Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and program under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program, which includes community health worker services.

Existing law defines “community health worker” as a liaison, link, or intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the access and cultural competence of service delivery and who is a frontline health worker either trusted by, or who has a close understanding of, the community served. Existing law includes in the definition of community health worker Promotores, Promotores de Salud, Community Health Representatives, navigators, and other nonlicensed health workers with specified qualifications.

This bill would require the department to, department, by no later than January 1, 2026, 2025, and until December 31, 2026, to convene the Promotores and Promotoras Advisory and Oversight Workgroup to examine the implementation of the community health worker benefit under provide perspective and guidance to changes in the health and human services delivery system, including, but not limited to, the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the director secretary to appoint no fewer than 9 individuals to the workgroup who have at least ten years experience working in California as, or with, Promotores. Promotores or Promotoras. The bill would require the workgroup to be comprised of no less than 51% Promotores, Promotores or Promotoras, as specified, and require the appointees to be from geographically diverse areas of the state. The bill would require the workgroup to advise the department departments under the agency to ensure that community health worker services are available to all eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who want those services, services provided by Promotores or Promotoras are available and accessible to all eligible populations. The bill would also require the workgroup to advise the agency to ensure that community health worker Promotores and Promotoras training and outreach materials are culturally and linguistically appropriate, to make recommendations on outreach efforts, as specified, and to provide input on issues that should be informed by community representatives who have lived experience with using and navigating Promotores or Promotoras services and the Medi-Cal program.