New County Path2Health Program Part of Health Care Debate

While the health care debate is argued before the land’s highest court today, we note that many county residents participating in County Medical Services program became eligible for a new program called Path2Health on first of the year, January 1 2012.

Path2Health expands coverage for residents who did not previously qualify, opening access to patients previously unable to obtain insurance coverage who often went without much needed services.

CMSP is a multi-county collaborative that provides health insurance to low-income adults. In addition to increasing access and services for Sonoma County residents, implementation of Path2Health helps position Sonoma County for the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Health Care Reform) in 2014.

The most recent example of the collaborative effort to expand services is between the Alexander Valley Health Center, California Human Development Corporation, and Department of Health Services, which will bring essential mental health and substance use disorders treatment to Cloverdale.

North County Supervisor Mike McGuire led the effort to bring these services to Cloverdale after learning about the Center’s limited treatment programs on a recent site visit.

McGuire stated, “It is imperative all of the communities of Sonoma County have access to high quality health care, including the 6,000 patients that Alexander Valley serves on an annual basis.”

Debbie Howell, Alexander Valley Health Center CEO,  commented, “We are pleased Supervisor McGuire and the Department of Health Services are working with us to bring essential behavioral health services to the people of Cloverdale through the creation of strategic partnerships.

"The Path2Heath program is wonderful. We are fortunate to provide more access to substance abuse services to more of our adult community members.  It is amazing and it’s about time!”

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Shirlee Zane said, “This is a service area the County has long been working collaboratively with health care providers to strengthen.”

Enrollment in Path2Health for current CMSP participants is automatic if they qualify. Current CMSP members can still use their CMSP cards and the same providers are in the provider network.

To qualify for Path2Health individuals must have income of up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level (about $10,890 for a single person), be between 19 and 64 years of age, do not qualify for Medi-Cal, and meet federal citizenship or residency requirements.

More information is in the accompanying PDF document.

Individuals with incomes between 100 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level will not qualify for Path2Health but will still be eligible for CMSP with a share-of-cost.

For more information contact Rita Scardaci, Director of Health Services, (707) 565-4700