Orange County has been chosen to participate in a pilot program that takes a deeper approach to caring for the area’s homeless beyond emergency room visits, it was announced Wednesday.
The state Department of Health Care Services approved the county’s application for the Whole Person Care pilot program.
The county will match $2.35 million annually over five years, with some funding coming from the federal government. Officials expect to spend $23.5 million total in the five-year program.
Part of the project will include a coordination of services among the area’s healthcare providers when a transient uses an emergency room for non- urgent medical care. The aim is to help the homeless receive care or other support services from other resources in the area.
“This pilot program will work to reduce emergency room visits by identifying each person’s medical and social service need,” said Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do. “Our goal with this pilot program is to deliver personalized solutions that keep people off the street and out of the ER.”
—City News Service