Camarillo, Calif. – September 25, 2026 -- Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has awarded $2,087,811 in one-year grants to seven providers and community organizations in Ventura County to help Medi-Cal members retain coverage ahead of new federal eligibility rules taking effect in 2027.
GCHP's RISE program brings cumulative community investment past $13 million
The 2026 round is the second year of GCHP's Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability & Equity (RISE) Grant Program, following $11.3 million distributed across 16 grants in 2025. The program has now invested more than $13 million into local providers and community groups since launch.
Grants target compliance with new work and community engagement mandates
Recipients are tasked with helping members maintain Medi-Cal coverage, avoid administrative disenrollment, complete renewal requirements, and connect to qualifying work, training, education, or community engagement activities required under upcoming federal changes.
Seven organizations selected via competitive review by IHI
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, GCHP's grant management partner, selected: Community Memorial Health System ($386,607) for AI-assisted re-enrollment outreach; Ventura County Health Care Agency ($399,823) for renewal screening embedded in clinic visits; Ventura County Public Health Department ($348,743) to deploy enrollment counselors targeting at least 1,200 unhoused residents; Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project ($334,217) to process at least 350 applications and redeterminations monthly for migrant communities; Conejo Health ($290,197) to support at least 2,200 at-risk members including those with homelessness or substance use disorders; Westminster Free Clinic ($235,950) to serve 1,000 individuals from mixed-status Latino families; and Many Mansions ($92,274) to prevent coverage lapses for roughly 1,350 low-income and formerly unhoused residents.
GCHP leadership frames grants as a defense against coverage loss from confusion
"With Medi-Cal changes rolling out over the next year, we want to ensure our providers and community organizations have the resources they need to help members navigate the upcoming changes," said Dr. Felix Nuñez, GCHP's chief executive officer, adding that the goal is to minimize coverage disruptions for eligible members.
Erik Cho, GCHP's chief of staff and strategy, said the selected organizations already have established relationships with members, creating a support network so no one loses coverage due to lack of information about renewal steps.