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New Health Care Access Program for College Students

In a groundbreaking effort to enhance health care access for students, the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), the California Community College system, and the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) have launched an innovative health care access program. This initiative aims to connect eligible students with affordable, high-quality health care and CalFresh programs, thereby removing barriers that often hinder students' educational success.

The program, officially titled the Inland Empire Health Plan Equitable Support Demonstration Project, represents a significant collaboration that could serve as a model for similar initiatives across other counties in California. This is the first of its kind and is designed to address the disparities faced by many college students who lack adequate health care and food security.

Goals of the Partnership

The joint efforts primarily focus on several key objectives:

• - Enroll eligible students in Medi-Cal, Covered California, and CalFresh to ensure they have access to essential health services and food assistance.
• - Strengthen equitable access to both health care and behavioral health services for all students.
• - Enhance campus infrastructure that supports the provision of Medi-Cal eligible services.
• - Eliminate barriers that currently prevent students from accessing these vital services.

Thomas Pham, IEHP's Vice President of Strategy, emphasized the impact of this program, stating, "Having the stability of health care and food safety will aid in keeping students' focus on their academic success rather than having to choose one or the other." The initiative is seen as a step towards fostering innovative solutions that will improve the quality of life for students in the Inland Empire and throughout California.

Academia Meets Health Care

This initiative aligns with the strategic vision outlined in the California Community Colleges' Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to enhance programming and services for community colleges across the state. Within the San Bernardino and Riverside counties alone, twelve colleges serve more than 164,750 students, with approximately 93,000 classified as economically disadvantaged. The program was strategically developed in response to research indicating that a high percentage of students at SBCCD campuses self-identify as low-income.

Noteworthy institutions like San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College are at the forefront of this initiative, together serving around 20,000 students. Remarkably, nearly eight out of ten students at these colleges benefit from tuition-free education made possible by need-based financial aid. Besides educational support, these campuses are equipped with food pantries and other assistance programs that address various student needs, including clothing, housing, and career opportunities.

Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez, the chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, commented, "Our new partnership with Inland Empire Health Plan is a common-sense investment that benefits everyone. When our students have the health care they need, they're more likely to graduate, join the workforce, and give back to the community. That means healthier families, a stronger local economy, and a workforce ready to support our businesses. It’s about building a healthier, more vibrant Inland Empire, one student at a time."

Moving Forward

With the agreements now in place, IEHP and SBCCD are set to implement effective strategies aimed at integrating Medi-Cal and IEHP Covered enrollment into existing school processes. This will involve organizing on-site registration events and streamlining additional support through IEHP Enrollment Services to facilitate access.

As IEHP's Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton noted, "By eliminating barriers to much-needed health care, we are continuing to make good on our promise to invest in the continuous well-being of the Inland Empire." This collaborative endeavor underscores a commitment to not only improving access to services but also prioritizing the overall health and wellness of the student population, laying the groundwork for a healthier future for all.

To learn more about IEHP and its mission to provide pathways to optimal health, you can visit iehp.org.

About IEHP

Founded in 1996, the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is recognized as one of the leading Medicaid health plans in the nation and is the largest non-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the United States. With over 1.5 million residents across Riverside and San Bernardino counties enrolled in its programs, IEHP has consistently been acknowledged as a top workplace and is committed to ensuring health care access for even more individuals as it expands its services.