Molina Healthcare of California and Healthcare in Action Support L.A. County’s Growing Homeless Population
Media Contact: Caroline Zubieta, Caroline.Zubieta@MolinaHealthcare.com, 562-951-1588
LONG BEACH, Calif. – March 23, 2022 – Molina Healthcare of California (“Molina”) has partnered with Healthcare in Action, a non-profit member organization of The SCAN Group, to provide health care and support to Molina members currently experiencing homelessness.
Healthcare in Action is a first-of-its-kind medical group providing health care and other services to unhoused individuals through a “street medicine” model, which brings services out of the clinic and directly to the street or encampments.
“This innovative partnership delivers critical health and social support services to unhoused Molina members who select Healthcare in Action as their Primary Care Provider in Los Angeles County, with the goal of improving their health and transitioning into permanent housing,” said Abbie Totten, plan president of Molina Healthcare of California.
Molina and Healthcare in Action are identifying homeless members currently in hospitals, emergency rooms, recuperative care, and skilled nursing facilities, and offering them the option to sign up for Healthcare in Action’s primary care services. Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach is one of the hospitals helping identify Molina members experiencing homelessness to connect them to resources.
“It is an honor to work with an organization that shares our mission of improving the health of the people we serve as we aim to advance social justice for all,” says Carolyn Caldwell, president and CEO of St. Mary Medical Center. “Without brick-and-mortar facilities, Healthcare in Action can identify and develop a relationship with people who walk through the doors of our medical center seeking care and are unhoused, thereby coming up with a discharge plan together that will minimize challenges in the patient’s road back to wellness.”
“Homelessness is a health care tragedy unfolding on the streets of our communities every night,” said Dr. Michael Hochman, CEO of Healthcare in Action. “For too long, homelessness has been defined as a housing issue alone, but physical and mental health issues often serve as barriers to housing. We are proud to work with Molina as we make a major commitment to addressing the causes and effects of homelessness.”
Healthcare in Action began providing services earlier this year in several communities in Southern California, including Long Beach, and is also working closely with community agencies – particularly housing services providers – to help members transition to housing. Healthcare in Action was launched by SCAN in January 2022 amid growing recognition that health care and homelessness are inextricably intertwined.
About Molina Healthcare of California:
Molina Healthcare of California has been providing government-funded care for over 40 years. The Company serves members through Medi-Cal, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Covered California (Marketplace). Molina’s service areas include Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange County, and Imperial counties. Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 5.2 million members as of December 31, 2021. For more information about Molina Healthcare of California, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
About Healthcare in Action
Healthcare in Action is a new medical group that combines managed care with ‘street medicine.’ Healthcare in Action was launched by the SCAN Group, a mission-driven organization that is tackling some of the biggest issues in healthcare for older adults. For more information about Healthcare in Action, visit HealthcareInAction.org.
About Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center
Founded as a faith-based hospital in 1923 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center is a 389-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Long Beach, California. The hospital shares a legacy of human kindness with Dignity Health, one of the largest health care systems. Visit dignityhealth.org/stmarymedical for more information.