Kern Health Systems CEO Emily Duran goes over the Medi-Cal health plan's rationale for giving $20 million to local health-care and community organizations.
Kern Health Systems CEO Emily Duran tells Thursday's audience why the Medi-Cal health plan has chosen to divide up $20 million from its reserves.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
CEO Emily Duran and Chairwoman Kristen Watson listen to a speaker at an event hosted Thursday by Kern Health Systems.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
CEO Dr. Olga Meave tells Thursday's audience how Clinica Sierra Vista will use more than $2 million granted to it by Kern Health Systems.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
Medical Officer Dr. Glenn Goldis explains how Kern Medical will use the almost $5 million it is receiving from Kern Health Systems.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
Kern Health Systems CEO Emily Duran goes over the Medi-Cal health plan's rationale for giving $20 million to local health-care and community organizations.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
Scores turned out Thursday for an event announcing how Kern Health Systems has chosen to divide up $20 million from its financial reserves.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
Dozens of local organizations received a share of the $20 million in grants awarded by local health plan Kern Health Systems.
Rod Thornburg / For The Californian
CEO Emily Duran and Chairwoman Kristen Watson listen to a speaker at an event hosted Thursday by Kern Health Systems.
Kern's largest health plan, dipping again into its financial reserves for the sake of local underserved communities, on Thursday came up with $20 million to help address what it sees as the biggest challenges facing the delivery of health care across the county.
Half the money Kern Health Systems announced giving local partners will go toward its top priority of expanding the county's health-care workforce. The rest is being divided among three other pressing concerns, in this order: improving access to care, recruiting and retaining medical professionals, and broadening provision of social services with the help of community organizations.