awards is the premiere technology executive recognition program in the United States and honors chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership.

Community Alliances Forum

The virtual Community Alliances Forum on Understanding and Supporting the Needs of Orange County’s Justice-Involved Populations will take place Tuesday, December 13 from 9:30–11:30 a.m.


Learn about:

  • The unique health and transition needs of justice-involved populations with substance use disorder (SUD)
  • Challenges and successes in achieving access to SUD treatment for this population
  • How Orange County is mobilizing community resources to address the needs of this population through CalAIM


Click here to register for this virtual event.

Housing & Homelessness Incentive Program Community Forum

CalOptima Health is pleased to be hosting a community forum on Thursday, December 15 to provide updates on the Housing & Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP) and other homeless health projects. Please join us by registering here or provide your contact information to jasmine.awadallah@caloptima.org

CalFresh Enrollment Event and Resource Fair for the Community 

On Saturday, November 19, nearly 900 CalOptima Health members and community members attended a CalFresh enrollment event and resource fair in Huntington Beach. The event was organized by CalOptima Health, the County of Orange Social Services Agency and the City of Huntington Beach. Attendees received assistance with CalFresh enrollment. Eligible individuals can receive up to $281 and an eligible family of four can receive up to $939 to buy healthy food. The event also provided boxes of fruit and vegetables and diapers from Community Action Partnership OC, as well as fun activities for families, such as face painting and magic.  


Learn more about CalFresh and how to enroll at caloptima.org/calfresh

COVID-19 Updates
Find a COVID-19 Vaccine
Collage of portraits of an ethnically diverse and mixed age group of people showing their shoulders with band-aids on after getting a vaccine.

The Orange County Health Care Agency makes it easy for individuals to get a COVID-19 vaccine. There are several ways to find an appointment.


Vaccinations are also available for anyone who is homebound, and transportation services are available for those who need a ride to a vaccination site. If you need help scheduling a vaccination appointment, call the OC COVID-19 Hotline at 714-834-2000.

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Continues to April 2023

The current PHE designation — which has been continuously renewed in maximum 90-day increments — lasts through January 11, but the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) did not provide the guaranteed 60-day termination notice by November 11. Therefore, it is expected to be renewed for an additional 90-day period from January to April. However, it is not yet known if the PHE will be terminated in April or renewed again. In the meantime, Medicare telehealth services, Medicaid (Medi-Cal) coverage protections and several state supports continue as the U.S. Congress and California State Legislature work to make some of the emergency provisions, such as telehealth expansion, permanent beyond the PHE.

Close Up Of Woman At Home Reading Instructions On Supply Of Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Self-Testing Kits
Community News

Monkeypox Vaccines

Stay up to date and monitor your eligibility for monkeypox, now known as mpox, (JYNNEOS) vaccines as they become available. Visit othena.com for vaccine information.

Help Community Members Access Internet Service

Eligible households can receive assistance with accessing internet service needed for work, school, healthcare and more through the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program. The benefit provides households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines with: 


  • Up to $30 per month toward internet service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands 
  • A one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price 


Learn more, see additional eligibility criteria and enroll at fcc.gov/acp.

Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Poisoning in OC

The forum on Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Poisoning will take place on Thursday, December 15 at 5:30-7:15 p.m. The event will take place in person at Arnold O. Beckman High School, 3588 Bryan Ave., Irvine, CA 92602. To register, click here.

Older Adult Mental Health Training for Professionals

young caregiver accompanies an elderly gentleman helping him to walk in the park

Be Well Orange County is hosting an Older Adult Mental Health Training for Professionals on Thursday, December 8 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Behavioral Health Training Center in Orange. Attendees will offer an overview of older adult mental health to help aging professionals and caregivers recognize mental health issues, identify signs for clinical referrals and gain resources for older adults.

Veterans Homebuyer Orientation

Happy military serviceman holding cardboard box and looking at camera with blurred girl on background

Affordable Housing Clearinghouse is holding a virtual Veterans Homebuyer Orientation on Saturday, December 17 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about VA loans, CalVet loans, down payment assistance programs and homeownership opportunities. 


Click here to register for this virtual event.

2022 General Election Results

Four women of various demographics_ young blonde woman in front_ filling in ballots and casting votes in booths at polling station_ US flag on wall at back. Focus on booth signage

Updated Unofficial Election Results are available at the Orange County Registrar of Voters website. The report is updated at 5 p.m. each weekday until the election is certified. To view the statewide results for the election, click here. Note that county elections officials must report final official results to the Secretary of State by December 9, 2022.

How to Contact CalOptima Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

CalOptima Health 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.

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