Through a grant from DHCS, in partnership with Central California Alliance for Health, Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC) is implementing a program called “Enhanced Care Management” or “ECM.” This is a new program that will help complex needs patients live healthier lives and avoid higher, more costly care.

Enhanced Care Management is a statewide Medi-Cal benefit available to select members with complex needs. Enrolled members receive comprehensive care management from a single lead care manager who coordinates all their health and health-related care, including physical, mental health, and dental care, as well as social services.

“This program makes it easier for people to get the right care at the right time, in the right setting,” said Dr. Elaine Soriano, Regional Medical Director of Golden Valley Health Centers. “We want our patients to receive comprehensive care that goes beyond the provider’s office or hospital.”

ECM addresses the clinical and non-clinical necessities of the highest-need Medi-Cal members by building trusting relationships and providing intensive coordination of health and health-related services. The Care Coordination Team can meet ECM members where they are; this may mean on the street, in a shelter, in their provider’s office, or at home. Through this program, staff will connect members to community support services that can help patients get access to nutritious food, safe housing, public subsidies, or whatever services are required to complement the care they receive by Golden Valley Health Centers. As part of a Population Health Management program within CalAIM, ECM focuses on special patient populations and helps select Medi-Cal patients avoid the challenge of engaging with multiple delivery systems for care and services.

GVHC and the Alliance estimate that thousands of patients across the Central Valley will be eligible for the new Medi-Cal service.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, the mission of Golden Valley Health Centers is to provide access to high-quality health care for all, serving with dignity, respect and compassion. Golden Valley Health Centers operates 45 clinics across Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, providing healthcare services to 145,000 diverse patient populations since 1972. For more information, visit gvhc.org