Medi-Cal Capacity, Access, and Workforce Grant Program
Applications are now closed as of February 1, 2025.
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 (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.
2025 Capacity Grant Application
We are now accepting applications! Approved by the CenCal Health Board of Directors in September 2024, the Capacity Grant Program will invest $6M over three years to maintain and advance access to care. CenCal Health will make available the following opportunities with the goal to expand access to behavioral health, pediatric and primary care, and specialty care services:
- Recruitment of new providers through individual grants to provider and community organizations, including:
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- The recruitment of new providers to the CenCal Health service area.
- The recruitment of other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, front office staff, and medical assistants to support current CenCal Health providers.
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- Training and educational opportunities for healthcare careers and in support of building healthcare workforce pathways, including:
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- Degree and career advancement for current healthcare workers looking to advance their skill set.
- Working with secondary schools and colleges on advertising, encouraging, and/or building local healthcare career educational opportunities.
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- Practice support through investment in activities to strengthen, bolster and improve access to care, such as infrastructure, equipment, and capital expansion, including:
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- Providing translation services and cultural competency training for practice staff working with Latinx and at-risk populations to further health equity goals.
- Obtaining support for improving provider efficiencies with respect to required public program documentation and billing practices through education, software tools, or other methods of streamlining efforts.
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While CenCal Health will consider all applications which support the expansion of capacity and access for CenCal Health members, data indicate pressing areas of need as follows, and in line with the areas of focus established for the Capacity Grant program:
San Luis Obispo County:
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- Primary Care – Adult & Pediatric
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology – Adult & Pediatric
- Infectious Disease – Pediatric
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Santa Barbara County:
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- Primary Care – Adult & Pediatric
- Psychiatry
- Speech Therapy – Adults
Please view the Capacity Grant Program Funding Application and Budget Form.
Entities who may apply include:
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- Contracted Providers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, or those providers interested in and intending to contract with CenCal Health.
- Educational institutions or a consortium organization representing a group of entities focused on healthcare workforce development or other educational opportunities.
More information about the program and its guidelines, specifications and requirements can be found on the application form and any questions can be directed to Capacitygrants@Cencalhealth.org.
Providers and other eligible organizations will have until February 1, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. PST, to submit applications. All applications must be submitted to Capacitygrants@cencalhealth.org.