Medi-Cal Plan Introduces Community Health Investment Program
to Address Social Determinants of Health
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) announced the launch of its Community Health Investment program that awards monetary grants to locally qualified organizations that are addressing social determinants of health.
“It’s important that plans like ours evolve and develop strategies that help support the overall well-being of the communities we serve,” said Dale Villani, GCHP’s chief executive officer. “This program is focused on identifying and funding organizations committed to providing integrated care and care coordination across the continuum, because maintaining good health for our membership is more than just health care.”
The World Health Organization defines social determinants of health as the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. Social determinants play a critical role in determining the health of individuals and communities.
The Plan, which serves nearly 203,000 Medi-Cal members in Ventura County, has selected three social determinants of health as priorities for this first year of grant funding: access to quality health care, access to quality and affordable food options, and neighborhood and built environments.
“Working collaboratively with community partners and identifying issues like food insecurity and homelessness leads to healthier outcomes for our members,” said Dr. Nancy Wharfield, GCHP’s associate chief medical officer.
With oversight and guidance from the Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission (VCMMCC), GCHP’s executive management team has appointed executive sponsors to oversee the review and selection of potential awardees.
To be eligible for a grant, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a 509(a) designation indicating that the organization is not a private foundation, a public or government entity, and provide high-quality health care and/or health-enhancing supportive services primarily to Medi-Cal recipients and to other medically indigent populations within Ventura County.
The maximum total award is $150,000 per project lasting up to 12 months. The submission includes a proposal application, a detailed work plan, a budget and budget narrative, the most recent financial statements for the applicant organization, and a list of the members of its board of directors. Collaborative partnerships are encouraged but not required. All applicants must demonstrate competency, experience with the targeted population and selected social determinant of health, financial stability, business integrity and the ability to successfully implement the proposed project.
All applications must be received by GCHP no later than 4 p.m. on May 1 and be completed using GCHP provided templates and guidance materials. For more detailed information and instructions, visit www.goldcoasthealthplan.org.
Gold Coast Health Plan is an independent public entity created by County Ordinance and authorized through Federal Legislation. However, Gold Coast Health Plan is not a county agency. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved implementation of a County Organized Health System (COHS) model, transitioning from fee-for-service Medi-Cal to managed care, on June 2, 2009. The purpose of Gold Coast Health Plan is to serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries, enhance the quality of healthcare, provide greater access, improve service and provide choice. The Plan provides health benefits to nearly 203,000 beneficiaries in Ventura County, Calif. To learn more about Gold Coast Health Plan, visit us at: www.goldcoasthealthplan.org.