Whole Person Care (WPC) was designed to target Medi-Cal patients
with complex medical issues and frequent users of multiple health
systems. These county-led pilot projects coordinate physical
health care, behavioral health care, and social services to
improve the health and well-being of beneficiaries through an
effective use of resources. Specific target populations of
approved pilots include individuals recently released from
institutions or incarceration, those with mental illness or
substance use disorders, and those who are currently homeless or
at risk of homelessness. There are currently 25 WPC pilots across
the state and starting in 2017, counties began submitting reports
that detail their current spending and outcomes.
The California Department of Health Care Services, the California
Health Care Foundation, and Harbage Consulting released a report
detailing the WPC pilot implementation progress. The report,
Whole Person Care: A Mid-Point
Check-In includes background on the WPC program as
well as challenges and opportunities related to: partnerships,
data sharing, care coordination, housing, and sustaining
successful practices post-2020. This report was completed using
Learning Collaborative discussions and in-depth interviews.
CSAC strongly supports our Whole Person Care county pilots and
Governor Newsom’s January Budget proposal to dedicate $100
million in State General Fund to the pilots for WPC housing
subsidies over the next five years.
