Pulse - May 2023 - 10

ALIGNCARE
LOS ANGELES
ASSISTS PET
OWNERS FACING
BARRIERS TO
CARE
By Don Vaughan
A
growing number of pet owners
across the United States face barriers
that prevent them from
accessing veterinary care. Financial barriers
are the most common, but others
include a lack of transportation, language
issues, and fear of being judged for their
circumstances.
AlignCare, a program created to improve access to veterinary
care for underserved families, has helped pet owners in
several cities across the United States. Los Angeles, the most
recent city to join the AlignCare program, started assisting
clients in March 2022, reports organizer Jeremy Prupas,
VMD, who is also the Chief Veterinarian for the City of
Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. Six veterinary
practices have signed up to participate in the AlignCare Los
Angeles program.
To access benefits through AlignCare, pet owners must live
in one of eight Southern Los Angeles ZIP codes known to
have a high percentage of pet owners in financial need. Families
are referred to one of AlignCare's four Intervention Group
Partners (IGP) through word of mouth, through referral
from one of the City Shelters, or directly by one of the program's
six Veterinary Service Provider (VSP) hospitals. Both
10
IGPs and VSPs have Human Support Coordinators (HSC),
who are trained to help the family in using the online sign-up
portal, and, once accepted into the program, help the family
make an appointment at one of the VSPs. For those pets that
have not been sterilized, HSPs can also help the family access
the Los Angeles spay/neuter voucher program, as well as assist
the family in getting their pet licensed.
Saving Pets from Shelters
Intervention Group Partners are organizations that have historically
assisted owners so they don't have to relinquish their
pets to a shelter. The main intervention group for AlignCare
Los Angeles is the nonprofit Downtown Dog Rescue, which
has been active since 1996.
" When an animal is seen by a veterinarian, AlignCare directly
pays 80 percent of the cost of services, and the owner is
responsible for 20 percent, " Dr. Prupas explains. " If the owner
can't afford the 20 percent, the intervention groups will help
them raise the money or pay it themselves. But in general, we
expect the pet owner to put in something. "
As of February 2023, 354 Los Angeles families had utilized
the AlignCare program, which provided care for 442
pets (100 cats and 342 dogs). The average cost for that direct
care across all conditions per visit was $369, with AlignCare
contributing an average of $245.
Helping animals get the care they need is at the heart of
the AlignCare program, but it also helps the family's health,
MAY 2023
PULSE

Pulse - May 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pulse - May 2023

Pulse - May 2023
Chapter Meetings & Calendar
President’s Perspective
Pulsepoints
SCVMA Profile
Practical Pathology
Aligncare Los Angeles Assists Pet Owners Facing Barriers to Care
UC Davis Update
Special Section
Tools for Success
Angel Fund
The RVT
Industry Insights
Digital Photography for Veterinarians
AVMA Diplomates
Resources
Disease Table
From the SCVMA Office
Pulse - May 2023 - Pulse - May 2023
Pulse - May 2023 - Cover2
Pulse - May 2023 - 1
Pulse - May 2023 - 2
Pulse - May 2023 - Chapter Meetings & Calendar
Pulse - May 2023 - President’s Perspective
Pulse - May 2023 - Pulsepoints
Pulse - May 2023 - 6
Pulse - May 2023 - 7
Pulse - May 2023 - SCVMA Profile
Pulse - May 2023 - Practical Pathology
Pulse - May 2023 - Aligncare Los Angeles Assists Pet Owners Facing Barriers to Care
Pulse - May 2023 - 11
Pulse - May 2023 - 12
Pulse - May 2023 - UC Davis Update
Pulse - May 2023 - Special Section
Pulse - May 2023 - Tools for Success
Pulse - May 2023 - Angel Fund
Pulse - May 2023 - The RVT
Pulse - May 2023 - Industry Insights
Pulse - May 2023 - Digital Photography for Veterinarians
Pulse - May 2023 - 20
Pulse - May 2023 - 21
Pulse - May 2023 - 22
Pulse - May 2023 - AVMA Diplomates
Pulse - May 2023 - Resources
Pulse - May 2023 - Disease Table
Pulse - May 2023 - 26
Pulse - May 2023 - 27
Pulse - May 2023 - 28
Pulse - May 2023 - 29
Pulse - May 2023 - 30
Pulse - May 2023 - 31
Pulse - May 2023 - 32
Pulse - May 2023 - 33
Pulse - May 2023 - 34
Pulse - May 2023 - 35
Pulse - May 2023 - 36
Pulse - May 2023 - 37
Pulse - May 2023 - 38
Pulse - May 2023 - 39
Pulse - May 2023 - 40
Pulse - May 2023 - 41
Pulse - May 2023 - 42
Pulse - May 2023 - 43
Pulse - May 2023 - From the SCVMA Office
Pulse - May 2023 - Cover3
Pulse - May 2023 - Cover4
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