NHHA x Anthem: Advancing Community Care in Sacramento
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
At NHHA, we believe that health and housing are inseparable—and that the path to lasting well-being begins with meeting people where they are. That is why we are proud to spotlight the partnerships that support our Community Care Campus Sacramento, where individuals experiencing homelessness can access dignified, healing-centered recuperative care.
Since the Community Care Campus opened in November, these partnerships have translated shared values into real outcomes: stable beds, coordinated care, and a bridge between hospital discharge and long-term health for some of Sacramento’s most vulnerable residents.
Earlier this year, Anthem independently selected NHHA to receive $100,000 in grant funding through Housing & Homeless Incentive Program (HHIP) Funds. These funds were applied to the first phase of the Community Care Campus which ensured 50 beds were online before the winter season, when the need for safe, warm, medically-supported shelter is critical.
Recuperative Care in Sacramento: Bridging the Gap
At NHHA’s Community Care Campus, clients receive short-term medical recovery and behavioral health support in a stable, dignified environment. They are not simply housed—they are connected to coordinated care teams, social services, and pathways to long-term housing. The result is fewer return hospitalizations, stronger health outcomes, and a foundation for lasting self-sufficiency.
In its first six months the Community Care Campus has served nearly 200 individuals in its recuperative care program. Over half of the clients served have been Anthem members, further underscoring Anthem’s impact on the program. The population data tells a compelling story of complexity and need:
52% of the individuals served are over the age of 55
78% have a diagnosed behavioral health condition
91% have a physical health condition
72% have both a behavioral and physical health condition
The urgency to implement this model is already well-documented throughout the nation. The demand for post-acute recovery options far outpaces supply. The data being gathered through this program highlights the need to serve an aging population with increasingly complex health conditions. NHHA’s program helps close that gap, ensuring the community’s most underserved residents receive dignified care.
The Human Impact: One Story of Stability
Twana came to Community Care Campus Sacramento during one of the hardest moments of her life. She has lived with a chronic seizure condition for years — something she manages every single day. When an unexpected displacement from her housing left her in a shelter, a serious seizure landed her in the hospital. While she was there, she was told she couldn't go back. She truly did not know where she would go. "If this program hadn't taken me in, I would have been living on the streets."
At Community Care Campus Sacramento, that changed. Staff who checked in daily and helped her stay consistent with her medication gave her the structure her condition demands. Housing navigation services gave her a concrete path toward permanent, stable housing — replacing the exhausting uncertainty of just trying to survive day to day. And the sense of community she found gave her something she hadn't felt in a long time: that people were genuinely showing up for her. Today, Twana is still there, still working toward her next steps — but now, she has the support, structure, and hope to get there.
"I went from not knowing where I would sleep to being in a place
where I feel supported, stable, and hopeful about my future."
— Twana, Community Care Campus Sacramento Client and Anthem Member
Stories like these are not the exception—they are the measure of what this partnership makes possible.
Anthem’s Voice: A Values-Aligned Partner
Anthem's partnership with NHHA reflects a shared commitment to improving health outcomes by addressing the connection between health and housing. Under the leadership of Les Ybarra, President of Anthem Blue Cross' California Medicaid Health Plan, Anthem continues to invest in community-based solutions that help Medi-Cal members recover with dignity and stability.
That commitment is reflected in Anthem's $100,000 Housing & Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP) grant, which helped bring the Community Care Campus Sacramento's first 50 recuperative care beds online ahead of the winter season. Locally, Noni Plasichuk, Program Manager of Regional Housing Strategy at Anthem Blue Cross, has helped cultivate the partnership, working alongside NHHA to connect members with resources and strengthen collaboration.
During a Spring 2026 visit to the Campus, Les Ybarra, Noni Plasichuk, and NHHA leaders met with members and staff to see firsthand how coordinated medical recovery, housing support, and community partnerships are transforming lives—reinforcing a shared commitment to expanding whole-person care for Sacramento's most vulnerable residents.
“Partnerships like the Community Care Campus demonstrate what's possible when health plans and community organizations come together to address the whole person. Helping individuals recover with dignity while connecting them to the care, housing, and support they need for long-term stability is a shared commitment, and we're proud to partner with NHHA to help make that vision a reality.”
— Les Ybarra, President, Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal Health Plan
Pictured Above (L-R): Brennan Campbell, Director of Business Development, NHHA; Taylor Beckwith, Director of Program Operations, Whole Person Care Clinic; Paul Leon, Chief Executive Officer, NHHA; Les Ybarra, President, CA Medicaid Health Plan at Anthem Blue Cross; Noni Plasichuk, Program Manager – Regional Housing Strategy, CA Medicaid Health Plan at Anthem Blue Cross; Dr. Clayton Chau, Chief Medical Officer, NHHA
Looking Ahead: Building a More Connected System of Care
The work happening at our Community Care Campus Sacramento is a proof point—for what becomes possible when health plans, community-based organizations, and local systems align around shared goals. The next phase of expansion will bring an additional 100 beds online, growing total capacity to 150 before the end of its first year, positioning the program to serve thousands of individuals in the years ahead.
As NHHA continues to grow our Sacramento programs, we remain committed to expanding access, deepening our data-driven approach to whole-person care, and demonstrating what health equity looks like in practice. That progress is possible because of partners like Anthem who are willing to invest not just in reimbursement, but in transformation.
We are grateful for Anthem’s continued partnership and commitment to advancing health equity in Sacramento. Together, we are building a more connected system of care—one that meets people where they are.
The Community Care Campus is just the beginning — as we deepen our roots in Sacramento, we are building a model that proves what whole-person care can look like when the right partners come together.
