July 12, 2022

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• July 18: "Boost the Burn" Wellness Challenge Begins
• September 5: Labor Day (check for closure hours) 
• September 11: Q3 Mandatory Compliance Training Deadline

Salary Adjustments and Living Wage In Effect

Effective Sunday, June 26, AltaMed implemented a $23 per hour living wage, which will be reflected in the upcoming Friday, July 15 paycheck. In addition, AltaMed, in partnership with Mercer, is implementing Phase 4 market adjustments at the same time; 355 employee salaries will be adjusted to market levels which will also be reflected in the upcoming July 15 paycheck. For information, please refer to the Salary Adjustments and Living Wage FAQs.

The Ask the CEO email link is available to employees who can directly ask questions, make suggestions, express concerns, and provide input to Cástulo de la Rocha, AltaMed President and CEO. Below is a question asked by several employees.

Q: Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States. Will this be observed at AltaMed?

A: As a child of social justice, AltaMed is committed to celebrating our history, especially those holidays that recognize the contribution and milestones achieved by people of color. As AltaMed is driven by our mission "to provide access to health and human services to underserved communities," we must remain mindful to keep our clinics and programs open so we can provide that access and care for our most vulnerable communities.

As a result, adding holidays is not something we take lightly, even when we recognize their value. Especially when it comes to celebrating, remembering the lives, or honoring issues and contributions of persons of color that this country has historically ignored.

Juneteenth, the day of recognizing the end of slavery in the United States, became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. Leadership has not yet had the time to give this particular issue the attention it deserves. Therefore, I will take your recommendation of observing Juneteenth at AltaMed because I recognize its importance as a potential observed holiday.

AltaMed encountered a similar situation when, in 2014, President Obama proclaimed Cesar Chavez Day as a U.S. federal commemorative holiday and not an official federal holiday. A few years later, AltaMed employees chose to trade Veteran’s Day (November 11) for Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) as an AltaMed-observed holiday. With staff input, it seems possible that we could do something similar today. I will ask Human Resources to review this opportunity further.

AltaMed already observes 17 PTO days and 13 holidays where most employers celebrate only 10 federal holidays and 13 PTO days. Additionally, starting last year, we gave employees a full, paid day for the previous half days before Christmas and New Year's, now increasing our holidays to 13. 

Do You Know About Your Benefits?

AltaMed provides many benefits to employees and their families. To learn about available benefits, please click here and download the Benefits flyer. The attached list is not comprehensive. Contact your Human Resources Business Partner to learn more or ask any questions.

In addition to medical, dental, vision, and many other benefits, AltaMed employees also have access to:

• Cell Phone Plan Discounts
• E-Credit Union
• Amusement Parks and Movie Theater Tickets
• AltaMed Pharmacy Co-Pay Discount
• Student Loan Solutions/Options
• Unidos Financial Assistance
• Bereavement Leave
• Jury Duty

Find out more about these and all benefits offered to you by visiting Benefits on Town Square or by contacting the Benefits team directly.

Compliance Updates for Employees

Patient Confidentiality Policy

California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) was amended to enhance confidentiality for patients seeking sensitive services defined as "all health care related to mental or behavioral health, sexual, and reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, substance gender-affirming care, and intimate partner violence." As such, health care providers are prohibited from disclosing medical information regarding a patient without obtaining the patient’s authorization or their authorized representative.

Effective July 1, under Request for Confidential Communications Policy (HP-HIP-007), AltaMed shall permit and accommodate requests for confidential communications for patients accessing sensitive services (this includes minors who have the right to consent to care) in the form and format requested, if readily available, or at alternative locations. These confidential communications shall include the following written, verbal, or electronic communications related to the receipt of sensitive services:

• Bills and attempts to collect payment.
• A notice of adverse benefits determinations.
• An explanation of benefits notice.
• A plan’s request for additional information regarding a claim.
• A notice of a contested claim.
• The name and address of a provider, description of services provided, and other information related to a visit.
• Any written, oral, or electronic communication containing protected health information.

To report any privacy-related incidents or violations, any employee may call the Privacy Hotline at (888) 418-1398 or submit a Privacy Incident. For information or to ask questions, contact the Privacy Office.

Mandatory Compliance Training

All employees are required to complete their mandatory Quarter 3 compliance training by Sunday, September 11 in order for AltaMed to meet with one or more regulation, law, or health plan requirement. Employees who complete all the training sessions by Thursday, August 11 will receive 25 recognition points.

Topics for this quarter include:

• Business Code of Conduct
• General Compliance and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
• Conflict of Interest
• HIPAA

How to access the training sessions:

• Click on My HR Services on Town Square and sign in with your single sign-in credentials.
• Click on Talent Management.
• Under Your Transcript, look for Quarter 3 2022 Required Training and select Open Curriculum to launch.

AltaMed Plus™ Senior Care Program Launched

AltaMed Plus™, our new senior and complex care program developed for our Medicare members, launched on Monday, July 11 at AltaMed Medical Group – East Los Angeles/Whittier East (Commerce) and AltaMed Medical Group – Pico Rivera, Passons. AltaMed Plus™ was designed to help seniors and those facing complex illness achieve their health goals by creating a personalized, transformative health care delivery model that emphasizes chronic condition management. 

AltaMed Plus™ consists of five distinct features:

• Interdisciplinary team-based approach to care
• Risk stratification model to make care management decisions
• Care management to boost coordination by creating diagnosis-based, Individualized Care Plans (ICP)
• Optimized provider panel with 40 minutes per patient visit to increase access 
• Concierge service center for increased first-call resolution

To learn more about AltaMed Plus™, please refer to the FAQs or program overview.

"Boost the Burn" Challenge Begins July 18

Don't forget to join the "Boost the Burn" Employee Wellness challenge and put a little kick in our metabolism. Participants will also learn how to boost caloric expenditure not only in our planned workouts, but in our daily lives. The challenge runs from Monday, July 18 to Monday, August 29.

Follow these easy steps: 

1. Click here to join.
2. Use org code "AltaMed" to sign up.
3. Enter your employee ID and follow the remaining steps to create your MoveSpring account and connect a device. 
4. Vitality points will be awarded automatically once a month.

Note: Current MoveSpring users will automatically be added to the challenge; no need to register. If you are not yet a MoveSpring user, sign up (directions above) to be automatically added to the quarterly challenges going forward.

Update Your AltaMed Email Signature

AltaMed has updated the email signature section which should be used for Outlook emails. Employees are required to use this approved and uniform format to ensure consistency throughout our organization. 

Refer to the AltaMed Email Signature Template and follow the step-by-step directions to update your email signature block. Note: There are two versions to select from; one specifically for those with multiple phone/fax numbers.

For the email signature, do not change the font size, any of the logos, or icons on this template; just update it with your information. Also, when writing emails, use the Arial font on a white background and do not add any quotes, colors, or other graphics.

A special note of gratitude and recognition to Dianna Sekowski, FNP-C, AltaMed PACE, who stopped to assist a few individuals involved in a traffic accident. Adriana Martinez, MSW, Social Work Supervisor, at AltaMed PACE - South Los Angeles, recognized her colleague, Dianna, who was already helping and providing assistance to those involved in the accident until an ambulance arrived. As Dianna says, "I believe any of us would stop to assist someone in need. Honestly, I think that's the beauty of the AltaMed family."

Thank you, Dianna, for stepping in and helping!

AltaMed in the News

AltaMed continues to serve as trusted source of information to the media. Click on AltaMed.org/newsroom to follow recent coverage.