How Health Plans Can Support Communities During Natural Disasters

In the wake of natural disasters, organizations such as SCAN Health Plan play a crucial role in supporting community resilience.

Karen Schulte, president of SCAN Health Plan, recently shared insights on how the organization responds to crises, particularly in disaster-prone regions like Southern California—where most of their coverage area lies.

SCAN’s services also reach those who live in other disaster-prone states, including Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.

Schulte expressed that when disasters occur, SCAN takes a holistic approach, considering the needs of members, providers, brokers, employees and the broader community.

“This is one of the things, as you can imagine, when it first hit, there was just a high degree of freneticism, or like, what do we do? What's exactly happening?” she said, referring to the wildfires that wiped out over 37,000 acres of land across Southern California in January after burning for 24 days.

To address this, SCAN set up a command center through their business continuity team, which brought together leadership to coordinate support efforts such as reaching out by phone or going door-to-door to members’ homes.

One immediate priority was assisting those in their institutional special needs plans, particularly those in assisted living communities.

For instance, due to the fires, two communities burned, and 15 others had to be evacuated, she said.

SCAN quickly deployed clinical teams to assist displaced residents and coordinate with local agencies to ensure continued care and access to necessary supplies.

Beyond physical health needs, SCAN also focuses on mental health support during and after disasters.

Schulte highlighted that recognizing and taking care of the needs of first responders is crucial in order to effectively help others.

With that, the organization prioritizes employee well-being while also connecting affected individuals with community resources.

SCAN works to provide information and assistance to those facing uncertainty, such as where to find temporary housing or how to navigate financial challenges after losing a home.

Collaboration with local and state agencies is also a key element of SCAN's disaster response.

Schulte noted that strong partnerships enable an organization to assist in evacuations, provide bedside care and distribute supplies to both members and others affected.

“This is certainly one of those instances where it takes a village, right?” she asked. “And we're very grateful for the strong relationships we have with both local and state agencies."

By prioritizing rapid response, mental health support and collaboration with government and community organizations, SCAN Health Plan demonstrates its commitment to resilience and care in times of crisis.