The coverage expansions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have dramatically reduced California’s uninsured population. Before the ACA, 6.5 million Californians lacked health insurance coverage. By 2019, that number will be cut in half, but there will still be between 2.7 and 3.4 million uninsured. Communities of color will represent 87% of those remaining uninsured.
But there are efforts to ensure coverage for the remaining uninsured. Earlier this week, we saw SB 4, the Health for All Act, which would be a great step toward covering all Californians, advance off the Senate floor. And also this week, the Blue Shield of California Foundation announced a new funding opportunity, “Moving Toward Comprehensive Coverage Programs for the Remaining Uninsured.”
From the request for applications:
“In this Request for Applications, Blue Shield of California Foundation aims to support communities in evolving their county programs to more closely mirror comprehensive coverage like Medi-Cal and the former Low Income Health Program. This involves redesigning or developing new programs that emphasize prevention, primary care, and health management for California’s remaining uninsured, inclusive of undocumented immigrants.”
Eligible organizations to apply include:
- County health departments
- County hospital systems
- Regional community health center consortia
- Community health centers that provide comprehensive primary care
- Community-based organizations with deep involvement in the safety net healthcare system
- Local initiative health plans or county organized health systems
- Healthcare districts
- Private nonprofit safety net hospitals or systems
The grants are between $75,000 and $150,000 for 12 months starting on October 1st. Proposals are due by July 10th, and full submission guidelines are available in the funding announcement. Help spread the word about this opportunity in your communities to ensure that we can continue the work started by the ACA and expand coverage for all Californians.