Community Health Worker (CHW) Billing Hub Integration Panel
On May 1, 2026, the Los Angeles County Community Health Worker/Promotoras/Representatives (CHW/P/R) Consortium and LA Best Babies Network hosted a panel to help organizations bill Medi-Cal for the CHW services that they provide. Moderated by Evette De Luca, Director of the L.A. CHW/P/R Consortium, the session helped community based organizations learn from experts and those who have experience navigating the billing infrastructure for Community Health Worker (CHW) programs across Los Angeles County. (See video recording below.)
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) added CHW services as a Medi-Cal benefit in 2022. CHW services, along with Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, are key components of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative.
The panelists:
- Jessica Rosenbaum, COO, Full Circle Health Network CHW billing hub
- Apryl Avila, Partnerships Lead, Pear Suite CHW billing hub
- Colby Takeda, Co-Founder and CEO, Pear Suite CHW billing hub
- Dr. Thelma Gamboa, Director, El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center
- Dwayne McElwee, Founder and CEO, Rescue-A-Life Foundation
Hub representatives shared insights on the development and operationalization of CHW billing systems, including:
- Managed Care Plans (MCPs) and contract structures
- Technical assistance available to community-based organizations
- Onboarding timelines and key implementation steps
- Priority populations and contracting focus areas
- Fee arrangements and payment structures
Community-based organizations participating in the panel shared real-world experiences implementing CHW billing contracts and working with hub. Topics included:
- Onboarding experiences, including early-stage successes and challenges
- Financial planning considerations such as startup costs and infrastructure investments
- Lessons learned from integrating billing systems into existing CHW programs
- Practical advice for organizations preparing to enter CHW billing partnerships
Speakers emphasized both the complexity and opportunity of building billing capacity, highlighting the importance of strong partnerships and technical support during implementation.
Watch the webinar recording here, and don’t miss the links to related resources below: