Scotts Valley, Calif., February 29, 2024 — Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), the Medi-Cal managed health care plan for residents of Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, released its annual Community Impact Report. The report showcases both the Alliance’s ongoing presence in the community as well as the significant investments the Alliance made in health care and community organizations over the past year.
Since 2015, the Alliance has awarded more than $153 million through the Medi-Cal Capacity Grant Program (MCGP) to 178 organizations across the counties of Merced, Monterey and Santa Cruz. Service to Mariposa and San Benito counties began in January 2024, and these new counties will be included in award considerations in 2024.
In 2023, the MCGP awarded more than $23 million, allocated across the counties of Merced, Monterey and Santa Cruz to fund programs that invest in healthcare workforce, access to care, early childhood development and non-medical factors that impact health, such as food, physical activity and connecting Medi-Cal members to social support resources.
“We understand that realizing our vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities is only possible by maintaining a strong local presence in the communities we serve and by uniting with our provider network and community partners,” said Alliance CEO, Michael Schrader. “The annual Community Impact Report demonstrates the investments – both financial and human capital – that the Alliance made in our service area to enhance access to quality care and foster healthier communities.”
The Alliance’s financial awards are instrumental in addressing the diverse needs of its members and promoting health equity. By aligning its investments with its strategic priorities, the Alliance can effectively mitigate social determinants of health and create lasting positive change.
Additionally, the Alliance administers funding earned through DHCS incentive programs that build capacity around development of a Medi-Cal network capable of providing extra support to members, housing initiatives and increasing access to behavioral health resources in TK-12 schools.
In addition to funding initiatives, the Alliance remains locally engaged in community outreach efforts, ensuring members have access to the resources and support they need. In 2023, the Alliance outreach team attended over one hundred community events across Merced, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, reaching more than 14,500 members. These face-to-face interactions allow Alliance staff to connect directly with members, and this local interaction is essential to understanding the unique challenges faced in each county the Alliance serves.
For more information about the Alliance and the 2023 Community Impact Report, visit www.thealliance.health.
About Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance)
The Alliance is an award-winning regional non-profit health plan, established in 1996, with over 28 years of successful operation. Using the State’s County Organized Health System (COHS) model, we currently serve 456,017 members in Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. We work in partnership with our contracted providers to promote prevention, early detection and effective treatment, and improve access to quality health care for those we serve. This results in the delivery of innovative community-based health care services, better medical outcomes and cost savings. The Alliance is governed with local representation from each county on our Board of Commissioners. For more information, visit www.thealliance.health.
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