So much has been made about the Affordable Care Act’s troubles, that the law’s substantial benefits have largely been lost in the conversation. Here is a quick primer on how the law is benefiting millions of Americans and why California’s health care exchange, Covered California,is being held up as a model for the country to see how this law can work.
The Affordable Care Act is a lifeline for most of the 1.7 million uninsured people in Los Angeles County. In fact, the Affordable Care Act will help 7 out of every 10 uninsured people in our county.
There will be a small percentage of Californians who will see their healthcare costs go up, but more than 32 million Californians get to keep their preferred coverage, and another 4 million have the opportunity to become insured. Nearly 900,000 people must buy better benefits because their existing plans have too many holes in the coverage, including a lack of preventive care or plans without a cap on out-of-pocket costs. Nonetheless, Covered California estimates that one out of every three of these 900,000 people statewide who have to buy better benefits, will qualify for a tax credit to reduce their costs.
Also, it is important to remember is that the ACA is the first step toward affordable universal health care and good things take time. When Massachusetts launched its own health care law in 2006, only 123 people signed up—or less than 1percent of those who eventually signed up within the enrollment period—in the first month. With several years of health reform under its belt, Massachusetts has seen significant reductions in healthcare disparities and inequities, and now has the smallest percentage of uninsured residents of all 50 states.
Here is a basic primer on the benefits of this law:
One of our favorite ways of hearing from you on important current events is to take a camera out into the Second District and ask for your opinions. This month we asked a random sampling of district residents for their thoughts about the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Take a look at the video to hear opinions that range from for and against to simply confused.
Below is a slideshow we hope will serve as a starting point for further research:
Blankets wrapped around her shoulders and a packed meal in her hand, 29-year-old Andrea Adams, a South Los Angeles resident, spent several days in the cold and the rain, waiting for the doors to open at the Los Angeles Sports Arena where she would receive a wristband that would give her access to the 5th annual Care Harbor Los Angeles free medical clinic. Unemployed now for two years, Adams has been looking for an opportunity to have her braces removed and to receive necessary dental work. As she looked at the line, snaking its way around the Sports Arena, she shook her head.
“Jobs are hard to get,” she said. “You can’t take insurance for granted. This has really opened my eyes for sure.”
[raw]Thousands of people such as Adams braved the elements—some enduring the discomfort of two days on blankets and chairs waiting on the sidewalk—for a chance to receive free medical, dental and vision care at Care Harbor Los Angeles, which was held from Oct. 31 through Nov. 3.At Care Harbor, hundreds of doctors, dentists nurses and other volunteers provided free healthcare, prevention resources and follow-up care to thousands of uninsured, underinsured and at-risk individuals and families. No one with a wristband was turned away.[/raw]
Although the wait for wristbands was long, it is worth it for many who have not seen a doctor or dentist in years, said Howard Kahn, chief executive of L.A. Care Health Plan, a major sponsor of the Care Harbor event.
“A lot of folks are willing to wait a long time to get care,” he said. “What is striking is the diversity. You see young and old, working and not working, white, black, brown. The need is there.”
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose office is co-sponsoring Care Harbor, said that the event relies on people volunteering their time to help and demonstrates how a community can come together to aid those in need.
“Care Harbor reminds us that Americans can pull together and compassionately, share their ingenuity, skills, expertise, time and money, to help those who are less fortunate,” he said.
Enrique Sanchez of East Los Angeles spent a night in line as well. Initially he hoped to get a wristband for his mother-in-law who is in a wheelchair and who needs dental care, but he thought he should also try to get one for himself, for dental care and to have a doctor look at his bad back.
“I hope to get insurance one day,” he said, noting that he was unemployed. “But for now, this is a good opportunity to get some help.”
Janet Willison and her 9-year-old daughter Lana hoped to get medical treatment for an injury. Although Lana had spent the night at a friend’s house, Willison had been in line for a day, waiting for wristbands for both of them: Lana needed to see a doctor to repair an injury she received after a ball hit her right eye, and Willison, needed a mammogram and pap smear, and to have her blood pressure checked.
“My eyesight is really bad,” Lana said, adding that she had to ask her teachers to be seated in the front of the class in order to be able to see well.”
Willison, who is a realtor in South L.A., said she and her husband had recently lost a vending machine business, making it very difficult to afford healthcare coverage. Although there are news reports about the economy turning around, Willison said she continues to see struggling.
“I deal with a lot of people losing their homes. It has been a very tough year,” she said. “I understand. After a while, you lose your pride and you do what you need to do for your family.”
Recently, community leaders and healthcare providers gathered to discuss plans for the Martin Luther King Jr. Psychiatric Urgent Care Center, a new facility that is expected to open next spring. The center will provide prompt, quality and culturally sensitive care to both adults and teens.
The center, which will be on the Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Campus where the new Hospital and Outpatient Center will open, will offer psychiatric evaluation and assessment, crisis intervention, medication support and medication management. Also available will be individual and family treatment, alcohol and drug counseling and prevention, domestic violence screening and referrals to other community resources where people can seek help.[/raw]
The center will be run by Exodus Recovery, Inc., which has been providing psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment services in Southern California since 1989. The organization has developed and established several hospital-based inpatient and outpatient programs, a psychiatric and internal medicine provider group and a behavioral health managed care company.
The care received will be immediate and comprehensive including appropriate discharge within 24 hours to services spanning the entire spectrum of mental health treatment within the community,” said Luana Murphy, Chief Executive of Exodus Recovery, Inc. “This results in a significant decrease in the number of clients requiring hospitalizations, freeing up inpatient resources for those most in need.”
Although there is an emphasis on serving the indigent and Medi-Cal patients, no one will be turned away. Anyone over the age of 13 will be accepted, however, adolescents who are admitted will be housed upstairs and adults downstairs.
The approach to helping patients will be all encompassing, with psychologists, social workers, nurses, case workers and housing specialists on hand to help people get back on their feet. In addition, the center is expected to have strong ties to community centers, faith-based organizations and housing resources to continue offering services to those in need.
“Young people often react positively from the immediate attention and services provided in a more calming environment than can be found in a busy Emergency Department,” added Murphy. “They interact not only with professionals but will also be in the company of other adolescents with whom they can relate.”
School-based clinics are the wave of the future for wellness and prevention services. To that end, creating and expanding school based health centers has been a priority for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas for the past decade. As a state legislator, he authored several bills in support of school based health centers, and he has continued that work with many partners, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, St. John’s Well Child & Family Center and other private and nonprofit entities, collaborating to build 12 new school-based health centers in the Second District. At these centers, students and their families are offered both physical and mental health services in one place — providing easy access to care close to where people live, work and study. Considering that thousands of students have limited, inadequate or no regular access to preventative health care, the school-based health center model is set to profoundly impact the way healthcare is delivered.
What is a school-based health center?
A school-based health center is a medical clinic located on a school campus. It provides comprehensive preventive primary and mental health services to students. Many are also open to the community. Most school-based health centers in the Second District are operated by private health care clinics that get some funding fromLos AngelesCounty’s Department of Health Services to help them serve patients without insurance.
Why locate a health center on a school campus?
The goal is to make healthcare easily accessible to young people and their families, as well as to the wider community. Studies have shown that students who receive good health care do better in school and are more likely to graduate. Also, many families feel more comfortable getting health care in familiar and trusted settings, like schools.
Are school-based health centers open to the community?
Yes. Many centers even have separate entrances – one facing the school for students and one facing the street for the community. These centers can serve as a medical home for the entire family because they are close, convenient and affordable.
What type of services do school-based health centers provide?
It varies site by site. Most school-based health centers provide a range of health care services, including physical examinations, mental health services, dental care, health education, family planning and substance abuse counseling.
How many school-based health centers are there in the County of Los Angeles?
There are 60 school-based health centers and four mobile vans that provide health services throughoutLos AngelesCounty. There are 24 in the Second District and eight new ones that will open by January of 2013. More information about the new SBHCs, including contact information, can be found in the site profile portion of this page.
How much do school-based health center health care services cost?
Cost is based on each patient’s ability to pay. Many school-based health centers will help patients enroll in free and low cost State and County health care programs, if they are eligible
Are centers cost effective?
Yes. School-based health centers significantly reduce costly and inappropriate emergency room use.
How do I access services at a school based health centers?
Walk-in hours as well as scheduled appointments are available. Please click through the site profiles in order to find the center closest to you.
4085 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90037 http://goo.gl/maps/kabhJ
Appointment Line (323) 541-1631 Englishx1 Spanishx9
Hours of Operation
MF 8:30 am – 4 pm
Sat 7 am – 2:30 pm
Summer hours may vary
Wellness Center Providers
St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
LAUSD School Mental Health
LA Child Guidance Center
LAC Probation Department
Services Offered On-Site
1555 West 110th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90047 http://goo.gl/maps/BQ5A3
Appointment Line (323) 541-1631 Englishx1 Spanishx9
Hours of Operation
T-Th 8:30 am – 5 pm
Summer hours may vary
Wellness Providers:
St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
Services Offered On-Site:
Appointment Line (310) 802-6170
Hours of Operation:
M W F 7:30 am – 4:30 pm (7:30-12pm every other Friday Summer hours may vary)
Wellness Center Providers:
South Bay Family Health Care Center
Children’s Bureau
Children’s Institute
Masada Homes
Harbor Area Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Services Offered On-Site:
Open Date October 18, 2012 (GO same date)
3410 S. Hooper Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90011 http://goo.gl/maps/Zoiqb
Appointment Line: (323) 908-4200
Hours of Operation
MWF 8 am – 3:30 pm
Summer hours may vary
Wellness Center Providers
South Central Family Health Center
Services Offered On-Site
7821 S. Avalon Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90003 http://goo.gl/maps/MfNyz
Appointment Line (323) 404-9270
Hours of Operation
M 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
T , TH 8:30 am – 5 pm
Wellness Center Providers:
UMMA Clinic
Special Service for Groups
LAUSD Mental Health
LA Land Trust
Integrated School Health (LAC: DCFS, DHS, DMH, DPS and Probation)
Services Offered On-Site
15301 S. San Jose
Compton, CA 90221 http://goo.gl/maps/vt73o
Appointment Line (562) 630-6825 (Englishx1, Spanishx9)
Hours of Operation
MTWThF 8:30 am – 5 pm
Sat 7 am – 3 pm
Summer hours may vary
Wellness Center Providers:
St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
SHIELDS for Families
Services Offered On-Site
10110 South Juniper Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002 http://goo.gl/maps/mkmkP
Appointment Line: (323) 488-5915
Hours of Operation:
T Th 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
F 1 – 5 pm
Wellness Providers:
Watts Healthcare Corporation
LAUSD School Mental Health
Services Offered On-Site:
6505 8th Avenue
Bungalow 46
Los Angeles, CA 90043 http://goo.gl/maps/9KuVD
Appointment Line: (323) 750-9232
Hours of Operation:
M W TH F 8:30 am – 5 pm
T 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Sat 7 am – 3:30 pm
Dental only available on Thursdays
Wellness Providers:
St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
Services Offered On-Site:
3537 Farmdale Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90016 http://goo.gl/maps/9vaGt
Appointment Line: (323) 730-1920
Hours of Operation:
M 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Wellness Providers:
To Help Everyone Clinic (T.H.E. Clinic)
Services Offered On-Site:
5010 11th Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90043 http://goo.gl/maps/ozmgg
Appointment Line: (323) 730-1920
Hours of Operation:
F 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Wellness Providers:
To Help Everyone Clinic (T.H.E. Clinic)
Services Offered On-Site:
5108 Holmes Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90058 http://goo.gl/maps/SxeuM
Appointment Line: (323) 587-3638
Hours of Operation:
MTWThF 8 am – 2:30 pm
Days and hours may vary by school calendar.
Wellness Providers:
LAUSD
Services Offered On-Site:
4650 W. Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90019 http://goo.gl/maps/4QMlC
Appointment Line: (213) 747-5542
Hours of Operation:
TTh 7:30 am – 4 pm
Wellness Providers:
Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center
Services Offered On-Site:
3751 S Harvard Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018 http://bit.ly/1ccwdMJ
Appointment Line: (323) 373-9400
Hours of Operation:
MTWThF 8 am – 5 pm
Wellness Providers:
Northeast Community Clinic
Services Offered On-Site:
1301 West 182nd Street
Gardena, CA 90248 http://goo.gl/maps/oyrH8
Appointment Line: (310) 808-1180
Hours of Operation
MWThF 8 am – 4 pm
Wellness Providers:
Los Angeles County DHS
LAUSD
Services Offered On-Site:
Appointment Line: (323) 908-4242
Hours of Operation:
M T W TH F 8 am – 4:30 pm
Wellness Providers:
South Central Family Health Center
Services Offered On-Site:
10223 Firmona Ave
Lennox, California 90304 http://goo.gl/maps/E8Nhx
Appointment Line: (310) 695-4017
Hours of Operation:
M W 8 am – 5 pm
TH 1 pm – 5 pm
Wellness Providers:
To Help Everyone Clinic (T.H.E. Clinic)
Services Offered On-Site:
4401 Elenda Street
Culver City, CA 90230 http://goo.gl/maps/o0WL
Appointment Line: (310) 842 – 4328
Hours of Operation:
Medical Services
M 8 am – 12 pm
W 8 am – 12 pm
Mental Health Services
MThF 8 am – 3 pm
W 8 am – 12 pm
Wellness Providers:
Venice Family Clinic
Services Offered On-Site:
316 East 111st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90061 http://goo.gl/maps/MkQEw
Appointment Line: (323) 450-2376
Hours of Operation:
M W 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
F 7:30 – 11:30 am
Wellness Providers:
Watts Healthcare Corporation
LAUSD Mental Health
SHIELDS for Families (Mental Health)
Green Dot
Services Offered On-Site:
After the construction of hospital, which is 92 percent complete, is finished, the staffing and equipping of the facility will begin; the hospital is expected to open in early 2015. Workers will be on site, working overtime and on weekends to meet the Oct. 31 deadline to complete construction of the hospital. The adjacent Outpatient Center is also near completion and is scheduled to open in late spring of 2014.
After the board vote, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas emphasized that the hospital, part of an entire medical complex with a focus on preventive care in addition to inpatient services, will be a model of cutting edge care for the region and the nation.
“We’re making wonderful progress, and I really think it’s important to understand that this is more than a hospital,” he said. “This is an entire medical campus that’s in the works. And if it takes a little more time to get more than what was anticipated, I can live with that. But it will not be second rate health care for the people of this portion of our county. It will be as good as it can possibly get. That’s why we’re taking care to build a first-rate, 21st century medical village.”
[/raw] The funding pays for such necessary items as bringing utilities up to seismic codes, replacing structural floor slabs and rebuilding deteriorating sewer pipes—all issues that came to light as workers began renovating the 40-year-old structure.The board, which approved of the motion brought by Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas, was approved 4-0.
Gloria Serra, a volunteer at the UMMA Community Clinic in South Los Angeles, is always giving tips to clients seeking health advice. At the top of her list—exercise. So, on a recent Friday, she put on her walking shoes, visor and sunglasses and joined dozens of other volunteers, residents and healthcare providers for a two-mile walk to celebrate health and fitness.
Although the sun’s intense heat pressed down on them, Serra and the other walkers marched on enthusiastically. Serra says she has seen more interest among clients in talking about the connection between obesity and major health problems. They want help.
“A lot of people are asking about healthier things to eat,” she said. “I tell them not to drink soda and instead to drink water.” She says she has also mastered the art of making “green” juice with kale, spinach and cactus paddles as part of her daily vitamin intake and to cleanse her body.
The organized walk, now in its second year, came after the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas that commends the important service of health centers by proclaiming August 11 thru the 17, National Health Center Week in Los Angeles County. Nearly 100 people participated.
The walk, which began at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center on W. 58th Street and ended at Mt. Carmel Park on 70th , was done in a partnership with the Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers, the Empowerment Congress, UMMA Community Clinic, St. John’s Well Child and Family and L.A. Care.
“This walk exemplifies the importance of exercise and fitness,” said Jim Mangia, CEO of St. John’s. “It also creates a sense of stronger and healthier communities.”
Indeed, many of the participants walked with their children in tow or in strollers. Some, like Amelia Amaro, who brought her 4-year-old daughter Janele, thought it was important to set a good example.
“It feels good to walk,” she said as she sipped on a bottle of cold water. “I walk every morning when I take my son to kindergarten.”
Maria Reyes was visiting the park with her children, Adan,3, and Brian, 1, when she saw the event and decided to visit. While she strolled along, receiving information from healthcare providers about healthcare enrollment, emergency preparedness, reproductive health and blood pressure tests, her sons munched on bananas, watermelon slices and grapes.
“This is great,” she said and then looked down with pride at her two boys. “And they have a great appetite.”
Wonderful progress continues to be made at the Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Center Campus. Construction of the new MLK outpatient center is more than 80% complete, and this short video shows workers installing the very last pane of glass onto the façade of this beautiful new facility. More than 150 skilled construction workers are hard at work on the new building, putting in complex electrical wiring, finishing rooms and landscaping the grounds on the site. When it opens next year, the center will far surpass what is typically expected in a “clinic”. Through approximately 70 specialty clinics and an urgent care center that will operate seven days a week, 16 hours per day, the outpatient center will provide a full range of primary and specialty services. The outpatient clinics will specialize in pediatric, obstetric and genecology services, as well as ophthalmology, orthopedics, maxillofacial and even neurosurgery treatment. The center also will have clinics for special populations, including pediatric foster children and people with HIV/AIDS. Also, an ambulatory surgery center will offer elective outpatient surgical procedures, rehabilitation services and a wide array of diagnostic services. Stay tuned for more updates!
The USC School of Social work and Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health hosted the International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health recently, the first time the event has ever been held in the United States. Hundreds of social work researchers, clinicians and policy makers discussed the most recent breakthroughs in health and mental health.
Marilynn L. Flynn, the dean of the USC School of Social Work, noted that Los Angeles is a microcosm of the world and that it is on the leading edge of social work innovations.
“Southern California and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area really is an ideal location to focus on the role of social work in client-centered health and mental health,” said Flynn.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas addressed the attendees and noted the importance of good social work in helping people overcome abuse, addiction and mental illness.
“It seems to me we owe a great debt of gratitude to social workers,” he said. “They help prevent crises and counsel individuals, families and communities to cope more effectively with the stresses of everyday life.”
For the full story, click here.
The Affordable Care Act will go into effect January 1, 2014 and millions of Americans, ranging from health care providers to patients to employers, will be affected.
Below is a presentation by a panel of experts to explain the implications of the Affordable Care Act and the delivery of care.
The event was moderated by Lucien Wulsin, Executive Director and Founder of Insure the Uninsured Project. Presenters included David Panush, Director of External Affairs of Covered California; Katie Murphy, Managing Attorney for Neighborhood Legal Services; Tangerine Brigham, Deputy Director of Managed Care for Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; and Roxana Molina, Division Chief of Medi-Cal and In Home Supportive Services Program from Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services.
All of the materials from the forum are listed below:
The following websites offer more information on the Affordable Care Act and its implementation.
Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP)
www.itup.org
DHS Healthy Way LA (HWLA)
www.ladhs.org/hwla
Department of Public and Social Services
www.dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/health
Covered California
www.coveredca.com