Business Brief: Addressing Critical Needs in Population Health
Partnership’s membership remained relatively stable in 2023. The member redetermination process, resulting from the winding down of the COVID-19 Public Health emergency, caused some small fluctuations. At the close of 2023, Partnership served approximately 660,800 members throughout 14 counties.
In 2024, Partnership will no longer contract with Kaiser Permanente, will fully operationalize its 10-county expansion, and the Medi-Cal redetermination process will continue.
Partnership’s membership is expected to continue to fluctuate as a result. The 2024 Population Needs Assessment draws from a broad range of data sources to identify member needs along with the overall community conditions where members live.
Executive Summary
The 2024 Population Needs Assessment (PNA) conducted by the Partnership HealthPlan of California highlights significant gaps in healthcare access, economic stability, neighborhood conditions, and social support across its 14-county service area. This brief outlines the critical needs identified and the strategic responses planned to address these issues, ensuring improved health outcomes and equity for all members.
Identified Needs and Strategic Responses
1. Healthcare Access and Quality
Identified Needs:
- Provider Shortages: Insufficient access to primary care, dental, specialty care, mental/behavioral health, and substance use care providers.
- Transportation Challenges: Particularly in rural areas, long distances and lack of transportation options hinder access to care.
Strategic Responses:
- Provider Recruitment and Retention Initiatives:
- Launching a Provider Recruitment Program to attract healthcare professionals to underserved areas with new incentives, including sign-on bonuses.
- Implementing a Provider Retention Initiative (PRI) Pilot to incentivize primary care clinicians for long-term service, preserving institutional knowledge and clinical leadership.
- Telehealth Expansion: Increasing the use of telemedicine to enhance access to behavioral health services, particularly in remote regions.
2. Economic Stability
Identified Needs:
- High Poverty and Unemployment Rates: Prevalent in rural and frontier regions.
- Severe Housing Problems: Overcrowding, high housing costs, and inadequate facilities affect many households.
Strategic Responses:
- Leveraging State Funds:
- Utilizing initiatives like CalAIM, Community Supports, and the Homeless and Housing Incentive Program (HHIP) to address housing instability.
- Offering scholarships to local Community Health Worker (CHW) programs to create employment opportunities and enhance the healthcare workforce.
3. Neighborhood and Built Environment
Identified Needs:
- Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Particularly in rural areas, contributing to poor nutrition and related health issues.
- High Rates of Physical Inactivity: Linked to chronic health conditions in several counties.
Strategic Responses:
- Food and Nutrition Programs:
- Partnering with local agencies to improve access to healthy foods and provide nutrition education.
- Conducting outreach to promote healthy eating habits and reduce food insecurity.
- Physical Activity Promotion: Implementing community-based programs to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
4. Social and Community Support
Identified Needs:
- High Rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leading to long-term negative health outcomes.
- Substance Use and Smoking: High prevalence of tobacco use and substance abuse, including among adolescents.
Strategic Responses:
- ACE Prevention and Support Programs: Developing initiatives in collaboration with schools and community organizations to address ACEs and provide support.
- Substance Use Prevention Campaigns:
- Conducting educational interventions to reduce tobacco use and prevent substance abuse among adolescents and adults.
- Promoting smoke-free environments through community outreach and education.
Conclusion
The Partnership HealthPlan of California is committed to addressing the critical needs identified in the 2024 PNA through comprehensive and targeted initiatives. By enhancing healthcare access, addressing social determinants of health, improving neighborhood conditions, and strengthening community support, the organization aims to foster equitable health outcomes and ensure a higher quality of life for all its members.
Population Needs Assessment
Partnership conducts an annual Population Needs Assessment (PNA), which reviews and analyzes the overall environment, specific community needs, and factors influencing the health and well-being of Partnership’s member population.
To read the 2024 report, click on the following: Population Needs Assessment
Population Needs Assessment
Partnership conducts an annual Population Needs Assessment (PNA), which reviews and analyzes the overall environment, specific community needs, and factors influencing the health and well-being of Partnership’s member population.
To read the 2024 report, click on the following: Population Needs Assessment
Archived Population Needs Assessments
Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plan
Partnership participates in the Community Health Assessments (CHA) (sometimes called a CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) processes conducted by the local health jurisdiction in each of our 24 counties. This collaboration enhances Partnership’s ability to identify needs and assets within our members’ communities, and strengthens our relationships with community partners.
Below you will find CHAs and CHIPs for each Partnership county in addition to how Partnership participated with the county.
Butte County
Partnership staff participated in a review of the key findings and top 6 health needs identified in the CHA. Butte County released their CHA in December 2023. Click here to view the report.
Modoc County
Partnership staff participated in a review of county concerns, and discussed a tentative goal with the county. Modoc County released their CHNA in January 2024. Click here to view the report.
Napa County
Partnership staff participated in a review of county concerns, and discussed a tentative goal with the county. Napa County released their CHA in December 2023. Click here to view the report.
Shasta County
Partnership staff participated in a review of the key findings and priority areas identified in the CHIP process. Partnership and Shasta County co-developed a SMART goal focusing on increasing child well visits, aligned with DCHS’s Bold Goals 50×2025 initiative. Shasta County released their CHIP in June 2024. Click here to view the report.
Sonoma County
Partnership staff participated in a review of the county’s approach to their assessment and improvement plan, discussed the county’s 4 priority areas, and gathered ideas for a tentative shared goal with the county. Sonoma County released their combined CHA/CHIP report in December 2023. Click here to view the report.
Yuba County
Partnership staff participated in a review of CHIP health priority areas, and a discussion around how Partnership can help the county going forward. Yuba County released their CHIP in December 2023. Click here to view the report.
Alex Yarijanian 