In 2020 State of the State, Governor Newsom Focuses on Intersection of Housing and Health Care, outlines Medi-Cal Reforms

For immediate release: Wednesday, February 19, 2020  

For more information contact:
Rachel Linn Gish, Director of Communications, Health Access California, 916-532-2128 (cell)

IN 2020 STATE OF THE STATE, GOVERNOR NEWSOM FOCUSES ON INTERSECTION OF HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE, OUTLINES MEDI-CAL REFORMS

  • Today Governor Newsom gave his second State of the State speech, focused almost entirely on combating the housing and homelessness crisis, including ensuring better integration of mental and physical health care.  
  • Governor highlighted specific support for CalAIM, a multi-year initiative to improve health outcomes in the Medi-Cal program. 

Here is a quick comment from Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2020 State of the State address. Wright sits on two of the CalAIM workgroups, on health plan accreditation, and full integration:

“We applaud Governor Newsom’s commitment to breaking down the silos between physical health and mental health, between health care and housing. A patient experiences these interconnected issues as a whole person, and our health system must be integrated enough to coordinate different treatments and services together. Sometimes the best health intervention is a stable home. Investments in behavioral health and substance abuse can go a long way to address homelessness.”

“We are excited and engaged in the CalAIM work to transform our Medi-Cal program and health system so that Californians in need can access a broader set of services to address physical and mental health, and other social determinants of health. Many patients have a tough time navigating a half-dozen different delivery systems to get the preventative care and services needed that can ultimately result in lower costs and better outcomes. As the Governor highlighted today, California can and should streamline, integrate, and expand the Medi-Cal program in multiple ways to better serve patients, especially those in greatest need.”