Monterey County to launch EsperanzaCare 2 pilot July 1 to serve up to 500 people cut off from Medi‑Cal

Monterey County health officials announced a timed pilot program, EsperanzaCare 2, intended to give limited, coordinated care to residents who may lose Medi‑Cal coverage under proposed federal changes in HR 1.

"We're calling this a pilot, and we wanted to work very quickly so we could help those, again, the most vulnerable in our community that have lost coverage," said Dr. Chad Harris, president and CEO of Natividad Medical Center. Elsa Jimenez, director of the Monterey County Health Department, said the pilot, directed by the board, is set to begin July 1 and will provide outpatient primary care services, pharmacy benefits and, through Natividad, specialty and ancillary services to up to 500 people who are not eligible for Medi‑Cal because of documentation status or who face coverage loss.

Program design and purpose: Jimenez said EsperanzaCare 2 builds on earlier efforts (Esperanza 1) and aims to give people a ‘‘medical home’’ to prevent avoidable emergency visits and deteriorating chronic conditions. Services will be coordinated across the county health department, federally qualified health centers and Natividad; Jimenez said county clinics and community health workers will help enrolled people gather and upload documentation for state systems where needed.

Limitations and funding: Officials described EsperanzaCare 2 as a pilot rather than a permanent replacement for Medi‑Cal. Jimenez and Dr. Harris said the program is intended to bridge gaps while county leaders seek state support and urged people to continue pursuing all available coverage options. The county did not provide a detailed budget for the pilot in the briefing; funding sources and scale beyond the stated 500‑person cap were "not specified" in the remarks.

What residents should do: Jimenez advised residents who may be impacted to call their plan’s member services, contact the county health department or dial 211 for help connecting to community‑based organizations and trained community health workers.

Next steps: The county plans to finalize operational details before July 1 and coordinate with community partners and Central California Alliance for Health to identify participants and outreach strategies.