CIN,

There’s still ample time to register for two valuable upcoming CIN events – time enough that you could even share these opportunities with colleagues at your organization and your partner organizations!

On October 29, CIN will host a webinar about the Affordability Accelerator Framework, a roadmap of opportunities to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs across the continuum of patient care. 

On November 21, we will host a day-long convening in Oakland to uplift, discuss, and address power differentials in partnerships among social service and health care organizations and work to identify solutions and improvements.

Thank you for sharing the CIN newsletter with your colleagues to grow the network and achieve more. Participation in CIN continues to be free and open to all. And if you ever have resources that would benefit the CIN community, please let us know!

In support,

The California Improvement Network Team 

Affordability Accelerator Framework: A Roadmap to Improve Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs

Webinar: Tuesday, October 29, 12:00 – 1:00 PM Pacific, online only

Health care affordability, in terms of out-of-pocket patient costs, is a leading health care concern and influencer of health status. Such unexpected costs are associated with worse patient experience, adherence to appointments and medications, and patient trust.

This CIN webinar will cover the Affordability Accelerator Framework, a roadmap of opportunities to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs across the continuum of patient care. Participants will learn about how the framework was developed and its use within health systems to implement programs providing patients guidance, financial navigation, and trust-building.

This webinar is offered free of charge. We encourage participation from patient navigators and patient support staff, allied health care providers, and leaders working in health plans and other health care payor settings.

Partnering with Complex Power Dynamics: Convening for Social Service and Health Organizations

Thursday, November 21, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM, Oakland, CA

In this CalAIM era, health care and social service organizations need to partner to develop more people-centered approaches. Often, these partnerships uncover power dynamics that can make collaboration challenging and limit progress toward health equity goals. 

CIN formed an advisory group to produce this convening that will explore the power differentials in these partnerships and identify solutions and improvements. Please join us to discuss strategies for power sharing to build and maintain strong partnerships and developing skills for “power with” such as shared agreements, feedback loops, and accountability.

This one-day convening is intended for those from California social service organizations, health care organizations, and health plans who are responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining collaborative partnerships to advance health. It is offered free of charge and travel stipends are available based on need.

Strengthening Foundations

California HEAL Fellowship Applications Due Sept. 30

Join health equity trailblazers in healing the people and health systems in California’s resource-denied communities. The California Health, Equity, Action, and Leadership (HEAL) Program is accepting applications now for their one-year fellowship to support the leadership development and retention of health care professionals. Fellowship placement options include Fresno/Central Valley, Riverside, and San Diego. The deadline to apply is September 30.

Advancing Health Equity

Braiding Medicaid Funds to Support Person-Centered Care: Lessons from Medi-Cal

Braiding funding streams — when health care and social service organizations bring together funds from various sources to support a unified goal or program — is a promising strategy for maximizing financing to promote the delivery of services for people with complex health and social needs.

California’s CalAIM initiative is creating new opportunities for organizations to tap into Medi-Cal (Medicaid) funding to provide comprehensive, person-centered care and services. Yet, to do this effectively, social service organizations often need to braid multiple Medicaid and non-Medicaid funding streams — a relatively new concept for many service delivery organizations.

A new brief from the Center for Health Care Strategies explores braiding identifies strategies, risks, challenges, and opportunities. A webinar recording from August is also available.

Advancing Health Equity

Webinar: North Carolina's Healthy Opportunity Pilots Evaluation Results

Wednesday, October 2, 12:00 PM Pacific

North Carolina was one of the first states in the nation to provide non-medical services related to food, transportation, housing, interpersonal safety, and toxic stress to high-needs Medicaid enrollees through its Healthy Opportunity Pilots. Earlier this year, the state released interim evaluation results that showed the pilots decreased health care utilization and lowered costs of care. Join this webinar hosted by SIREN to delve into the evaluation results and lessons learned along the way.

Evolving Roles and Care Models

Behavioral Health Integration – Two Learning Opportunities

Behavioral health integration into primary care improves patient outcomes and quality of life while increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. This approach is imperative.

The California Quality Collaborative (CQC) has a broad initiative around behavioral health integration (BHI) efforts. We are highlighting two in particular that will help your BHI work:

• BHI Implementation Webinar Series: Join in a three-part webinar series for health care organizations planning and implementing BHI on Sept. 11, Nov. 13, and Jan. 8. Learn more and register.
• Cal-In Peer Group for California BHI Leaders: Join in quarterly virtual meetings for BHI professionals to support connection and collaboration. The group's next meeting takes place on Sept. 18. Learn more.