result in more delays meaning that people may lose their coverage.
Question / Supervisor Diane Burgis: What about other states?
Answer / Erica Murray: The burden falls on private hospitals. Since other states may not use
Medicaid, they rely heavily on supplemental payments and push the payments and services to local
counties and health programs.
Question / Dr. Sara Levin: When will the state budget go into effect?
Answer / Erica Murray: The state budget year begins on July 1st, and they typically pass the
budget by June 15th. There are ways to pass “fake budgets” to figure things out over the summer.
We will certainly know what is on the table by mid-May and will advocate between May and June.
Question / Supervisor Diane Burgis: Has Dr. Oz recently indicated his ideas in all of this?
Answer / Erica Murray: Nothing specifically for Medicaid, but he has inquired, of Secretary
Kennedy, about how HHS can achieve his policy objectives while cutting the workforce. A lot of
what he says about health resonates, but we will need a connection with the workforce. There is a
disconnect between what is being said and what is actually happening. There is no indication of
what an “Oz” CMS will look like.
Question / Marianna Moore: What does the acronym “DSH” stand for?
Answer / Erica Murray: Disproportionate Shared Hospital.
3.0
Attachments:
3.0 Healthcare Literacy Council
Supervisor Diane Burgis worked with delegates from Kaiser, Brown-Miller Communications, and
many other hospitals to propose a Healthcare Literacy Council to ensure individuals receive the best
possible healthcare by empowering them with information about all the services we offer.
3.1 Healthcare Literacy
With this council, the goal is to help the residents of Contra Costa successfully access and use their
healthcare in an informed and efficient way. Contra Costa has a “silver tsunami,” meaning we have
the largest population ever on Medicare roles, as well as increases in Medi-Cal eligibility for
low-income from the CalAIM program.
Consequences
With the lack of knowledge and information, seniors and low-income individuals struggle to
maximize benefits, causing elevated anxiety, anger, and frustration. A common issue that occurs is
that members misuse the emergency departments, due to the lack of knowledge, which significantly
increases the cost to healthcare providers.
Common Causes
All healthcare can benefit from this because it will improve efficiencies, provide more appropriate
use of existing facilities, better client outcomes, promotion of prevention models, healthier
communities, and resident empowerment.
Pilot Campaign - Outreach and Education
The current plan is to utilize key influencers and existing resources, while keeping it culturally
appropriate and community based. There is a list of about 20 providers, including the core campaign
partners of Supervisor Diane Burgis, Kaiser, and CCH.
Healthcare Literacy Council
A council will be created for direction, oversight, and support. An informational website, educational
materials, and social and traditional media will be developed. Once the curriculum is embedded, the
Council will recruit college educators to assist in teaching the community.
The curriculum will have navigators in place to instruct the population on how to navigate through
the healthcare system. To make this community owned and engaged, Los Medanos College
students will also be recruited and trained to act as ambassadors and connect with high schools,
adult seniors, and other colleges. If the pilot is successful, there will be an expansion to other areas
of the county and information will be shared via social media, websites, videos, mailers, apps, swag,
and other partner-supported special events. The measurements will be based on partnerships
developed, class evaluations, ambassador feedback, emergency department usage, website
analytics, media impressions, and surveys.
A three-year timeline is established to lay the groundwork, execute the campaign, and evaluate.
Total cost is estimated to be about $420,000.
