The CalOptima Board of Directors approved a staff recommendation this month to use Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) funds to support hospital referrals of Medi-Cal patients who are homeless into recuperative care programs upon discharge.

HASC led an effort in 2009 that led to the official opening of recuperative care services in Orange County in early 2010 for patients discharged from hospitals who needed a clean, safe place to continue their recovery. Hospitals currently contract with the Illumination Foundation for these services, and a key component of the program is the effort by the Illumination Foundation to link clients to permanent housing upon discharge from recuperative care.

CalOptima will monitor and evaluate the success of the program in reducing hospital readmissions and connecting clients with housing, among other criteria. The initial IGT appropriation should cover 10-day length-of-stay costs for approximately 330 Medi-Cal patients. Prior to this decision, hospitals referring Medi-Cal patients into recuperative care did so at their own expense.

Contact: Julie Puentes

(714) 663-0294, jpuentes@hasc.org