Policy Prioritization 2021 – Moving Towards an Antiracist Policy Platform
This Fall, CPCA worked in close partnership with the Consortia Policy Group, the dedicated policy leaders of regional and statewide consortia, moved through a series of conversations to reevaluate CPCA’s policy priority platform. The COVID-19 pandemic and health equity – including addressing racism in the health care delivery system – were front and center in the conversation.
This year the policy prioritization process was also different. As part of CPCA’s COVID-19 protections and response, this year’s process was all virtual. Additionally, building on feedback from the 2019 listening sessions, greater time was built into the process to allow for increased engagement from health center leaders throughout the state. Most notably, unlike prior years when the policy prioritization process concluded with action and adoption during the October CPCA board and committee meetings, this year the policy priorities will not be adopted until the first 2021 meeting of CPCA’s Board and Committees. This process change allowed for a first-of-its-kind all member convening in late October for CPCA staff to gather deeper feedback from health center leaders regardless of their participation in CPCA’s Board and committees. Feedback from health center participants of the October 21 virtual convening are now being incorporated into the final versions of the policy prioritization documents. With the California legislative session starting in December, these documents will guide end-of-year conversations with the state legislature and administration.
To advance an equitable and anti-racist health care delivery system, the California Primary Care Association commits to a policy platform that elevates the mission of California’s community health centers and reduces health disparities existing in the communities they serve.
Equitable COVID-19 Response
Guarantee that COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccine distribution recognizes the higher burden of the disease in disproportionately impacted communities – including Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, Indigenous and Latinx persons – and places those groups at the center of COVID-19 response and recovery.
Coverage and Access for All
The pandemic significantly impacted the state’s fiscal health, risking years of progress in expanding health care coverage, and the health of communities at highest risk of COVID-19 exposure, transmission, and death, at a time when access is needed most.
Strong Workforce
COVID-19 laid bare California’s worsening workforce gaps. COVID-19 is taking a toll on the mental and physical well-being of care teams and impacts workforce pipeline that further undermine health and economic stability of predominately Black, immigrant, and rural communities.
Health Center Viability that Values Community, Recognizes Racial Disparities, and Addresses Social Determinants
Health centers are facing a perilous fiscal future that undermines COVID-19 response and will stifle equitable economic recovery and increase health gaps across California communities.
Empowering Communities
This pandemic, as well as climate change, has worsened long standing racial inequities in education, housing, transportation, food access and other social determinants of health. Intentional policy efforts will be needed to right these wrongs and health centers must empower their patients while guaranteeing they are at the center of solutions.