ANTIOCH – As 116,000 ambulances raced across Contra Costa County in 2024, nearly one in five calls were for non-life-threatening emergencies.

With hopes of reducing the burden on emergency rooms, the Healthcare Literacy Council of Contra Costa County aims to help people better understand their health coverage, especially those on Medicare and Medi-Cal.

Dubbed “Right Care, Right Way,” the council’s new campaign focuses on education to avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and to get the care someone would need in a more affordable and effective manner.

The pilot program, established by Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis, is in collaboration with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, Kaiser Permanente, and Contra Costa Health.

Xon Burris Jr., an assistant fire chief of th

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