HCC and RCF Connects Announces Motion to Expand Healthcare Eligibility that Include Contra Costa’s Undocumented Community Members.
Contra Costa County, CA – on April 9th, 2024, the Board of Supervisors voted on #OneContraCostaCoalition and Contra Costa Health’s Healthcare recommendation that will expand eligibility for the remaining uninsured by immediately eliminating the restriction requirement for the county’s Basic Health Care Program. A catalyst for making this happen was Healthy Contra Costa’s #OneContraCostaCoalition. This coalition is made up of local advocacy, community-based, faith-based organizations, and resident leaders– urges the policymakers in Contra Costa County to expand access to comprehensive, quality, and timely healthcare for all CCC residents regardless of income, immigration status, background, gender and/or age.
“Today’s historic action to expand healthcare to more of our hard-working immigrant families makes us a healthier and more equitable County. Our vote reflects our diverse and caring communities,” said Supervisor John Gioia, Contra Costa County District 1.
By eliminating the barrier of documentation status, Contra Costa County recognizes the barriers and challenges undocumented community members face when making just above the Medi-Cal cut-off. With this accomplishment, our county is shifting from an extractive relationship with our undocumented community members to one where they are valued for more than their labor.
Roxanne Carrillo Garza, Senior Director for Healthy Contra Costa stated, “This is an important moment for Contra Costa. After 15 years of exclusion, our immigrant friends, families and communities will no longer have to worry about whether they can access care for their diabetes or other chronic conditions that they suffered through without preventative care or treatment when they most needed it.”
There were many organizational leaders who worked tirelessly on this policy decision, our partners: Hijas del Campo, United Latino Voices, Monument Impact, Ensuring Opportunity, Multi-Faith Action Coalition, CC Immigrant Rights Alliance, ACCE, AAPI Coalition, The Latina Center, Village Community Resource Center, Health Access California, East Contra Costa County Coalition, Aliados, and our three Community Health Centers – La Clinica de la Raza, Brighter Beginnings, and LifeLong Medical Care. We also would like to acknowledge Contra Costa Health staff for creating a space for the community to discuss this policy issue and build an aligned recommendation for the Board to consider.
Healthy Contra Costa looks forward to continuing community collaborations with Contra Costa Health to build upon the current Basic Health Care Program to ensure that it increases access to care. Working at the community level the network of many Contra Costa community-based organizations will continue to provide education to community members, so they know finding a healthcare home is achievable.
For any information on this Board of Supervisors decision, reach out to:
Email: Joanna.gudino@richmondcf.org
Website: https://healthycontracosta.org/
Watch the footage of our success! Video of our presentation to Contra Costa County Supervisors.