The CalOptima Board of Directors approved $45.6 million in funding and programs in response to the ongoing pandemic and start of vaccination efforts. The increased support will reach health networks, providers and nursing homes, and offer incentives to members who receive the COVID-19 vaccine once it is available to them. Vaccine distribution will follow a federally approved phased approach that prioritizes high-risk groups first, followed by the general public later in the year.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, January 5, 2021— Inland Empire Health
Plan’s (IEHP) Providers shared their experience with the health
plan in this year’s Provider Satisfaction Survey, issuing the
health plan a 96.6% satisfaction score for the year and placing
it in the 99th percentile for Provider Satisfaction nationwide.
And while the high satisfaction rate is inspiring, the plan is
paying close attention to areas and opportunities to better
support their Providers.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed long-standing health
inequities across the country, with people of color
disproportionately affected – both in the number of cases and
deaths.
ORANGE, Calif. (November 10, 2020) — The
CalOptima Board of Directors appointed Richard Sanchez, REHS,
MPH, as the permanent Chief Executive Officer of the public
agency. He has served in an interim capacity since April. For the
past seven months, Sanchez has guided CalOptima through the
challenges of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, budgeting in a
changing state economy and ensuring ongoing access to quality
care in an environment shifting to telehealth.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, November 6, 2020— Loma
Linda University Children’s Hospital and Inland Empire
Health Plan are teaming up to help expectant
mothers understand the issues surrounding pregnancy during
COVID-19. The hospital and health plan will present a free
webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. via the LLU Children’s
Hospital and IEHP Facebook pages.
(French Camp, CA) – Health Plan of San Joaquin has announced an
expansion of its annual Health Careers Scholarship Program (HCSP)
for promising San Joaquin and Stanislaus county students to help
develop the local healthcare workforce, including future doctors,
nurses and pharmacists.
HPSJ CEO Michael Schrader said, “We believe that during this
pandemic it is even more essential to offer tangible support and
encouragement to nurture this next generation of healthcare
professionals.”
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.
