NEW REPORT: GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention and California Children’s Trust Offer Guidance on Medi-Cal Resources for Violence Prevention

Washington DC — Today, GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention and California Children’s Trust released a new report that offers guidance for how violence prevention programs can access funding through Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid healthcare program. Gun violence is a public health issue, yet until recently programs in the state had no clear path for funding through the healthcare system.

On November 30, GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention and the California Children’s Trust will be holding a webinar on the report at 12:30 PM PT. Register for the webinar here.

“Violence prevention programs are critical in the fight to stop gun violence and save lives. We hope that with the help of this guide more people will be able to access this Medi-Cal benefit and receive lifesaving support. We thank California Children’s Trust for their partnership on this project. We also thank Anne Marks, the report’s author, for her hard work and vision. Together we can make a difference in many lives.”

“Violence can be prevented. As someone who has spent most of my career in violence prevention, I was so gratified last year when the State of California decided to address violence like the health issue that it is and pay for critical treatment with Medi-Cal dollars. I wrote this guide to help community violence intervention programs take advantage of this sustainable funding source to prevent firearm injuries, heal trauma and save lives.” 

In 2022, California created a benefit to allow “violence prevention professionals” to bill Medi-Cal for the lifesaving services they offer. This means that many of the direct services already being provided by violence prevention programs—including hospital-based violence intervention, violence-focused street outreach, and violence interruption—can now be covered by the state’s federally-subsidized health insurance program. 

The goal of this report is to help community-based violence prevention programs and the individuals doing this work on the ground better leverage Medi-Cal as an important source  of supplemental funding. The new benefit will be the first time many of these programs are attempting to claim funds through Medi-Cal, and we provide guidance on the opportunities and challenges they may face. By treating gun violence as the public health epidemic it is, we can make an impactful difference in the lives of many.