In 1998 Solano County in collaboration with the Solano Coalition for Better Health formed the Health Access Coalition. The Solano County Health Access Coalition is funded by Solano County Board of Supervisors and seeks to create a system of care that is comprehensive and integrated. The vision of the Health Access Coalition is to increase the percentage of Solano residents below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level receiving needed primary and specialty care. More than 35 organizations and 128 community participants are actively engaged in the work of the Health Access Coalition. The overall goal is to create a system of care that is both integrated and comprehensive. The Health Access Coalition developed a strategic plan that identified the following health priorities with six primary goals:
1. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. Increase the percentage of Solano County residents who are consistently enrolled in a health insurance plan or other health program.
2. PRIMARY CARE SYSTEM. Strengthen the primary-care based system of health care that is comprehensive and integrated.
3. APPROPRIATE USE. Increase the appropriate use of health services.
4. SYSTEMIC BARRIERS. Decrease systemic barriers which prevent appropriate use of the healthcare system.
5. SPECIALTY CARE. Increase timely access to specialty care.
6. ADVOCACY. Advocate for policies and actions that increase access to health care for low income, uninsured and other vulnerable populations.
In 2005 The Health Access Coalition began implementation of its 2008-2011 strategic health plan by creating the following work groups to address specific health needs of Solano County residents.
The Solano County Health Access Work Group provides oversight and evaluation of the Health Access Strategic Plan and Coalition agreements. This committee provides alignment of all Coalition work with the strategic plan and ensures that reports are created and given to the Solano County Board of Supervisors each year.
The Oral Health Work Group seeks to improve access to oral health services as outlined in the Health Access Strategic Plan, with a focus on children. Current funded strategies include a gap fund for low income uninsured and underinsured, children with significant oral health disease as well as a public health campaign to improve oral health practices.
The Frequent User Work Group focuses on low income residents with chronic medical conditions that are impacted by mental illness and/or substance abuse problems and are frequent users of the health care system. The Coalition's current funded strategies include intense care coordination to assist clients in obtaining needed medical care, social service links and partnerships with local homeless shelters.
The Enroll and Retain Work Group has specific oversight of strategies that increase the percent of residents who have health insurance. The Solano Kids Insurance Program (S.K.I.P) and Healthy Kids are programs of this Committee.
The Behavior Integration Work Group focuses on provision of behavioral health services in the primary care settings. The goal is to create a seamless referral system of comprehensive and supportive services.
Health Access Staff
Carl Thomas
Director of Finance and Operations
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