In November 2022, United States Senators Cassidy, Carper, Scott, Warner, Cornyn, and Menendez issued a request for information (RFI) regarding approaches for improving coverage for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Dual eligible beneficiaries are more likely to have  complex health needs that are difficult and often expensive to treat. Too often, they experience a lack of integration and coordination that often results in confusing encounters with the health care system and negative health outcomes.

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports are core components of CalAIM, a multiyear initiative led by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that take a person-centered approach to social service delivery and care management for individuals with complex health and social needs.

Recruitment and retention of the direct care workforce has been a longstanding challenge among states. Low wages are a particular barrier because direct care worker wages often compete with gig employment, where the work is less physically and emotionally taxing.

In response to the clear need for a more robust infrastructure, in September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin awarding nearly $4 billion in grants over a five year period to state and local governments to support strengthening the public health infrastructure, workforce, and data systems.

In July 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 133, which calls for the development and implementation of a statewide Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework — consisting of a data sharing agreement, policies, and procedures — to govern the exchange of health information among health care entities and government agencies by January 31, 2024.

States are leveraging American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to support a multi-faceted policy approach to strengthening state health care infrastructure and the health workforce.

Pathways to Resilience will serve as a convenor of state leaders, policymakers, and administrators and offer a forum to collaborate and share best practices with colleagues across the country. We will draw on the wisdom of a Steering Committee of Governors’ First Spouses – chaired by Delaware First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney – who have committed to help champion this work.

California’s Federally Qualified Health Centers experienced many financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.