Millions of low-income Californians are about to have their
prescription drug benefit change on Jan. 1, 2021. Yet, you
probably have not heard much about it.
On his first day in office, Gov. Newsom proposed several bold
initiatives to contain the cost of prescription drug prices,
including “Medi-Cal Rx,” a change in how the state administers
the prescription drug benefit for the nearly 11 million Medi-Cal
enrollees who get their coverage through a health plan.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – September 29, 2020 – Top health professionals on the Central Coast have joined CenCal Health, the local Medi-Cal health plan, in encouraging the public to return to their doctors, clinics and hospitals for vital health care services, especially immunizations, cancer screenings and other preventive care evaluations.
ORANGE, Calif. (September 2, 2020) — Amid the ongoing pandemic, the need for preventive care and vaccinations is unchanged. Yet studies show that many people are postponing routine care that can make a significant difference in overall health. To raise awareness, CalOptima has launched the “Don’t Wait — Vaccinate” campaign, a multipronged effort to ensure members take advantage of no-cost services to stay current with their routine doctor visits and shots.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif – August 10, 2020 – It is
with great sadness that the CenCal Health Board of Directors
recognizes the death of former board member Adam
Hill, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor from the
3rd District.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, July 2, 2020- Inland
Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Health Homes Program Physician Dr.
Tarek Mahdi has leveraged telehealth during COVID-19 to continue
providing integrated care for his patients. By connecting with
his patients through telehealth visits, Dr. Mahdi has been able
to maintain care continuity, providing his patients with access
to both behavioral health and primary care services.
(French Camp, CA) – Health Plan of San Joaquin Chief Medical
Officer Dr. Lakshmi Dhanvanthari, MD, asks all of us to safely
enjoy the 4th, so we all can enjoy many more days to come.
A pediatrician, Dr. Lakshmi prescribes 4 for the 4th,
to COVID-safely celebrate this weekend,
Together/Apart:
(French Camp, CA) – Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) has
announced that Michael Schrader has joined the
organization as chief executive officer. CEO Schrader has
extensive managed care executive experience, including Medicaid
(Medi-Cal in California) and Medicare for Dual Eligible
Individuals (Special Needs Plan – SNP, and Cal MediConnect). He
comes to HPSJ from CalOptima (Orange County, CA), where he served
over seven years as chief executive officer at the publicly
funded health care plan.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 26, 2020 – CenCal Health, the local
Medi-Cal health plan
for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, ranked second in
the Central Coast Best Places to Work list
produced annually by Pacific Coast Business
Times. Determined by an employee survey and other
criteria developed by the business weekly, the full list for 2020
was published Friday.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, May 18, 2020—COVID-19 is
shining a much brighter light on Mental Health Month this May.
Too many communities are struggling with the psychological and
emotional toll this crisis is presenting.
Now, more than ever, it is important to reassure our community
that there are compassionate people and resources available to
help cope with mental health during this crisis and beyond.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Brianna Lierman, CEO of the Local Health
Plans of California (LHPC), which represents 16 of the
not-for-profit local health plans that serve more than 70 percent
of Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care, made the
following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s May Revision
of California’s 2020-2021 budget proposal:
“The threat of COVID-19 hasn’t passed and is only compounded by a
likely surge in unemployed Californians turning to Medi-Cal and
public services as their sole source of health care.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, May 12, 2020—Inland Empire
Health Plan (IEHP) has sourced and donated more than 221,000
units of personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to local
government agencies, medical societies, associations and
hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino counties during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
ORANGE, Calif. (May 8, 2020) — To combat the
spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes, CalOptima’s Board of
Directors committed more than $629,000 in a grant for a new
program that improves infection control training. The Orange
County Nursing Home COVID-19 Prevention Team program is a
collaborative effort by UC Irvine, the Orange County Health Care
Agency (HCA) and CalOptima.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 6, 2020 – CenCal Health is recognizing
National Nurses Day by saluting nurses
within its own agency, as well as those associated with its
network of healthcare providers. CenCal Health is a
community-accountable health plan that partners with over 1,500
local physicians, hospitals and other providers in delivering
patient care to nearly 180,000 members in Santa Barbara and San
Luis Obispo counties.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – April 27, 2020 –
CenCal Health, the
publicly-sponsored health plan for Medi-Cal in Santa Barbara and
San Luis Obispo counties, has procured and is now in the process
of delivering 100,000 disposable face masks, 100,000 disposable
gloves and 20,000 protective gowns in order to protect and
support local healthcare workers during the COVID-19 public
health emergency.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, April 21, 2020 -
Local seniors will have grocery and hygiene products delivered to
their senior living apartments for the next three weeks, thanks
to a collaboration from San Bernardino County, Unidos Por La
Musica (UPLM), and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP).
Participating California senior living apartments include
Bloomington Grove & Lilian Court Senior Apartment Homes in
Bloomington, The Magnolia at 9th Senior Apartments in San
Bernardino, and Jeffrey Court Senior Living Apartments in
Highland.
SANTA BARBARA, CA –April 15, 2020– CenCal Health, the
publicly-sponsored health plan for Medi-Cal in Santa Barbara and
San Luis Obispo counties, is offering alternatives for healthcare
access in order to support its members during the COVID-19
pandemic.
ORANGE, Calif. (April 2, 2020) — Richard
Sanchez, REHS, MPH, the former director of the Orange County
Health Care Agency (HCA), will be interim Chief Executive Officer
of CalOptima, after the Board of Directors approved his
appointment today. Sanchez starts his leadership role on Monday,
April 6. CalOptima provides publicly funded health care coverage
for nearly one in four Orange County residents, with programs for
low-income children, adults, seniors and people with
disabilities.
“This is what we know. We each need to act NOW! Please join us in getting this out to the community to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.” -Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lakshmi Dhanvanthari, Health Plan of San Joaquin
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, March 23, 2020 — Last
Thursday’s statewide “Stay-at-Home” order issued by Governor
Gavin Newsom drives home just how important our actions are
during this unprecedented time. The decisions we make as a
healthcare organization and community can make a difference.
