Unsheltered Californians Receive High-Quality Care Due to New CalAIM Initiative

Date: 10/10/22

An often overlooked aspect of people experiencing homelessness is that many need greater care than just housing. In fact, it's estimated by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research Center that at least 52% of the homeless population in California are either severally mentally ill or addicted to hard drugs.

That's why understanding the best way to care for patients with complex issues means you must consider the full scope of their physical, behavioral, social and long-term needs. Through the CalAIM program, Health Net partners with local community-based organizations to do exactly that, whilst providing access to high-quality, affordable care and services for all.

Health Net's Amber Kemp, Vice President, Medi-Cal Regional Lead, presented on a panel at the Camden Coalition's Putting Care at the Center conference on September 21, 2022. Joined by representatives from the California Department of Health Care Services, the Illumination Foundation, LA County Department of Health Services and the California Health Care Foundation, they discussed California's homelessness crisis through CalAIM. The lively conversation included housing-related Community Supports and the Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program. The incentive program allows Medi-Cal health plans to earn funds by making investments and progress in addressing homelessness and keeping people housed.

At Health Net, our work with unsheltered Californians is rooted in innovation and partnerships. We identify and reach members where they are and provide care that meets their mental health, social determinants of health and physical needs. These direct interventions help break the cycle and have transformed the healthcare system to better meet member needs. Our work includes:

• Street Medicine Teams: Health Net has partnered with organizations in Sacramento and Los Angeles to launch street medicine teams who provide care and resources directly to people in homeless encampments.
• Mobile Health Vans: In partnership with Community Medical Centers in the Central Valley, Health Net funded a mobile health van to visit thousands of homeless patients.
• Access to Telehealth: During the COVID-19 pandemic, our many grants to providers, like Village Health Center in San Diego, helped expand telehealth services. This increased service utilization by homeless members.
• Housing Liaison Staff: Our dedicated housing liaisons drive local collaboration on all housing programs and services. They work directly with navigation hubs, shelters and agencies to help our members.

Learn more about how Health Net supports unsheltered Californians (PDF)