Health Care Provider Workforce Development Initiative

To address the shortages and gaps in the Orange County health care provider workforce, CalOptima Health allocated $50 million over five years toward the Health Care Provider Workforce Development Initiative to increase opportunities for education, training, recruitment and retention of health professionals needed to serve our diverse members. The initiative includes:

Competitive Grant Programs: CalOptima Health will distribute two rounds of competitive grants. The first round will focus on providing funding for educational investments to increase the number of health care professionals. The second round will focus on innovative solutions for training, development, and retention of health care professionals.

Physician Recruitment and Loan Repayment Programs: CalOptima Health will also launch two physician recruitment and loan repayment programs. More information will be provided on the application process and timeline soon.

Stakeholder Collaborative: CalOptima Health will convene an Orange County Health Care Provider Workforce Development Collaborative. More information will be provided on how to participate in the collaborative soon.

CalOptima Health is offering up to $5 million in competitive grants for programs and partnerships that are committed to training, retention, and development of health professionals (non-physician primary care, behavioral health, and allied health) in Orange County that serve Medi-Cal members. This funding will prioritize programs focused on, but not limited to, behavioral health workforce. Orange County health systems, provider organizations, and community-based organizations are eligible to apply for a grant award of up to $1 million per organization. This second round of grants is part of CalOptima Health’s five-year, $50 million Provider Workforce Development Initiative. The grant application will open on Monday, July 15, 2024, and close on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Orange County-based institutions receiving grant awards in the first phase of funding are as follows: