Funds will establish programs to prepare new
street medicine workforces across the state.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 14,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net announced today
it awarded a $1.5 million grant to
Keck School of Medicine of USC's Street
Medicine program (USC Street
Medicine) to enable street medicine workforces across the state to
better serve people who are unsheltered. Distributed over a
three-year period, the funds will establish two programs that
prepare street medicine workforces to bring care directly to
unsheltered populations in the places where they live – on
sidewalks, in parks, under bridges, in vehicles or anywhere they
reside.
"Health Net understands that the best way to care for our
members with complex medical issues is to meet them where they are
and consider the full scope of their needs," said Dr. Pooja Mittal, Chief Health Equity Officer at
Health Net. "That's why we work with organizations like USC
Street Medicine to expand innovative programs that address
physical, behavioral, social and long-term health needs."
Street Medicine programs in California have been expanding at a rapid rate
with over 20 programs started within the last four years. Driven in
response to the rising rates of homelessness, many of these
programs are aimed at helping medical professionals gain
experience, training and systems to help meet the demand.
To meet this need, USC Street
Medicine will offer "Foundations in Street Medicine," an intensive
course on best clinical practices, outreach and engagement
strategies, and government policies and programs to facilitate
customized program development. USC
Street Medicine will provide expert knowledge and technical support
for new and existing street medicine teams to help bridge the
existing healthcare gap in caring for unsheltered populations.
"This grant from Health Net will help spearhead the effort to
provide more access to quality healthcare to people experiencing
homelessness in California while
enabling more organizations to provide the personalized, loving,
compassionate and comprehensive care these vulnerable populations
need and deserve," said Brett
Feldman, MSPAS, PA-C, director of street medicine at the
Keck School of Medicine. "We are grateful for the opportunity to
share what our team has learned about providing specialized, onsite
medical care with other teams trying to care for the
under-resourced, and oftentimes, forgotten people we serve."
The medical school's Street Medicine Foundations Program will be
a three-day experience for existing teams or professionals who want
to learn more about street medicine. Participants from across
California can learn more about
the foundations, logistics and clinical applications for delivering
care.
USC Street Medicine will also
provide technical support available for organizations who are ready
to build or expand a street medicine program. Open to a smaller
cohort of street medicine teams, it will provide expert knowledge
of how to develop, launch and improve care for people who are
unsheltered.
"The work that Health Net and USC
Street Medicine are doing is critical to advancing health equity
and reducing health disparities in California," said Senator María Elena Durazo, California Senate, 26th District.
"People experiencing homelessness often don't have access to the
medical attention they need. This collaboration will help provide
necessary care to improve the lives of all Californians."
"It can be incredibly difficult for those without a roof over
their heads to access quality healthcare," said Assembly Member
Miguel Santiago, Los Angeles
County, 54th District. "The collaboration between
Health Net and USC Street Medicine will
help ensure that individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of
circumstances, can receive treatments to better their physical and
mental wellbeing."
"One of the most important lessons learned from the COVID-19
pandemic is that if we want to improve the health and well-being of
our most vulnerable residents, we need to make care as accessible
as possible," said Los Angeles
County Supervisor Hilda L.
Solis, First District. "This includes bringing services and
resources directly to our residents, and I want to applaud Health
Net for collaborating directly with trusted providers in our
community to make this a reality. With this grant, our residents
most in need, especially those experiencing homelessness, will have
increased access to the care they need to stabilize their health –
a critical step to beginning the journey towards permanent
housing."
For decades, Health Net has served as one of California's most-experienced and longest
serving Medi-Cal partners. To overcome the many negative social
drivers of health their members face, Health Net has invested in
innovative mobile and virtual solutions to ensure people can get
the care they need, when, how and where they need it. Learn more
about Health Net's work to expand access to care through mobile and
virtual health initiatives.
About Health Net:
At Health Net, we believe every person deserves a safety net for
their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or
current state of health. Founded in California more than 40 years ago, we're
dedicated to transforming the health of our community, one person
at a time. Today, 90,000 network providers serve 3 million members.
That's nearly 1 in 12 Californians. We provide health plans for
individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who
qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare — Coverage for Every Stage of
Life™. Health Net also offers access to substance abuse programs,
behavioral health services, employee assistance programs and
managed health care products related to prescription drugs. We
offer these health plans and services through Health Net, LLC and
its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance
Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are
wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a
Fortune 25 company that offers affordable and high-quality products
to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation. For more
information, visit www.HealthNet.com.
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SOURCE Health Net