UCLA Issues Brief on WPC Implementation Strategies and Enrollees

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research this week issued a new health policy brief exploring the rollout of each Whole Person Care (WPC) program pilot, including implementation strategies and enrollee experiences. The report analyses interim data from the statewide evaluation of WPC to present a snapshot of the 25 participating pilots’ enrollee characteristics and key program implementation efforts.

The policy brief is intended to inform efforts to transition the WPC program into Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and In-Lieu of Services (ILOS) components of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. The brief can also serve as a tool for organizations that are developing population health management programs for high-need, high-risk enrollees.

Findings from the policy brief analysis demonstrate differences across pilots in implementation strategies relative to target populations served and services offered. The findings also show the pilots’ choices in delivering care coordination, establishing data sharing infrastructure, and forming partnerships. Data is present on enrollee profile, including the demographics and health status of enrollees and the utilization of services by these individuals prior to enrollment.

UCLA indicates the data presented in the brief highlight the promising strategies that can be replicated statewide under the CalAIM initiative. Findings also point to the level of efforts needed for the transition to CalAIM to broaden the infrastructure and services since many WPC pilots focused on specific target populations and a narrow menu of services.

The full UCLA Center for Health Policy Research policy brief is available here.