MHLA Newsletter – May 2022

MHLA Community Partner Connection Newsletter

Community Partners,

Now that the new Medi-Cal older adult expansion is in effect, the California Health Care Foundation and a partner organization are exploring how best to get the message out and how to motivate those who haven’t enrolled to do so. They have reached out to us at MHLA for help identifying adults 50 and older who speak Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean to participate in focus groups on June 7, 8 and 9. There will be an honorarium of $150 for those who participate. If you can identify anyone who may be interested, please send their names and contact information ASAP to Sandra Mendez by email sandra@visionstrategyandinsights.com or text/call at 818-666-7316.  A bilingual scheduler will contact each person to ask a few questions and to confirm their participation.

We are also continuing to recruit for our MHLA Community Council. Our recent meeting focused on communication, what they know about the MHLA program and how they would prefer to get additional information. Anyone interested should contact MHLA Member Services at 844-744-6452 if they are interested. Participants receive Target gift cards for each meeting they attend.

CPs will be receiving the MHLA Mental Health Prevention Services exhibit for signature soon. About 60% of the Community Partner agencies decided to continue the services (and the Supplemental Behavioral Health MGF payment) in Fiscal Year 2022-23, which will use a new prevention questionnaire beginning in July 1. The remaining CPs have decided not to continue the services.

Please let us know if there have been any glitches or challenges with the 50+ transition. We are assessing internally what worked well and where there are opportunities for improvement, so we will be ready in 2024 when the rest of the MHLA participants are expected to become eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal.

Thank you everyone and happy June!   — Anna Gorman