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Updates and
Announcements
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CalAIM: Community Supports |
By January 1, 2023, CalOptima will provide 14 pre-approved Community Supports, which are wrap-around services that address health-related social needs. Eligible members who choose to receive Community Supports services may avoid hospital care, nursing facility care, emergency department visits,or other costly services. As of July 1, 2022, CalOptima started providing Short-Term Post-Hospitalization, Day Habilitation, Personal Care/Homemaker, Medically-Tailored Meals,and Sobering Center services.
Currently, CalOptima provides four Community Supports — Housing Transition Navigation Services, Housing Deposits, Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services,and Recuperative Care services — and includes the following providers:
- American Family Housing
- Blue Sky Manor, Inc.
- Community Action Partnership of Orange County
- Friendship Shelter
- Illumination Foundation
- Jamboree Housing
- Lutheran Social Services of Southern California
- Mercy House
- Volunteers of America of Los Angeles
Members receiving Community Supports may also be eligible for Enhanced Care Management (ECM), a Medi-Cal benefit designed to address the clinical and non-clinical needs of high-need members through coordination of services and comprehensive care management.
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CalOptima Executive Director of Medi-Cal/CalAIM Discusses Newly Created Role |
In a recent interview, Kelly Bruno-Nelson discussed her role as CalOptima’s Executive Director of Medi-Cal/CalAIM, a new position at the agency and the first of its kind at a health plan in California. Bruno-Nelson is charged with leading CalOptima’s activities around the statewide CalAIM initiative, such as connecting members with Community Supports to address social determinants of health.
“CalOptima is a health plan recognizing that the social determinants of health, which are 80% of our ability to be healthy, really should be front and center,” said Bruno-Nelson. “I think CalOptima, by creating this position, is really setting the bar on what that looks like.”
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CalOptima Hosts Four CalFresh Enrollment Events and Resource Fair to Encourage Member and Community Enrollment in CalFresh |
More than 7,000 community members attended the four CalOptima CalFresh Enrollment Events and Resource Fairs in May and June. During the events, community members learned how a family of four can get up to $835 a month to buy healthy food with CalFresh,and those eligible received enrollment assistance. Attendees also learned about community resources for mental health,basic needs,early intervention and programs for older adults and received free diapers and food boxes.
To support our members with food security,CalOptima members can receive a warm-line transfer to sign up for CalFresh at the County of Orange Social Services Agency via our Customer Service department at 1-888-587-8088.
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Syphilis in Orange County 2022: Epidemic of Women and Babies |
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In response to the syphilis epidemic in Orange County affecting men, women and babies, CalOptima is hosting a virtual CME/CE for physicians and licensed health care professionals on “Syphilis in OC 2022: Epidemic of Women and Babies.”
The training will cover:
- The epidemiology of the disease in the County
- Maternal risk factors associated with syphilis in pregnancy
- The best use of syphilis serology
- Practical examples of the protean physical manifestations of primary and secondary syphilis
- The requirement for screening women three times during their pregnancy, which is now law
When: Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Time: Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Webinar – (Zoom Meeting)
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CalOptima’s Customer Service Satellite Office at the County Community Service Center in Westminster |
A navigator will greet visitors and assess their needs to direct them more quickly to the appropriate support, whether that is money for groceries or rent, medical coverage, mental health services, in-home care and more. Assistance is available in multiple languages, including Vietnamese and Spanish.
Recent renovations have nearly doubled the CCSC’s footprint, giving room for not only services from the County of Orange Social Services Agency, Orange County Health Care Agency, Orange County Housing Authority,and the Office on Aging,but also for community partners, such as CalOptima and the Caregiver Resource Center of Orange County.
CalOptima hosts health education workshops at the CCSC to share health education and awareness with the community. Community partners are invited to share information about their programs and services. Please email Lisa Nguyen, Senior Community Relations Specialist, at lisanguyen@caloptima.org if interested in presenting at a future workshop. Presentations in Vietnamese are highly preferred.
The County Community Service Center is located at 15496 Magnolia St. in Westminster and is open from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.Visitors may call 714-372-3454 for more information.
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Bright Steps: Meet the Team |
CalOptima’s Bright Steps Program (BSP) features a team of educators dedicated to supporting Medi-Cal members who are pregnant or have delivered in the last 12 months. BSP is a no-cost program that provides CalOptima members with pregnancy, infant and postpartum education, as well as resources and services to ensure they have the healthiest pregnancy possible. In addition to telephonic education and outreach, members can also get educational materials mailed to them.
The BSP team is made up of a talented group of professionals who are passionate about supporting CalOptima members to have a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby. The BSP team’s diversity of specializations ensures members have access to staff who can meet their specific needs. For example, when a member completes their first prenatal appointment, their provider notifies the BSP Project Specialist. Afterward, the member is assigned to a Personal Care Coordinator (PCC), who provide personalized education each trimester through delivery and postpartum. If the member requires additional nutrition support, they are offered a consult and follow-up appointments with a BSP registered dietitian. Additionally, a health and lactation educator, will provide the member with education and breastfeeding resources during and after delivery. Learn more about the BSP program and team by calling 1-714-246-8895.
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CalOptima PACE Hosts Community Senior Health and Wellness Event |
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In June, CalOptima PACE held its first senior health and wellness event since the start of the pandemic in 2020, offering prospective participants and the community an opportunity to learn about the PACE program. The event featured various activities, a facility tour, a meeting with a PACE enrollment coordinator and live music. If you know an older adult who wants to stay independent and is looking for complete health care, contact the PACE Marketing and Enrollment team at 1-844-999-PACE (7223). |
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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. Click here for options.
Vaccinations are also available for anyone who is homebound, and transportation services are available for anyone who needs a ride to a vaccination site. If you need help scheduling a vaccination appointment, call the OC COVID-19 Hotline at 714-834-2000.
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Ending Homelessness: Good for Your Clients, Good for Our Community |
Orange County United Way invites you to attend a virtual training on July 19 or August 3. The training will debunk myths regarding homelessness in Orange County, how housing choice (Section 8) vouchers affect rent,and how you have the power to make a difference in our community. To register, click here, and for the event flyer click here.
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Shellfish Toxins/ Quarantine Information |
The annual California Department of Public Health mussel quarantine is in effect through October 31, 2022. The purpose of this quarantine is to protect the public from deadly poisons that may be present in bivalve mollusks, such as mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops. The quarantine applies only to shellfish collected by sport harvesters and not to commercial shellfish harvesters who must be licensed. For more information, please visit https://ocbeachinfo.com/shellfish/.
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¡Mas Fresco! More Fresh Program |
The ¡Más Fresco! More Fresh Program provides rebate dollars to CalFresh recipients when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with the CalFresh benefits on their EBT card. CalFresh recipients who enroll in this program are randomly assigned to earn either $2 in rebate dollars or $4 in rebate dollars for every CalFresh benefit dollar spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating Northgate González Markets. ¡Más Fresco! More Fresh Program participants can earn up to $100 per month of rebate dollars.
Program participants must be a CalFresh recipient, at least 18 years of age or older, and shop at a participating Northgate González Market.To watch a video on ¡Mas Fresco! More Fresh click here. ¡Más Fresco! Enrollment Postcards are available in English and Spanish by clicking here.
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Take time to learn the ABCs of water safety: A is for Active Adult Supervision, B is for Barriers around Pools and Spas, and C is for Classes. For more helpful tips visit https://drowningpreventionoc.org/.
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How to Contact CalOptima During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
CalOptima 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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CalOptima, A Public Agency www.caloptima.org
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