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20-670 Have a Plan Ready When Disaster Strikes

Date: 09/10/20

This information applies to Physicians, Participating Physician Groups (PPGs), Hospitals, and Ancillary providers.

For Medi-Cal, this information applies to Kern, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties.

Protect members’ health, manage stress and know your resources

Continue giving high quality care with a disaster preparedness plan when the unexpected happens. It reduces risks to your practice and identifies the resources you need for different types of disasters:

  • Outbreak of communicable diseases, such as COVID-19
  • Natural disasters like floods and earthquakes
  • Economic downturns
  • Human-caused hazards such as accidents, acts of violence or fire

Tailor your plan to fit your practice

The steps below outline what to cover in your plan, how to train staff and where to make improvements. Details about preparing a disaster preparedness plan are available on the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready website and Governor's Office of Emergency Services websites.  For more information, refer to online resources at the end of this update.

Program management

  • Organize, develop and administer your program
  • Identify regulations that establish minimum requirements

Planning

  • Gather information about hazards and assess risks
  • Conduct a business impact analysis
  • Examine ways to prevent hazards and reduce risks

Implementation

Write a plan that includes:

  • Resource management               
  • Emergency response
  • Crisis communications
  • Business continuity
  • Information technology

Testing and exercises

  • Test and evaluate your plan
  • Define different types of exercises
  • Learn how to conduct exercises
  • Use exercise results to evaluate how well the plan works

Program improvement

  • Identify when the plan needs to be reviewed
  • Find ways to evaluate the plan
  • Use the review to make changes

Excessive stress and effects on health

Disasters cause stress which can lead to short and long-term physical and mental health impacts, such as cardiovascular, metabolic, immunologic, and neuropsychiatric risk. To help regulate the stress response, adapt disaster-responsive and trauma-informed principles as part of your usual practice. Common signs of distress can include:

  • Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
  • Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels
  • Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
  • Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
  • Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
  • Worsening of chronic health problems
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drug

Resources for members

In active crisis:
  • CalHOPE Crisis Services – Delivers crisis support for communities impacted by a national disaster. Call (833) 317-HOPE (4673)
  • SAMHSA’S Disaster Distress Helpline – Provides 24/7, 365 days of crisis counseling and support for emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUS to 66746 to speak with someone.
Impacted by disaster or excessive stress:
  • MHN – Refer members who are ready for a mental health evaluation and treatment. Call 1-800-327-4103
  • Case Management – For help or to learn more, refer members to Health Net Behavioral Health Case Management. Call 1-866-801-6294
  • Health Net Community Connect – Use this tool to search online for free or reduced cost local resources like medical care, food, job training, and more based on a ZIP code. Visit the Health Net Aunt Bertha website, enter a ZIP code and click on Search, for more information.
  • Telehealth – Cost-effective and user-friendly when in-person contact is not required.
  • myStrength – Offers online self-care resources that cover a range of topics (i.e., stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and more). Note: If a member needs emergent or routine treatment services, call MHN at 1-800-327-4103. Members can download the myStrength app at Google Play or the Apple Store. Visit the myStrength webisite to join online. Click Sign Up. Complete the myStrength sign-up process with a brief wellness assessment and personal profile.

Online resources

Additional information

Providers are encouraged to access the provider portal online for real-time information, including eligibility verification, claims status, prior authorization status, plan summaries, and more.

If you have questions regarding the information contained in this update, contact the Health Net Medi-Cal Provider Services Center within 60 days at 1-800-675-6110.



Last Updated: 09/21/2020