Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Care Health Plan has announced funding for two community organizations that provide essential social care services for those with chronic health conditions and advanced illnesses.
Project Angel Food and the AC Care Alliance will receive a combined $375,000 to help both organizations expand services for low-income, racially diverse, and marginalized individuals.
“This funding is part of L.A. Care’s ongoing partnership with the two organizations, which provide critical social care support for the health plan’s members — specifically for those members who are critically ill and in need of life sustaining meals and for those receiving end-of-life care,” said John Baackes, L.A. Care CEO. “This support is critical for reducing health disparities among the vulnerable communities L.A. Care serves.”
L.A. Care is awarding $250,000 to Project Angel Food, which provides medically tailored meals for people struggling with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, pulmonary disease and cancer. The funding will allow the organization to deliver up to 1.5 million meals for about 5,500 critically ill Angelenos while the organization undergoes a 12-month capital project.
This will ultimately allow the organization to triple its service capacity. The majority of those who will be served over the one-year period are vulnerable, low-income people of color.
Project Angel Food has been providing food for the needy for 35 years.
The AC Care Alliance Advanced Illness Care Program, which provides holistic support to people needing advanced illness care and their caregivers, is being awarded $125,000. The program addresses disparities in end-of-life care, such as the rate of advanced directives in Black and Latino communities. The organization serves South Los Angeles County and five other California counties, through partnerships with trusted faith- and community-based organizations.
In operation since 2013, ACCA serves predominately Black and brown communities providing wraparound advanced illness care support aligned with five program cornerstones: spiritual, health, social, advance care planning and caregiving. The funding will help ACCA pursue opportunities to expand its wraparound approach to individuals with complex care needs, including those enrolled in Medi-Cal’s Enhanced Care Management.
It also will support staff and infrastructure enhancements, including a closed loop referral tracking tool, partial salaries, software licenses and technical support.
It is estimated by some health experts that nearly half of all Americans are living with chronic health conditions or advanced illnesses, with higher rates for those in low-income communities of color. Social care support can benefit those with chronic conditions, but it isn’t always easy to find.
Both projects align with L.A. Care’s commitment to invest in safety net providers and programs serving members and to the health plan’s commitment to advancing health equity, which means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
L.A. Care Health Plan is the largest health plan in Los Angeles County serving more than one of every four Angelenos. It is also the largest publicly operated plan in the country.
As a public entity, L.A. Care’s mission is to provide access to quality health care for low-income communities and to support the safety net required to achieve that purpose. L.A. Care prioritizes quality, access and inclusion, elevating health care for all of L.A. County.
