Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal Health Plan Launches Health Homes Program to Help Improve Access to HealthCare

Business Wire

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal Health Plan is launching a new Health Homes Program as part of its commitment to increase access to quality care and help improve the health of the people and communities it serves. The program is designed to serve eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions or severe mental illness who have frequent hospital or emergency room visits, or who are homeless and may benefit from enhanced care management and coordination.

“At Anthem, we view the Health Homes Program as an innovative model for the future of healthcare collaboration in California that will provide greater access to coordinated care,” said Steve Melody, Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal Health Plan President. “It is a blueprint of how Anthem can support Medi-Cal providers in managing not only the medical determinants of health, but also the social determinants in our communities by successfully partnering with local county organizations.”

Anthem will partner with community clinics and community-based organizations to provide a full range of services to address needs related to physical health, behavioral health, and community-based long-term services and supports. A care coordinator will be assigned and responsible for providing comprehensive care coordination across health providers and can assist in finding and applying for community programs and services, such as food and housing.

In July, Anthem will be one of the first two plans in the state to introduce the State-sponsored program in San Francisco County. San Francisco Health Plan will also begin providing services through the program in July, and has worked closely with Anthem and the State Department of Healthcare Services to prepare for this implementation. Anthem is also piloting a limited version of the program in Alameda County in partnership with Alameda Care Connect beginning in July, and in 2019, plans to expand the program to Fresno, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Tulare, and Los Angeles Counties.

For more information about the Health Homes Program, visit the California Department of Health Care Services website.

About Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal Health Plan

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross is available at www.anthem.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter at @AnthemBlueCross, or @AnthemBC_News, and on Facebook at Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal.