The announcement comes at a time of health care upheaval in both our nation and our state, and signals the University of California's intent to become a leader in health care reform. Proposed cuts in Medicaid and Medi-Cal, coupled with 6.5 million uninsured Californians, underscores the need for leadership in health care access and health care delivery.
"The School of Public Health and the California Program on Access to Care are committed to the goal of making California one of the healthiest states in the nation, with a particular focus on the health needs of our most vulnerable populations," said Shortell.
The collaboration marks a perfect blend of the School of Public Health's teaching, research, and service facility with CPAC's health policy networking, analysis, and technical assistance abilities for state-level decision makers.
"Working together, CPAC and the School of Public Health can pioneer creative innovations for health care expansion in our state, particularly among people who are poor and vulnerable," said Ojeda.
Although the California Program on Access to Care is expanding its role with the School of Public Health, the program will continue to assist the University of California's other nine campuses by maintaining an affiliation with the University of California Office of the President.
CPAC works to expand health care access for the state's most vulnerable populations, including immigrants, agriculture workers, the working poor, and other low-income groups. CPAC's achievements range from revitalizing Healthy Families, a children's low-cost insurance program, to laying the groundwork for a State prescription drug discount plan. During its ten-year history, CPAC has awarded more than $4 million in health care research grants and convened over 50 health care forums, roundtable discussions, and briefings for legislative staffers, executive branch officials, and key stakeholders in order to improve health care access in our state.
The UC Berkeley School of Public Health is consistently ranked among the top 10 public health graduate schools in the United States, and has a rich, 65-year legacy of achievement in helping shape public health policies, strategies, and practices in California and around the world. More than 12,000 School of Public Health faculty, staff, students, and alumni are confronting the major health challenges of our generation, including: improving the health care system, confronting climate change, nurturing lifelong health, protecting people from natural disasters and infectious diseases, promoting global health, and eliminating health inequities.
The collaboration between CPAC and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health will rally the resources of the University of California to promote the best health care policies for all people living and working in our state.
For more information on the California Program on Access to Care: http://cpac.berkeley.edu
For more information on the UC Berkeley School of Public Health: http://sph.berkeley.edu