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ACAP RESOURCES ON CORONAVIRUS:

• OUR WORK
• LATEST NEWS STATEMENTS

PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• CMS listing of Approved Section 1135 (Federal Disaster) Waivers
• The Center for Health Insurance Reform, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute: What Are State Officials Doing to Make Private Health Insurance Work Better for Consumers During the Coronavirus Public Health Crisis?

HOW ACAP PLANS ARE FIGHTING COVID-19

L.A. Care Health Plan and Inland Empire Health Plan Partner Up on Pharmacist Provider Program

(October 22, 2020)– L.A. Care Health Plan and Inland Empire Health Plan announced their partnership in USC’s California Right Meds Collaborative (CRMC), an initiative that aims to deliver high-impact comprehensive medication management through a value-based payment model. Due to the increased risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, pharmacists have an even greater role in managing medication plans and moderating patients’ chronic conditions and outcomes. Through CRMC, L.A. Care recognizes the value in creating a more accessible and trusted network of community providers for its patients.

L.A. Care Health Plan Supports Its L.A. County and Efforts to Address Systemic Racism

(October 5, 2020)– L.A. Care Health Plan donated $5 million to help fund Keck Graduate Institute’s School of Medicine. The donation is part of LA Care’s “Elevating the Safety Net” initiative, which recruits physicians into L.A. County’s pool of health care providers. It will help with the accreditation and rollout of the graduate university’s medical school. L.A Care also committed $1 million in Equity and Resilience Initiative grants to community-based organizations that are working to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racially marginalized communities. The initiative is designed to promote racial justice by investing in the infrastructure of seven trusted grassroots organizations that are led by and serve communities of color.

Health Plan of San Joaquin Hosts Event for Medi-Cal Beneficiaries 

(September 29, 2020)– Health Plan of San Joaquin organized and hosted an event to raise awareness of post-hospital resources and identify the options currently available for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Among the approximately 70 provider and health plan representatives participating in the online event, 10 representatives, one from each provider type (e.g., skilled nursing, adult day health care, in-home supportive services, program of all-inclusive care for the elderly), presented a snapshot of their services.

Community Health Plan of Washington Provides $230,000 to Advance Health Equity  

(September 9, 2020)– Community Health Plan of Washington donated $230,000 to 23 local community-based organizations that directly serve communities of color and others disproportionally affected by COVID-19. The funds were awarded at a virtual check presentation. Racism is acknowledged as a public health crisis in Washington State. This comes at a time when people of color are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Given the stark realities that COVID has shed light on related to health equity, CHPW has reevaluated its community reinvestment program.

Community Health Choice Supports Pasadena Students 

(September 2, 2020)– Community Health Choice donated 500 backpacks to support Pasadena students as they head back to school. The donation by Community Health Choice was organized by ABC Dental. While ABC Dental and CHC’s annual back-to-school event may have been canceled this year in response to the pandemic, the organizations have continued to find ways to help area students and their families through this donation.

UPMC Health Plan Helps Kids and Parents with Back-to-School Health Needs

(August 26, 2020)– UPMC is providing parents with increased flexibility to meet the physical and emotional health care needs of their children. Many families include check-ups, immunization updates, and dental visits in their preparations for the new school year. According to UPMC, the continuation of well-visits is essential to children’s health regardless of COVID concerns. These regular check-ups can help pediatricians identify and physical, behavioral, developmental, or dental concerns early.

L.A. Care Health Plan Provides Legal Aid

(August 19, 2020)– L.A. Care Health Plan announced a second round of $750,000 in funding divided between a half-dozen legal aid agencies to support legal aid for people facing eviction. “We want to bolster the efforts of agencies that have already been helping to level the legal playing field for people living in poverty,” said CEO John Baackes. “The funding will help the six agencies educate clients about their rights and provide legal representation to hundreds in need.”

Health Plan of San Joaquin Supports COVID-19 Community Awareness

(August 19, 2020)– HPSJ launched STEP UP! HELP RESTORE OUR COMMUNITIES in August. This educational campaign keeps up with current events while continuing to leverage public health and community organization efforts to promote safe behaviors. It includes billboards, transit ads, social media posts, radio spots, and HPSJ branded masks and toolkits

L.A. Care Health Plan Donates $1 Million to Aid Frontline Workers and Homeless Community

(August 11, 2020)– L.A. Care Health Plan awarded nearly $1 million in grants to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles to help frontline workers and homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The largest grant — $500,000 — is for the United Way’s Health Pathways Expansion Program, which will allow health providers to expand full-spectrum healthcare delivered onsite in interim housing during the pandemic, and will help healthcare providers identify and enroll and least 350 people in Medi-Cal or other appropriate coverage.

Inland Empire Health Plan Supports Homeless Members during COVID-19 Crisis

(August 11, 2020)– Inland Empire Health Plan continues to address the homelessness crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. IEHP’s Housing Initiative has provided housing for 164 homeless members who have chronic health conditions and are high utilizers of health services. The innovative program also assigns members to case managers who provide benefit education and preventative health support.

AmeriHealth Caritas Launches Outreach Campaign to Help Medicaid Enrollees 

Commonwealth Care Alliance Supports The Homeless During COVID-19

(July 8, 2020)– In partnership with local and state governments, Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) has set up several hotels to serve as isolation and recovery sites for homeless individualswho tested positive for COVID-19 but didn’t need to be hospitalized. They are also providing residents with additional services, such as addiction services, housing assistance, and other resources to address socio-economic needs. CCA is also providing gift cards so people in need can purchase essential items such as groceries, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies.

Gold Coast Health Plan Supports Local Organizations 

(July 8, 2020)–Gold Coast Health Plan provided $20,500 in sponsorships to seven community organizations that are helping county residents during the pandemic. “We saw the immense need caused by the pandemic and we wanted to do our part to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Margaret Tatar, GCHP’s interim chief executive officer. “We are grateful to our community partners for working tirelessly to meet the needs of Ventura County residents and help them get through this crisis.”

AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana Helps Members Stay Healthy

(June 30, 2020)– Amerihealth Caritas Louisiana is helping its members stay healthy while gyms are operating at reduced capacity by providing them with a Fitbit at no cost. Fitbits are devices that help users track their physical activity and the number of calories they burn from that activity. By giving enrollees the devices, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana aims to help members at particular health risk from lack of exercise continue efforts to improve their health and wellness.

“Exercise not only helps your physical health, but your mental health. With so many things in our lives disrupted by the pandemic, exercise can provide a small piece of normalcy and help relieve stress,” said AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana Market President Kyle Viator. “This benefit will help our members remain physically active and on track to maintain their wellness goals.”

Inland Empire Health Plan Provides PPE

(June 26, 2020) — Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) has provided more than 2.4 million units of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Inland Empire government agencies, medical societies, associations, and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the plan has provided over 1.9 million disposable masks, 145,000 N95/KN95 respiratory masks, 80,000 surgical gowns, 130,000 isolation gowns, 43,000 boxes of gloves, 150,000 containers of sanitizing wipes and 48,000 wipe refills.

L.A. Care Donates More Than 1.4 Million to Community Health Centers

(June 9, 2020) — L.A. Care Health Plan gave more than $1.4 million to 10 health centers and community clinics in Los Angeles County, spending that money in communities most vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The nation’s largest publicly operated health plan awarded the grants through the Robert E. Tranquada Safety Net Initiative, gifting each selected health center and clinic with between $100,000 and $150,000.

Gateway Health Plan Launches New Brand, Supports SDOH Partnerships

(June 4, 2020) — Gateway Health Plan launched its new brand platform, Wholecare, along with its redefined mission, vision and core values. As part of these efforts, the company plans to contribute more than $1 million in 2020 to support community partnerships that address social determinants of health. “Given the health and economic impact of COVID-19, we believe now is the right time – when the community needs us the most – to bring our new brand to life,” CEO Cain Hayes said in a statement.

CHPW Goes The Extra Mile to Support Members During COVID-19 Crisis

(June 1, 2020)– Community Health Plan of Washington has gone the extra mile for its members during COVID-19 by coordinating telehealth training and support, spearheading food drives for the community, calling more than 40,000 members to check on their well-being, and advancing more than $25 million for behavioral health providers across the state.

Prestige Health Choice Supports Local Families in Need

(May 27, 2020)– Prestige Health Choice is donating funds and goods to organizations in its seven-county Florida service area. The donations will help provide for the needs of those affected by the pandemic. The donations include $5,000 to Feeding South Florida Food Bank, which will provide 35,000 meals, and $5,000 to the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County to supply diapers, baby formula, and other necessary items. Prestige Health Choice has also supported the community with non-monetary donations of backpacks, diaper bags filled with baby products, and messenger bags to local homeless shelters and other community organizations.

Geisinger Launches New Mobile App to Assist Recovering COVID Patients

(May 27, 2020)–Geisinger launched a new mobile app to connect COVID-19 patients with providers and monitor their symptoms while they recover at home. Epic’s MyChart Care Companion allows patients to report their symptoms, temperature, and oxygen levels twice a day to a team of nurses. If their symptoms worsen, an automated alert is sent and the patient is contacted by a clinical nurse for further evaluation and, if necessary, a video meeting with a physician. All Geisinger patients who test positive for COVID-19 will have the option to receive a care kits with a mask, activities, and other items to self-treat at home. Coordinated in part with Geisinger Health Plan, these kits include a pulse oximeter to monitor blood oxygen levels, a digital thermometer, and acetaminophen to reduce fever and any muscle aches or pains.

AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana Donates $20,000 to Address Food Insecurity

(May 14, 2020)– AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana donated $20,000 to Feeding Louisiana to address food insecurity in the state. Louisiana has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the United States. According to Feeding America, one-in-six Louisiana households already struggled to put food on the table before the COVID-19 pandemic and one out of every four Louisiana children lives in a food-insecure household. The donation will provide 70,000 meals to communities in need across all 64 parishes of the state.

Commonwealth Care Alliance to Use Predictive Analytics to Improve COVID-19 Response

(May 12, 2020)–Commonwealth Care Alliance announced it will use Google’s Looker, a predictive analytics tool, to provide CCA clinicians with almost instant access to the critical information they need to deliver care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A dedicated COVID-19 monitoring dashboard allows CCA to determine which members are most at-risk for the virus based on factors such as age and pre-existing conditions. Over 400 CCA clinicians have received tailored action boards that consolidate clinical data, including COVID-19 information, and highlight the most urgent matters including environmental and personal risk factors.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Supports Community Organizations Through $1M COVID Relief Fund

(May 12, 2020)– Cardinal Innovations Healthcare has announced the third round of awards as part of its $1 million COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fund was established to  support local responsiveness in a way that impacts the health, wellness and stability of vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19, placing a particular emphasis on initiatives that will make an immediate impact on the availability of social services and increase the community’s overall ability to serve those who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Over the course of three rounds of $20,000 grants, Cardinal Innovations has provided grants to more than 50 local organizations, including churches, food banks, housing support services, clinics and schools.

CalOptima Launches Program to Improve Infection Control Training in Nursing Homes

(May 8, 2020)– CalOptima committed more than $629,000 in a grant for a new program to improve infection control training to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes. As part of the training, nursing home staff will learn how to better screen facility visitors, use personal protective equipment (PPE) more effectively, correct common mistakes in cleaning rooms and public areas, and answer resident questions about COVID-19.

AlohaCare Gives Grants, PPE to Local Non-Profit Organizations Helping At Risk-Families

(May 5, 2020)–AlohaCare will donate $150,000 to local non-profit organizations that are helping at-risk families and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation includes monetary contributions to food banks across the state; 28,800 masks for health care workers at community health centers; and a grant for a new online platform to help identify areas of need in Hawaii.

CenCal Health Procures PPE for Local Hospitals, Clinics

(April 27, 2020)– CenCal Health is in the process of delivering 100,000 disposable face masks, 100,000 disposable gloves and 20,000 protective gowns to local healthcare workers combatting the COVID-19 public health emergency. With this donation of personal protective equipment or PPE, CenCal Health continues its commitment to community health and safety even during this unprecedented event.

IEHP Teams Up with Local Agencies to Connect Uninsured Californians to Health Services

(April 27, 2020)– Inland Empire Health Plan is collaborating with local health officials to connect uninsured Inland Empire residents to health services through the 2-1-1 social service line. Residents who call the number with COVID questions will be routed to a health care professional. Nurses from IEHP and San Bernardino County Public Health are supporting 2-1-1 callers Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with answers to health questions and advice on how to access medical care related to COVID-19.

UPMC Launches Free Self Care App to Combat COVID-19 Stress

(April 27, 2020)– UPMC recently launched a free self-care app offering evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for stress management, anxiety, depression and more. The app– Brain Manager– a self-service, digital tool that was specifically designed to help users calm their minds and bodies by delivering evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques and training through a custom, personalized experience. App users complete mobile programs on stress and anxiety, all of which help boost emotional resilience and adaptability. UPMC says the app has logged more than 3,000 users since the start of April .

L.A. Care Commits $120 Million to Support Healthcare Providers

(April 16, 2020)— L.A. Care Health Plan committed more than $70 million to support healthcare providers who are working to fight COVID-19. The bulk of those funds will go to hospitals and providers, but roughly $13 million will go to community organizations, supporting testing and telehealth support for members and other individuals in interim housing settings, legal aid for community members facing eviction, and meal deliveries for up to 750 homebound members, among other services.

Amida Care Addresses Racial Disparity in COVID-19 Impact

(April 10, 2020)– Amida Care and the National Black Leadership Commission on Health (NBLCH), a nonprofit organization that promotes health and prevention of diseases within the Black community, are calling for urgent attention to address COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on the Black community. Across the nation, early data is showing that African Americans are disproportionately contracting and dying from the new coronavirus. In the state of New York, Black people account for 18% of deaths but are 9% of the population. Amida Care CEO Doug Wirth and C. Virginia Fields, CEO of NBLCH and ACAP’s 2020 Leadership in Advocacy Award Winner, penned an op-ed on racial disparity in healthcare for the New York Daily News.

Community Health Choice Employees Make Face Masks for Local Non-Profit 

(April 10, 2020) — Community Health Choice employees, led by Vice President of Community Affairs Daisy Morales, made 159 face masks for Covenant House, a non-profit organization that helps homeless, runaway, and trafficked young people.

The Community Team made 159 face masks for the homeless youth at @CovenantHouse this week.

A big thank you to @PappasitosTXMEX and @Univision for providing them lunch while volunteering!

See all pictures at https://t.co/G8drSsBcfI pic.twitter.com/VxYE2efquu

— Community Health Choice (@CHCTexas) April 10, 2020

IEHP Donates $50,000 to Support Local Food Banks

(April 8, 2020)– Inland Empire Health Plan gave more than$50,0000 to support local food banks during the pandemic. The plan donated staff resources to support continuity of local food bank operations. IEHP also sourced anddonated 15,000 surgical masks to local medical groups experiencing a shortage of personal protective equipment.

Just this afternoon, #TeamIEHP donated 15,000 surgical masks to local county medical associations, #RiversideCounty Medical Association and #SanBernardinoCounty Medical Association, for distribution to local physicians!

For more details: https://t.co/L2HDAbjLMX pic.twitter.com/iYCZ8SqhZg

— IEHP (@IEHP_healthcare) April 9, 2020