Five California Public Health Care Systems Recognized for Excellence: Awards Highlight Pioneering Efforts to Enhance Quality, Equity, and Access in Health Care
(Napa, CA)– Today, the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH), in partnership with the California Health Care Safety Net Institute (SNI), proudly recognized five exceptional public health care systems with the 2024 Quality Leaders Awards (QLA). These awards celebrate innovative efforts to advance quality, equity, and access to care for California’s most underserved populations. Each awardee has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving patient experience and health outcomes through efforts to address pressing health challenges.
The theme of this year’s CAPH/SNI Annual Conference, Prioritizing Patients, highlights the connection between the Quality Leaders Awards and the mission of public health care systems to improve care and patient outcomes. The awards and the conference showcase initiatives that make a meaningful impact in patients’ lives and focus on putting patients first.
Established over 20 years ago by CAPH and SNI, the QLAs are presented annually to honor public health care systems that embody excellence in delivering high-quality, equitable care. Each year, awardees are selected based on rigorous criteria, including innovation, equity, population health improvements, and care redesign. This year, the QLA program received 30 competitive entries, from which five exceptional initiatives were selected for recognition.
“Having worked closely with these outstanding public health care systems, I am continually inspired by their dedication to advancing quality and equity,” said Giovanna Giuliani, executive director of SNI. “Each awardee has found creative and impactful solutions that we can all learn from. It’s an inspiring reminder that a dedicated team can make a difference in patients’ lives.”
Top Honor: Riverside University Health System
Award: Transforming our Partnership for Student Success
To address behavioral health needs among students, Riverside University Health System (RUHS) partnered with a local school district to implement the Transforming our Partnerships for Student Success (TOPSS) program. This initiative features tiered behavioral health services, universal holistic health screenings, and onsite support.
Key Outcomes (2020–2024):
7,626 students assessed across seven schools, with 23.9% identified as having serious health needs.
4,510 students received behavioral health services from January 2022 to June 2023.
93,544 units of social services (e.g., food, clothing, housing assistance) provided from August 2022 to May 2024.
Students with concerning behavioral health needs decreased from 15% in 2020 to 7% in 2023.
Care Redesign: Alameda Health System
Award: Providing Quality Pediatric Primary Care in the Safety Net
The Alameda Health System (AHS) Department of Pediatrics and Quality Improvement implemented a comprehensive strategy to enhance pediatric care across its four federally qualified health centers, focusing on addressing healthcare disparities and barriers to well-child visits (WCV) and immunizations. Key interventions included implementing gap alert systems in the electronic medical record (EMR), restructuring scheduling templates and rules, sending text reminders for checkups, and educating patients about free transportation options.
Impact (2021–2023):
Improved all 10 pediatric quality metrics, most exceeding the 90th percentile benchmark.
Doubled WCV completion rates for Black patients to 42%.
Reduced disparities between Black and Hispanic patients
WCV rates gap decreased from 11% to 4%.
Adolescent immunization gap reduced from 35% to 10%.
In response to community demands for compassionate and comprehensive behavioral health services, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) collaborated with advocates for mental health and the unhoused, providers, and individuals with lived experiences to reimagine crisis care. This effort led to the creation of the A3 Community Crisis Response Program, ensuring access to professional help anytime, anywhere in the county.
Key Features and Impact:
24/7 dedicated crisis phone line providing immediate support.
In-person crisis response for individuals in need.
Since 2023, the program has supported over 14,400 people via the phone line and provided in-person crisis support to 2,237 individuals.
Equity: San Francisco Health Network and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
Award: Heart Failure Readmission Rate Reduction
San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) and Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG) launched a heart failure population health initiative leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence within their electronic health record (EHR). The program aimed to reduce heart failure hospitalization and readmission rates, close equity gaps, and retain at-risk pay-for-performance funding.
Key Strategies:
Standardized care with EHR decision support addressing medical and social determinants of health.
Deployed machine learning tools for collaborative heart failure care teams.
Developed a specialized clinic addressing concurrent heart failure and substance use.
Outcomes:
13% reduction in 30-day all-cause readmission rates.
6% decrease in one-year heart failure mortality.
Equity gaps eliminated for Black/African American patients compared to the general heart failure population.
Population Health: Ventura County Health Care Agency
Award: Public Health Care System and Local Health Plan Collaboration Improves Population Health for Medi-Cal Patients
The Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA) partnered with Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) to improve shared quality metrics for Medi-Cal members. This collaboration combined VCHCA’s outreach and clinical services with GCHP’s financial support to maximize impact. VCHCA and GCHP worked together to share more complete quality data, expand clinic services, and enhance access to preventive care.
Key Initiatives and Results:
Provided gift cards to incentivize patients to complete preventive services.
Extended clinic hours to weekends and evenings to reduce barriers to care.
Secured GCHP funding for point-of-care machines (HbA1c, lead, hemoglobin) to streamline diabetes care.
Achieved a 21% increase in well-child visits and closed care gaps for over 5,000 Medi-Cal members in 2023.
“Our Quality Leaders Award winners exemplify the dedication and forward-thinking needed to advance health care across California,” said Erica Murray, President and CEO of CAPH. “Programs like these are essential for driving progress, especially in our underserved communities. Public health systems consistently step forward to find solutions that improve health outcomes for all Californians, making these programs truly impactful.”
QIP PY8 Reporting Manual User Agreement AMA PQA CMS v20241211
End User Agreement
Please review this agreement and click “Accept” at the end of this agreement if you agree to the terms of this agreement. If you do not agree, please click “Cancel”; in this case, you will not be able to access the Reporting Manual.
LICENSE FOR USE OF CURRENT PROCEDURAL TERMINOLOGY, FOURTH EDITION (“CPT®”)
End User Point and Click Agreement: CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2022 American Medical Association (AMA). All Rights Reserved. CPT is a trademark of the AMA.
You, your employees and agents are authorized to use CPT only as contained in the QIP PY8 Reporting Manual solely for your own personal use and only for participating in state governmental healthcare related programs supported by and/or administered by California Health Care Safety Net Institute (SNI). You acknowledge that the “AMA” holds all copyright, trademark and other rights in CPT.
Any use not authorized herein is prohibited, including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, making copies of CPT for resale and/or license, transferring copies of CPT to any party not bound by this agreement, creating any modified or derivative work of CPT, or making any commercial use of CPT. License to use CPT for any use not authorized herein must be obtained through the AMA, CPT Intellectual Property Services, AMA Plaza, 330 Wabash Ave, Suite 39300, Chicago, IL 60611-5885. Applications are available at the AMA Web site (http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt.).
U.S. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
This product includes CPT which is commercial technical data, which was developed exclusively at private expense by the AMA, 330 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The AMA does not agree to license CPT to the Federal Government based on the license in FAR 52.227-14 (Data Rights - General) and DFARS 252.227-7015 (Technical Data - Commercial Items) or any other license provision. The AMA reserves all rights to approve any license with any Federal agency.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES
CPT is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The responsibility for the content of this product is with SNI, and no endorsement by the AMA is intended or implied. The AMA disclaims responsibility for any consequences or liability attributable to or related to any use, non-use, or interpretation of information contained or not contained in this product.
This agreement will terminate upon notice if you violate its terms. The AMA is a third party beneficiary to this agreement.
PHARMACY QUALITY ALLIANCE COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
By agreeing to this policy, user accepts the following limitations of the QIP’s use of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) Opioid measures and code sets: To accurately calculate the measure rates, the PQA value sets are required. User acknowledges that the PQA measures and value sets will only be used for the sole purpose of evaluating and improving opioid use for populations served by Public Health Care Systems (PHS) and District and Municipal Hospitals (DMPH) and will not be used for other purposes. Except for the purpose indicated above, the PQA measures and value sets will not be used for any other commercial product, service or value-added benefit. User also acknowledges that the information and PQA value sets will not be forwarded or provided to anyone outside of SNI, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the PHS or the DMPH.
CMS MEDICAID ADULT AND CHILD CORE SET
License Agreements
Please review the licensing information below and indicate your agreement and acceptance.
LICENSE FOR USE OF PHYSICIANS' CURRENT PROCEDURAL TERMINOLOGY, FOURTH EDITION (CPT)
End User Point and Click Agreement:
CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2021 American Medical Association (AMA). All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the AMA.
You, your employees, and agents are authorized to use CPT only as contained in the following authorized materials of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) internally within your organization within the United States for the sole use by yourself, employees, and agents. Use is limited to use in Medicare, Medicaid or other programs administered by CMS. You agree to take all necessary steps to insure that your employees and agents abide by the terms of this agreement.
Any use not authorized herein is prohibited, including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, making copies of CPT for resale and/or license, transferring copies of CPT to any party not bound by this agreement, creating any modified or derivative work of CPT, or making any commercial use of CPT. License to use CPT for any use not authorized herein must be obtained through the AMA, CPT Intellectual Property Services, AMA Plaza, 330 Wabash Ave., Suite 39300, Chicago, IL 60654. Applications are available at the AMA website, http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt.
Applicable FARS\DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use. This product includes CPT which is commercial technical data and/or computer data bases and/or commercial computer software and/or commercial computer software documentation, as applicable which were developed exclusively at private expense by the AMA, AMA Plaza, 330 Wabash Ave., Suite 39300, Chicago, IL, 60611- 5885. U.S. Government rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose these technical data and/or computer data bases and/or computer software and/or computer software documentation are subject to the limited rights restrictions of DFARS 252.227-7015(b)(2) (November 1995) and/or subject to the restrictions of DFARS 227.7202-1(a) (June 1995) and DFARS 227.7202-3(a) (June 1995), as applicable for U.S. Defense Department procurements and the limited rights restrictions of FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987) and/or subject to the restricted rights provisions of FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987) and FAR 52.227-19 (June 1987), as applicable, and any applicable agency FAR Supplements, for non- Department of Defense Federal procurements.
AMA DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES
CPT is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. AMA warrants that due to the nature of CPT, it does not manipulate or process dates, therefore there is no Year 2000 issue with CPT. AMA disclaims responsibility for any errors in CPT that may arise as a result of CPT being used in conjunction with any software and/or hardware system that is not Year 2000 compliant. No fee schedules, basic unit, relative values or related listings are included in CPT. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The responsibility for the content of this file/product is with CMS and no endorsement by the AMA is intended or implied. The AMA disclaims responsibility for any consequences or liability attributable to or related to any use, non-use, or interpretation of information contained or not contained in this file/product. This Agreement will terminate upon notice if you violate its terms. The AMA is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement.
CMS DISCLAIMER
The scope of this license is determined by the AMA, the copyright holder. Any questions pertaining to the license or use of the CPT should be addressed to the AMA. End Users do not act for or on behalf of the CMS. CMS DISCLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LIABILITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO END USER USE OF THE CPT. CMS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER INACCURACIES IN THE INFORMATION OR MATERIAL CONTAINED ON THIS PAGE. In no event shall CMS be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of such information or material.
LICENSE FOR NATIONAL UNIFORM BILLING COMMITTEE (NUBC)
These materials contain the NUBC Official UB-04 Specifications Manual and data codes (UB-04 Data), which are copyrighted 2022 by the American Hospital Association (AHA), Chicago, IL. Reproduced with permission. No portion of the AHA copyrighted materials may be copied without express written consent of the AHA. AHA copyrighted materials including the UB-04 codes and descriptions may not be removed, copied, or utilized within any software, product, service, solution or derivative work without the written consent of AHA. If an entity wishes to utilize any AHA materials, please contact the AHA at 312-893-6816.
Making copies or utilizing the content of the UB-04 Manual, including codes and/or descriptions, for internal purposes, resale and/or to be used in any product or publication; creating any modified or derivative of the UB-04 Manual and/or codes and descriptions; and/or making any commercial use of the UB-04 Manual or any portion thereof, including the codes and/or descriptions is only authorized with an express license from the AHA.
The license granted herein is expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms and conditions contained in the agreement. By clicking below on the button labeled “Accept” you hereby acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to all terms and conditions set forth in this agreement.
If you do not agree with all terms and conditions set forth herein, click below on the button labeled “Do Not Accept” and exit from this computer screen.
If you are acting on behalf on an organization, you represent that you are authorized to act on behalf of such an organization and that your acceptance of the terms of this agreement creates a legally enforceable obligation of the organization. As used herein, “you” and “your” refer to you and any organization on behalf of which you are acting.
1. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in this agreement, you, your employees, and agents are authorized to use UB-04 Data only as contained in the following authorized materials and solely for internal use by yourself, employees and agents within your organization within the United States and its territories. Use of UB-04 Data is limited to use in programs administered by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). You agree to take all necessary steps to ensure that your employees and agents abide by the terms of this agreement. You acknowledge that the AHA holds all copyright, trademark, and other rights in UB-04 Data. You shall not remove, alter, or obscure any AHA copyright notices or other proprietary rights notices included in the materials.
2. Any use not authorized herein is prohibited, including, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, making copies of UB-04 Data for resale and/or license, transferring copies of UB-04 Data to any party not bound by this agreement, creating any modified or derivative work of UB-04 Data, or making any commercial use of UB-04 Data. License to use UB-04 Data for any use not authorized herein must be obtained through the AHA, 155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 400, Chicago, IL, 60606. Applications are available at the NUBC website, http://www.nubc.org/.
3. The UB-04 Data included in this product is commercial technical data and/or computer databases and/or commercial computer software and/or commercial computer software documentation, as applicable, which was developed exclusively at private expense by the AHA, 155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 400, Chicago, IL, 60606. U.S. Government rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose these technical data and/or computer data bases and/or computer software and/or computer software documentation are subject to the limited rights restrictions of DFARS 252.227-7015(b)(2) (November 1995) and/or subject to the restrictions of DFARS 227.7202-1(a) (June 1995) and DFARS 227.7202-3(a) (June 1995), as applicable for U.S. Department of Defense procurements and the limited rights restrictions of FAR 52.227-14 (December 2007) and FAR 52.227-19 (December 2007), as applicable, and any applicable agency FAR Supplements, for non-Department of Defense Federal procurements.
AHA DISCLAIMER
The AHA hasn’t reviewed and isn’t responsible for the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this material, nor was the AHA or any of its affiliates, involved in the preparation of this material, or the analysis of information provided in the material. The views and/or positions presented in the material do not necessary represent the views of the AHA. CMS and its products and services aren’t endorsed by the AHA or any of its affiliates.
AHA DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES
UB-04 Data is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The sole responsibility for the software, including any UB-04 Data and other content contained therein, is with the Medicare/Medicaid Contractor or the CMS; and no endorsement by the AHA is intended or implied. The AHA expressly disclaims responsibility for any consequences or liability attributable to or related to any use, non-use, or interpretation of information contained or not contained in this file/product. This agreement will terminate upon notice to you if you violate the terms of this agreement. The AHA is a third-party beneficiary to this agreement.
CMS DISCLAIMER
The scope of this license is determined by the AHA, the copyright holder. Any questions pertaining to the license or use of the UB-04 Data should be addressed to the AHA. End users do not act for or on behalf of the CMS. CMS DISCLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LIABILITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO END USE OF THE UB-04 DATA. CMS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY ERRORS, OMMISSIONS OR OTHER INACCURACIES IN THE INFORMATION OR MATERIAL COVERED BY THIS LICENSE. In no event shall CMS be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of such information or material.
Should the foregoing terms and conditions be acceptable to you, please indicate your agreement and acceptance by clicking below on the button labeled “I agree”.
