Medi-Cal Capacity, Access, and Workforce Grant (Round 1)

Program Overview

CenCal Health recognizes the evolving healthcare landscape across the Central Coast and the opportunity to work with provider stakeholders to bolster access to care through strategic and community-oriented investments.

CenCal Health has the opportunity to support these and other locally identified initiatives by reinvesting Medi-Cal funds back into our service area through the launch of a robust and structured Medi-Cal Capacity, Access, and Workforce Grant Program, also known as Capacity Grants.

Data obtained from local Community Health Improvement and Community Assessment Reports, as well as CenCal Health member and provider feedback, highlights the need to expand access to care with a particular focus on behavioral health, pediatric, and specialty care services.

Round 1: 2025 Capacity Grant Application

Approved by the CenCal Health Board of Directors in September 2024, the Capacity Grant Program invested over $5 million to maintain and advance access to care.

CenCal Health made available opportunities with the goal of expanding access to behavioral health, pediatric and primary care, and specialty care services, including:

• Recruitment of new providers to the CenCal Health service area.
• Recruitment of healthcare professionals such as nurses, front office staff, and medical assistants to support current CenCal Health providers.
• Training and educational opportunities for healthcare careers and healthcare workforce pathways.
• Degree and career advancement for current healthcare workers looking to advance their skill set.
• Support for secondary schools and colleges to advertise, encourage, and build local healthcare career educational opportunities.
• Practice support through infrastructure, equipment, capital expansion, and other activities that strengthen and improve access to care.
• Translation services and cultural competency training for practice staff working with Latinx and at-risk populations to further health equity goals.
• Support for improving provider efficiencies related to public program documentation and billing practices through education, software tools, or other streamlining efforts.

Priority Areas of Need

San Luis Obispo County

• Primary Care – Adult & Pediatric
• Cardiology
• Endocrinology – Adult & Pediatric
• Infectious Disease – Pediatric
• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Santa Barbara County

• Primary Care – Adult & Pediatric
• Psychiatry
• Speech Therapy – Adults

Eligible Applicants

Entities eligible to apply included:

• Contracted providers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, or providers interested in and intending to contract with CenCal Health.
• Educational institutions or consortium organizations representing a group of entities focused on healthcare workforce development or other educational opportunities.