The following success story describes experiences across multiple PATH initiatives.
United Health Centers (UHC) of the San Joaquin Valley is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health and quality of life for rural communities. UHC primarily serves the working population, providing care planning, coordination, referrals, and transportation. UHC connects patients with critical resources, like housing and food. As a Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) awardee and a PATH Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace recipient, UHC has accessed valuable resources to develop and staff their Enhanced Care Management (ECM) benefit program.
Through PATH, UHC has created ECM policies, held working meetings to establish workflows, and hired and onboarded a team of new staff, including eight ECM Lead Care Managers (LCM) and four community health workers (CHW). The funding also allowed UHC to hold staff training and acquire necessary equipment.
The following client stories highlight the impact of UHC’s ECM program on Medi-Cal members.
In January 2025, UHC enrolled a member with complex health care needs in its ECM program. The individual had frequently been visiting the emergency room due to complications from a chronic condition. During initial outreach, the LCM discovered three pending referrals and that the member was unable to collect their prosthesis due to insurance approval delays. The member also faced challenges related to depression, anxiety, and financial strain due to a permanent disability. Loss of employment and independence, coupled with mobility limited by a wheelchair, compounded these problems.
Since enrollment, UHC has addressed the referrals and insurance issues. The member has received their prosthesis, started physical therapy, and been connected with behavioral health services at UHC. The member says they are now optimistic about transitioning from the wheelchair to walking with prosthetics and returning to work as a truck driver soon.
“Although there is still work to be done, we will continue working together to improve their overall health and well-being,” said LCM Margaret Murray-Pacheco. “The member expressed sincere gratitude for the ECM intervention, mentioning that I have earned a place on their family’s Christmas list.”
Have you applied for funding to support your organization’s workforce, vendor contracting, IT, community assessment and other Medi-Cal needs necessary to deliver ECM and Community Supports?
Would free coding and billing, client outreach and enrollment, program development, CalAIM implementation and monitoring, and other technical assistance services help your organization meet its Medi-Cal needs?