As we reflect on 2022, we are grateful for growth, new perspectives, and exciting new challenges. Our mission-focused work continued to expand and evolve, and we also took the time to reflect internally on our growth and to make new investments in our team. We are grateful for partnerships with our clients and continued opportunities to both support implementation of major statewide initiatives and be able to help new clients meet specific policy and strategic goals. We are so proud of our amazing team!

Enhancing Access to Integrated Behavioral Health Care

Our Integrated Care team (formerly Behavioral Health Policy) has continued to support projects that expand access to behavioral health, including substance use disorder and mental health, as well as integrated care and other social supports across California. Aurrera Health supports the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative by providing policy expertise, research, data analysis, strategic advice, and technical assistance on CalAIM’s behavioral health reforms. One of the initiatives included the development, testing, and technical assistance for new standardized screening and transition of care tools. These tools, which go live statewide on January 1, 2023, will help ensure beneficiaries have access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time. We also continue to support the California Department of Health Care Service (DHCS) implementing Medi-Cal’s new peer support specialist program.

With nearly half of adults reporting mental health challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aurrera Health is also supporting the CalHOPE initiative to build community resiliency and help people recover. Read more on our blog.Our Integrated Care team also supports the California Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion Project, which aims to address the opioid crisis through prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Through this work 140,000 Californians have received MAT and more than 650 new places to access services have been created across the state. Our team continues to play a key role in supporting the Naloxone Distribution Project to combat opioid overdose-related deaths throughout California – to date the program has provided more than 1.7 million units of naloxone, which has led to more than 112,000 overdose reversals.

Supporting the Health Workforce

Lauren Block supported two national organizations to identify specific challenges and strategies to address health care workforce recruitment and retention and produced two reports this fall. For the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices we wrote Addressing Wages Of The Direct Care Workforce Through Medicaid Policies and for the National Academy for State Health Policy, we authored State Strategies to Support the Future of the Primary Care Physician and Nursing Workforce.

Expanding Access to Health Care Services in Schools

Tanya Schwartz and Julia Smith have been working with a range of clients to advance access to high quality services for students in the school setting. They recently published the Maryland School-Based Health Center Program Needs Assessment on behalf of the Maryland Department of Health, which includes findings and recommendations for improving the school-based health center program. They are also working with the Healthy Schools Campaign to improve Medicaid coverage of school health services.

Preparing Dual Eligible Beneficiaries for the Transition from Cal MediConnect to Medicare Medi-Cal Plans

Since 2012, Aurrera Health Group has supported DHCS in leading the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI). Cal MediConnect (CMC) plans – integrated health plans for dual eligible – were created through the implementation of the CCI in seven counties in California.After a decade of operation, beginning January 1, 2023, CMC plans will transition into Exclusively Aligned Enrollment (EAE) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP), also referred to as Medicare Medi-Cal Plans (MMP). The transition to MMPs is part of the CalAIM initiative designed to implement integrated, person-centered care.Aurrera Health Group Senior Director Mary Russell and her team have been helping prepare stakeholders, including Cal MediConnect members, advocacy organizations, community based organizations, associations, and health plans, for the transition to integrated plans for dual eligibles. Aurrera Health supports DHCS with monthly Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Duals Integration Plan Workgroups. To ensure the message about the transition reaches as many people as possible, our team developed beneficiary-friendly materials, created fact sheets and toolkits, met with beneficiaries and advocates in CCI counties, facilitated Town Halls, and met with provider groups.

Delivery System Transformation for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries and People Using Long-Term Services and Supports

Aurrera Health Group Senior Director Kristal Vardaman and her team are supporting DHCS’ efforts to transition institutional Long-Term Care (LTC) services from fee-for-service to Medi-Cal managed care. Starting on January 1, 2023, Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) in all counties in California will cover the LTC benefit for Medi-Cal members residing in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The LTC benefit for other institutions, such as subacute facilities and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ICF/DD), will be covered by Medi-Cal MCPs beginning July 1, 2023.To prepare stakeholders for this transition, Aurrera Health Group worked with DHCS to host a series of LTC Carve-In Workgroup meetings that informed DHCS policy and operational guidance to facilitate the transition. We look forward to continuing to improve member care and access in Medi-Cal and turn our attention to the policy development, education, and outreach needs for the carve-in of subacute facilities and ICF/DDs.

Using Data to Drive Improvements in Health and Health Care Outcomes

Earlier this year, Megan Thomas worked with the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to develop Measuring Provider Performance: Building a stronger system of behavioral health care, a report that represents the first time provider-specific data on the performance of behavioral health providers across seven DBH fiscal year 2020 key performance indicators have been made publicly available. Findings from the report show that providers performed well on some indicators of behavioral health services, with opportunities for improvement on others.

Aurrera Health continues to support DBH and other clients in efforts to promote transparency and drive improvements in care delivery and health outcomes through measurement and reporting. In another data-related project focused on exchange of information, Lauren Block supported the California Health Care Foundation to produce Closing the Gap in California’s Health Data Exchange, outlining the technological capacity and funding needs of delivery system providers who must comply with recent state legislation requiring health information exchange.

Making an Impact forMedicarePatients and Policy

This year, Meg Koepke, Melissa Cohen, and team continued efforts to advance and improve Medicare. In partnership with non-profit health plans, state and federal agencies, and provider organizations, the team worked to improve the cost, quality, and patient experience based on participation and continuous improvement in value-based care and payment models and population health transformation. Changes in federal policy and programs for accountable care organizations, as well as challenges to sustaining transformation through the end of the public health emergency, kept our team busy helping clients to both identify and commit to making the changes needed to ensure and sustain a future for improving value. To stay up to date on the latest Medicare news and insights, be sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletter and tune into the Medicare Meet Up podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Pathways to Resilience: Promoting Trauma Responsive Policies and Programs in Every State

In May 2021, Aurrera Health Group launched Pathways to Resilience, a national forum to help states and communities advance trauma-responsive policies and programs. The goal of Pathways is to raise awareness of the impact of adversity and trauma and advance cross-sector strategies for promoting equity, lifelong health, and well-being. Each month we host virtual learning network sessions that feature state leaders and other national experts sharing concrete, evidence-informed, and actionable approaches to promoting healing and resilience. We were thrilled to bring together 35 leaders representing 20 states in September for our first State Policy Roundtable! Join us on January 11 for a session on New Opportunities for Trauma-Responsive Policies and Programming in 2023 and sign up for our mailing list. Interested in learning more? Contact Lauren Block, Jennifer Ryan, or Tanya Schwartz.

ACEs Aware Grants Facilitate Community Response to ACEs and Toxic Stress

As part of supporting California’s ACEs Aware initiative, Carol Backstrom and her team wrapped up management of 34 Network of Care grants in communities across the state. The lessons learned from grants underscored the positive impact that ACE screening and response and leveraging trauma-informed practices can have across partners and in the community. The Network of Care Grantees:

Increased awareness and knowledge of ACEs, toxic stress, and trauma-informed care;
Advanced ACE screenings and ability to respond to toxic stress;
Established IT infrastructure for information sharing and bi-directional referrals; and
Enhanced their existing infrastructures and grew networks to be more inclusive and reflective of their communities.

Looking Forward

We appreciate your continued partnership and support of our mission to advance access to health care. Wishing all of you a happy and healthy 2023!-The Aurrera Health Group Team

2022: Moving Forward and Embracing Change