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COVID-19 Provider Newsletter | Issue 16

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Vaccine Hesitancy Resources

We have video resources on our website that you can use to encourage and inform members who may be hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine:

Videos by the Alliance

What can you do after you get the vaccine? – Messaging focuses on some of the personal benefits of vaccination: being able to get back to the moments missed since the beginning of the pandemic. Available in English, Spanish and Hmong.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Medi-Cal Members – This video provides an overview of vaccine information and includes county public health department websites and hotline numbers. Available in English, Spanish and Hmong.

Videos from other vetted sources

Vaccine Answers from Black Health Care Workers – Stand-up comedian and TV host W. Kamau Bell talks to Black doctors, nurses and researchers to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information in American Sign Language (ASL) – This video shares information in ASL about:

  • Vaccine safety.
  • Types of vaccines.
  • Common side effects.
  • Getting the vaccine.
  • What to expect after you get the vaccine.

View our COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Medi-Cal Members page to view or share these videos and to find additional COVID-19 resources.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The Alliance’s behavioral health provider, Beacon Health Options, has resources to share with providers and members to raise mental health awareness.

Beacon’s Mental Health Awareness Month document provides information on the following:

  • An overview of the nation’s mental health.
  • Monitoring the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of children and teens.
  • What to do to prevent a mental health crisis.
  • Putting mental health first with #MeMinutes.

View the Mental Health Awareness Month PDF

New guidelines aim to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment

In an April 27 news release, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced updated guidelines for buprenorphine practice aimed to help treat more Americans for opioid use disorder. The new guidelines took effect on April 28, 2021.

Notably, HHS is removing some certification requirements for eligible practitioners to help reduce barriers to providing widely available treatment. This change comes after a spike in opioid-related deaths overlapping with the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS officials hope that the changes will lead to a higher rate of quality treatment and effective recovery.

To be approved to prescribe buprenorphine, eligible practitioners can sign up for an X-waiver on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. You must have a valid state license and DEA to be approved.

Questions about buprenorphine? Visit the CA Bridge website for on-shift information or contact the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s Buprenorphine Information Center at 866-287-2728 or [email protected].

Upcoming Alliance Webinars

Join us for upcoming webinars in June on immunization training and maternal child health.

Webinar on immunization training

The Alliance is partnering with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to host an immunization virtual training for providers.

Wednesday, June 10

Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Webex

The training will cover:

  • Immunization Registry updates.
  • Addressing vaccine hesitancy AND back-to-school immunizations training with Steven Vantine, Education Consultant with CDPH.

Register for the training.

Questions? Contact your Provider Relations Representative at 800-700-3874, ext. 5504.

Webinar on improving health care outcomes for maternal child health

The Alliance is partnering with Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County for a provider webinar, “Improving Healthcare Outcomes by Addressing Access and Equity through the lens of Maternal Child Health.”

Wednesday, June 16

7:30 – 9 a.m.

Zoom

Local providers present on addressing systemic and structural racism in medicine through the lens of neonatal and maternal and child health. The presentation helps identify where racism affects care and will explore active allyship and accountability to promote health equity.

This course meets the qualifications and is pending approval for 1.5 hours of Continuing Education as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Register for the webinar.