A collaborative medical program serving jail inmates in Sutter and Yuba counties has received national recognition for improving healthcare continuity after release. Bi-County Health Officer Dr. Phuong Luu was presented the Leadership in Advocacy award by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., recognizing the implementation of the Yuba-Sutter CalAIM initiative for justice-involved individuals.
Program Design and Impact
The CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative allows eligible incarcerated individuals to enroll in Medi-Cal and begin receiving targeted healthcare services up to 90 days prior to release. According to the joint media release from Sutter and Yuba counties, the program ensures continuity of care during vulnerable transition periods through coordinated efforts between correctional and probation teams, healthcare professionals, and community organizations. Services include identifying eligible individuals, supporting Medi-Cal enrollment before release, coordinating medication continuity, and connecting individuals to behavioral health, primary care, and social services upon reentry.
Cross-Agency Collaboration
Dr. Luu emphasized that the achievement reflects coordinated effort led by Sheriff and Probation department leadership and carried out in partnership with correctional healthcare teams, healthcare providers, county health and human services agencies, and community-based organizations. Partnership HealthPlan of California CEO Sonja Bjork stated that Dr. Luu “took a bold, historic policy and transformed it into a working model of care that provides dignity and continuity for justice-involved Medi-Cal members.”
Capt. Matthew Maples, Jail Division Commander for the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, noted that “this success is a direct result of a strong collaborative team approach, bringing together custody staff, healthcare providers, county partners, and community organizations with a shared commitment to continuity of care.” James Moralez, Deputy Chief Probation Officer for Yuba County, added that the two counties were among the first in California to implement the initiative and “intentionally helped shape how the program was operationalized.”
The Leadership in Advocacy Award honors individuals whose work with ACAP-affiliated health plans significantly improves outcomes for people served by Medicaid and other safety-net programs.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/bi-county-jail-medical-program-gets-recognition/article_0f8bacf5-5ce8-4405-802f-bc775bbb3094.html