Every year HIP surveys its Board of Directors regarding their view of HIP’s role and purpose. One comment on the survey noted that HIP had not “yet pivoted to the post-election apocalypse.” With the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act, health care in Santa Cruz is in a state of uncertainty. With the looming political and financial turmoil facing many Council participants, HIP decided to open the floor to discuss in what ways HIP might pivot. As a neutral convener, man

September’s HIPC meeting began with state policy updates from CA State Senator Bill Monning, followed by a review of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), and finally a presentation by County staff on the “Next Generation” of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). State Policy Updates Senator Monning discussed the content and his engagement in the following legislation relevant to HIPC: SB115: requires that insurance companies notify patients and providers of t

2017 Central California Alliance for Health Mega-Projects Since 1996, the Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance) has worked to “improve access to health care for lower income residents who often lacked a primary care ‘medical home’ and so relied on emergency rooms for basic services.” To continue to fulfill this mission and to address its 28,000 new members since Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion in 2014 in Santa Cruz County alone, the Alliance is taking on t