On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-69-20 addressing a number of issues in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order extends waivers temporarily broadening the capabilities of counties to enroll persons into CalWORKs, allowing self-attestation of pregnancy and conditions of eligibility, and waiving in-person identification requirements. The order also extends permission for…
Read More »This week, the Office of the California Surgeon General announced the awarding of $14.3 million in grants to 100 organizations throughout the state to support the ACEs Aware initiative. Funding for the grants was previously authorized in the FY 2019-20 Budget utilizing Proposition 56 and federal matching funds. The grants focus on provider training, provider…
Read More »CHEAC announced this week that the 2020 Annual Meeting, originally scheduled for September 30-October 2 in Santa Rosa, has been cancelled. The decision to cancel the meeting was not made lightly and was done with consideration for the ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, group size restrictions, and significant LHD workload associated with the pandemic….
Read More »Today, the state issued guidance for expanded personal care services, including personal care that requires touching a client’s face (e.g. facials, electrolysis, and waxing). The guidance also applies to esthetician, skin care, and cosmetology services; electrology; nail salons; body art professionals; tattoo parlors and piercing shops; and massage therapy (in non-healthcare settings). The guidance applies…
Read More »On Monday, the Department of Finance (DOF) notified the California Legislature of a $5 million augmentation to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, intended to support low-income and food-insecure populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. To augment the program, the Newsom Administration is using part of the $1 billion…
Read More »This week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced upcoming stakeholder meetings for its potential new “Long-Term Care at Home” benefit in the Medi-Cal program for managed care and fee-for-service beneficiaries. The new model of care is intended to help address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by decompressing skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and provide eligible…
Read More »Today, the County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC) issued a statement declaring racism a public health crisis, particularly amid recent acts of racially motivated violence throughout the country. The statement details the impacts of systemic racism on California’s black communities and communities of color and urges governing bodies at all levels to implement specific…
Read More »This afternoon, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a series of guidance and informational materials related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The CDPH guidance issued today provides sectors with information on public health modifications that should be implemented prior to reopening only upon local public health official approval and review of local data…
Read More »This week, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Dr. Bradley Gilbert announced his resignation, effective June 12, 2020. Dr. Gilbert has served as director or the past four months and previously retired as chief executive officer from the Inland Empire Health Plan. Dr. Gilbert indicated in a statement to DHCS employees, “After much thought,…
Read More »Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday issued Executive Order N-67-20 related to the November 3, 2020, General Election. The executive order ensure in-person voting opportunities are available in sufficient numbers to maintain physical distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic and requires counties that are unable to comply with current law to provide three days of early voting…
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