Alameda High Health Center Nonprofit Seeks Bridge Funding Amid Concerns Over Medi-Cal Reimbursement Rates

Alameda High School's health center will lose its medical provider on April 10; County postpones next move of Coliseum sale; Everybody hates the Hayward Loop. Here's a novel idea to fix it

Front entrance of Alameda High School. PHOTO/AUSD

☕️MORNING BUZZ

Vol. VI, No. 1,223

—Mounting pressure from H.R. 1 on local governments and public health systems is beginning to surface in tangible ways across the East Bay, with one example unfolding at a high school campus in Alameda.

A school-based health center at Alameda High School is set to lose its medical services provider on April 10 due to staffing shortages, said Katherine Schwartz, CEO of Alameda Family Services.

The medical provider provided reproductive and sexual health care, sports physicals and immunizations to students for decades. Last year, about 200 students used the center, accounting for roughly 1,000 visits. About 30 percent of those students were eligible for Medi-Cal.

—Schwartz said the nonprofit has been working to secure a new medical provider partnership with Roots Community Health Center and La Familia.

But both organizations have expressed hesitation, citing uncertainty around declining Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, and the need for bridge funding for the first year of operation, Schwartz said.

Alameda Family Services has approached the Alameda Unified School District, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and the city for financial assistance to keep services going, Schwartz said.

—The closure could have immediate consequences. About 750 students accessed safe-sex supplies at the clinic last year. There have already been seven student pregnancies across the city this year — a sharp increase that could worsen without on-campus care.

The uncertainty facing providers stems in part from broader federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, a sweeping budget and policy measure that includes provisions affecting Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that funds Medi-Cal in California.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this item stated that medical services at Alameda High School is closing on April 10. Medical services will be maintained past that date until a new provider is secured by Alameda Family Services.

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—More inside:

• COUNTY NEWS: NYT investigation into Cesar Chavez’s past behavior has the East Bay reeling.

• County supervisors don’t seem on the same page when it comes to next moves for selling the Coliseum.

• County budget season ramps up. Here’s the timeline.

• CITY NEWS: Oakland’s Encampment Abatement Policy is in a holding pattern, and its author isn’t happy.

• Oakland councilmembers raise alarm over illegal cannabis operators, lost tax revenue.

• Everybody hates the Hayward Loop. A resident has a plan to fix it with a novel roundabout.

• Hayward mayor touts progress on city’s budget deficit, but avoid specifics in state of the city address.

• Alameda mayor delivers wistful final state of the city, but boots out a heckler.

• CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on March 18:

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