More Information: Please contact Community Liaison Tiffany McDaniel. Upcoming Events: PLUM (May/June) LA City Council (June/July)

In 2010, Councilmembers passed an ordinance restricting new fast food restaurants within 0.5 miles of an existing fast food restaurant. Now, LA City Council may exempt South LA's Council District 10 from this policy, allowing fast food establishments to be the predominant eating choice in the area for another 20 years. Protect our community from an over-concentration of stand-alone fast food restaurants by signing the petition and attending the upcoming events. Watch KNBC's coverage of the April 11th City Planning Commission Hearing above.

Community Health Councils was awarded a Community Transformation Grant (CTG) and a REACH Obesity and Hypertension Demonstration Project grant in September 2012. The CTG award, a two-year $7.9 million implementation project, will address and impact health disparities through a multi-sector collaborative of partners United for Health. The REACH Demonstration award for $7.7 million over three years will support Partners in Health in developing and implementing "replicable and scalable" policy, systems, and environmental changes. Learn more about these grants on our Community Partnerships page.

The two awards will help reduce chronic diseases by making healthy living easier for all people, especially those most impacted by chronic disease. By focusing on where people live, work, and play, the CTG program is expected to improve the health of more than four out of 10 US citizens, about 130 million Americans. The REACH Demonstration grant will focus on comprehensive strategies to improve well-being and lessen and eliminate chronic disease disparities among African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Community Health Councils newest report Dialogues with South Los Angeles Safety Net Users on Health Reform analyzes data on safety net users’ knowledge of health reform, what they are worried about when it comes to healthcare, and their likelihood to change providers in 2014. Data was gathered through three distinct efforts: the California Healthcare Experience Survey, Dialogues with Dr. Katz (Director of the LA Department of Health Services), and Health Reform Focus Groups with safety net users. 

The report analyzes the results of the qualitative and quantitative approaches to gather information from consumers about their experiences and opinions of the safety net healthcare system in South Los Angeles and highlights common themes expressed by patients across the three assessment areas. The surveys and focus groups also examined where safety net users are getting information on health reform.

Among the findings:

• Fewer than 20% of respondents know what a medical home is, a centerpiece of the new policy, and those who do know have difficulty describing it.
• Less than half of respondents (48%) indicate having heard or learned about health reform.
• Among those who have heard about health reform, only 6% heard about it through their doctor’s office.
• Latinos in our focus groups felt there had been no significant outreach to them.
• A stark increase in focus group approval for health reform occurred after a brief educational presentation and discussion.

The perspectives and needs of consumers must be understood and addressed if the landmark overhaul of the safety net system through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to result in meaningful change. Health reform will transform the healthcare landscape in South LA, and the transparent, timely, and accountable implementation of the ACA is critical to the health of current and future generations. For more information on Dialogues with South Los Angeles Safety Net Users on Health Reform, contact CHC Policy Analyst Rad Cunningham.

Issue Briefs
Other recent reports on issues related to health reform in California include:

Bridging the Health Divide: Designing the Navigator System in California with recommendations for building a robust and consumer-friendly Navigator program in California.

New! Recommendations for the Healthy Families to Medi-Cal Transition to ensure that the transition does not disrupt care or cause harm for children and their families.

Comments on California's LIHP Draft Transition Plan to move Low Income Health Program enrollees into Medi-Cal as part of its preparation for the Affordable Care Act.

California's Consumer-Centric Exchange Customer Service Center Options with CHC’s comments on the options presented.

Transitioning Children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal CHC's Covering Kids & Families and LA Access coalitions' recommendations to ensure a transparent, seamless, and smooth transition for consumers and providers.

California Health Benefit Exchange: Marketing & Outreach CHC's recommendations for marketing, outreach & education and Assisters program workplan options.

Comments to California Health Benefit Exchange on Assister Program Options
This issue brief provides comments to the California Health Benefit Exchange on draft recommendations for Assister program options.

Marketing & Outreach in California's Health Benefits Exchange Read stakeholder comments on how best to assure maximum enrollment of eligible individuals in the Exchange, Medi-Cal and Healthy Families in 2014 and beyond.

Webinars
Listen to sessions from CHC's webinar series Closing the Gap: Making the Most of Health Reform. Hear from experts on the following issues:

• Prevention & Wellness
• Consumer Education & Engagement
• Public Education Campaigns & Health Reform
• Patient-Centered Medical Homes
• Getting Ready for Health Reform.