Below is a look back at key moments in our history, along with awards and honors that recognize L.A. Care's unwavering commitment to our mission, vision, and values. We look forward to achieving even more for our communities as we elevate health care for all of Los Angeles County.
October 2024
Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero hosted its 41st Anniversary Gala, where it presented its Health Equity Award to John Baackes, the CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan. Carlos Vaquerano, the CEO of the federally qualified health center (FQHC), says Baackes has shown exemplary leadership in the health industry and unwavering commitment to the underserved in Los Angeles. He says support from Baackes and L.A. Care has contributed to the elevation of the clinic’s services in the communities it serves.
October 2024
Meet Each Need with Dignity, or MEND, held its annual Dignity Awards Gala, where it presented L.A. Care Health Plan with its Community Champion award for helping to meet the nutrition needs of tens of thousands of vulnerable residents in the San Fernando Valley.
October 2024
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized the L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers for supporting the local health, behavioral, and social needs of communities throughout L.A. County.
October 2024
Westside Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Culver City, marked 50 years of advancing health equity across Los Angeles with a fundraising birthday celebration at Sony Picture Studios. During the event, the center presented L.A. Care Heath Plan with its Healthcare Hero Award. Westside Family leaders say L.A. Care has played a vital role in the success of the center, which provides care to 13,000 L.A. County residents, from prenatal to seniors, at its Culver City location and at eight satellite and mobile sites.
September 2024
Project Angel Food, a nonprofit that prepares and delivers more than 1.5 million free medically-tailored meals each year to L.A. County residents affected by life-threatening illnesses, held the 2024 Angel Awards Gala on Saturday, September 28. During the celebration, which marked the organization’s 35th anniversary, Project Angel Food honored John Baackes, the CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, with its second annual Sheryl Lee Ralph Legacy Award. The award is given to people who have shown an unwavering and longstanding commitment to Project Angel Food.
September 2024
AltaMed, a nonprofit health care provider that offers medical and dental services to underserved communities in Los Angeles County, celebrated its 55th anniversary with the Noche de Salud y ArteGala (Night of Health and Art). The organization took the opportunity to recognize John Baackes, the CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, as a leader in health care.
September 2024
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, a nonprofit that works to improve student health through access, advocacy, and health and wellness programs, honored John Baackes, the CEO of L.A. Care, with the Visionary Award. The award recognizes an individual whose leadership and innovation have helped advance the well-being of students and communities in Los Angeles County.
September 2024
The Indiana University Maurer School of Law held its annual Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony + Legal Professionalism Panel on Friday, September 13, during which the school honored Augustavia ‘Augie’ Haydel, Esq., General Counsel of L.A. Care. Haydel, who graduated in 1985 from the university’s law school, was among four alumni recognized for their hard work, passion, and accomplishments that define the school’s ideals and who serve as role models for the law school.
August 2024
L.A. Care and Health Net announced a $90 million commitment over five years to ensure people who are experiencing homelessness get the preventive and coordinated, whole-person care they need, in addition to access to specialty care and other medically necessary services. L.A. Care developed two complimentary programs — the L.A. County Field Medicine Program (Field Medicine Program) and the Skid Row Care Collaborative — and in collaboration with Health Net, launched both in July. Together, the programs could assist approximately 85,000 Angelenos.
August 2024
The Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ) hosted its 2024 Health Care Leadership Awards to recognize the accomplishments of individuals and organizations that are making great strides in providing better quality health care in Los Angeles. John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, was awarded the Excellence in Health Care Award for his outstanding leadership of the largest health plan in Los Angeles County since March of 2015.
July 2024
L.A. Care committed $4,732,298 in Incentive Payment Program (IPP) funding to 33 providers and community-based organizations (CBOs), offering Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports as part of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). This is the health plan’s third round of IPP grants, bringing the total commitment since 2022 to $20,599,835. The funding supports technology upgrades, as well as the recruitment, hiring and training of new staff to help providers deliver the CalAIM services.
July 2024
L.A. Care Health Plan announced its seventh group of Elevating the Safety Net medical school scholarship awardees. Eight students from underrepresented communities each received a full-ride medical school scholarship worth nearly $428,000, allowing them to graduate without medical school debt.
July 2024
L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers gave away 18,000 backpacks this summer at their annual Back-to-School events. There were 16 events scheduled across Los Angeles County, which were free and open to the entire community. Nearly 99,000 free backpacks have been given away at annual events since the start of the health plans’ five-year partnership in 2019.
May 2024
The L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Center in East L.A was recognized by the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA (WELA YMCA) for the many ways that it has worked to improve the health and wellness of the community. During the YMCA’s Chairwoman’s Roundtable event on May 15, Iris Gomez, the manager of the Community Resource Center, was presented with a Nurturing Innovative Minds award.
June 2024
The Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ) announced its 2024 LA500, the most influential people in Los Angeles. John Baackes, who has been the CEO of L.A. Care since 2015, is among the top executives named in the LA500. The LABJ recognized Baackes, who recently announced that he is retiring at the end of the year, for his visionary leadership of the largest health plan in Los Angeles County.
May 2024
L.A. Care committed $2.8 million over three years to help healthcare practices adopt and use Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). The HIEs allow healthcare providers to access and securely share a patient’s medical information electronically, which improves the timeliness and quality of care. Health information exchanges (HIEs) are critical for providing better care for individuals and reducing healthcare costs.
April 2024
L.A. Care announced its top solo practitioners, clinics, and medical groups, also known as independent physicians associations (IPA) at its Provider Recognition Awards event. The health plan honored these providers who offer high quality care to L.A. Care members, among the most vulnerable residents in Los Angeles County. L.A. Care also recognized select providers and community-based organizations working to advance health equity in Los Angeles County.
April 2024
Catalina Island has had a full-service hospital since 1960, but the CEO of Catalina Island Health reported in January that the hospital was running out of money and might not be able to stay open past June of this year. Catalina Island Health is the only hospital and primary care clinic on the island. Of the 4,200 residents on the island, 733 are members of L.A. Care. At the urging of the health plan’s CEO, the L.A. Care Board of Governors unanimously approved a $2 million grant to help sustain the hospital until the end of the year.
April 2024
L.A. Care released its 2024 Community Impact Report: Leading the Way to a Healthier L.A, featuring community stories of lives changed thanks to the $509 million spent to address the social needs that impact the health of the communities it serves. L.A. Care and all managed care plans in California will be required to allocate 5 to 7.5 percent of their profits to local community activities that support Medi-Cal members. L.A. Care has been investing in the communities it serves for years.
April 2024
In response to the public health crisis of gun violence, the Los Angeles County Medical Association, L.A. Care and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention collaborated on a digital billboard campaign that emphasizes the importance of gun safety, and promotes the use of gun locks to keep children and youth safe from accidental gun violence inside the home.
March 2024
L.A. Care was awarded a Health Equity Accreditation with a score of 98% by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Health Equity Accreditation gives health care organizations an actionable framework for improving health equity. It focuses on work that builds on an internal culture, which supports the health plan’s external health equity work, all in an effort to identify opportunities to reduce health inequities.
March 2024
L.A. Care partnered with Angel City FC, the National Women’s Soccer League team, to promote healthy lifestyles and youth sports for girls in Los Angeles County. As a health plan committed to health equity, which means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, L.A. Care is pleased to help spread the word about the benefits of girls sports programs and the importance of regular physical activity. In addition to providing health care information at 13 Angel City FC home games, L.A. Care also supported youth soccer skills clinics that were led by Girls Play Los Angeles, an L.A. Department of Recreation & Parks program focused on girls’ sports in under-served communities.
February 2024
L.A. Care announced a group of awards aimed at preventing homelessness and addressing housing equity across L.A. County. The majority of awards are a part of the health plan’s first Housing Equity Initiative, which will commit $3 million for a variety of housing related projects to 12 organizations.
February 2024
L.A. Care again collaborated with the family of the late Leonard Nimoy, the legendary actor of Star Trek™ fame, on a new billboard and social media campaign that encourages vaccination against the coronavirus and the flu. This continuation of the Live Long and Prosper campaign added actor George Takei, a beloved member of the original Star Trek cast.
February 2024
L.A. Care has awarded more than $1.4 million to 10 clinics and providers in its latest round of Provider Recruitment Program (PRP) grants. The health plan awarded grants ranging from $62,500 to $250,000 to five federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and five independent private providers to recruit up to 12 new physicians to work in the Los Angeles County safety net.
November 2023
The Patient Care Foundation of Los Angeles County, which is the charitable arm of the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA), held its 11th Annual Healthcare Awards, and John Baackes, the CEO of L.A. Care, was among the honorees. The awards honor top healthcare leaders, physicians and institutions for their work to improve healthcare in Los Angeles County. Baackes was specifically being recognized for his instrumental role helping to get the first increase in Medi-Cal funding in 25 years.
November 2023
In 2019, L.A. Care Health Plan began addressing the disparate level of philanthropic investments that have long existed in white-led nonprofits compared to those led by Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC). L.A. Care announced its fourth round of Equity & Resilience Initiative grants, which aim to further enhance the impact of BIPOC-led nonprofits in Los Angeles County. The health plan awarded a total of $1.25 million to 12 BIPOC-led organizations that have been working to mitigate the impact of historic oppression and marginalization of their communities.
November 2023
During a weekend celebration of the 25th anniversary of its first free clinic staffed by volunteers, the UMMA Community Clinic presented L.A. Care with its Health Excellence Award. UMMA’s mission is to promote the well-bring of the underserved by providing access to high-quality health care for all, regardless of the individual’s ability to pay. Over the years, L.A. Care has offered critical support to help UMMA achieve that mission.
October 2023
L.A. Care received the Activate 2023 Award for Achieving Health Equity for its texting campaigns aimed at improving prenatal and postpartum outcomes. We were honored for our conversational and tailored campaign that ensured expecting and new mothers gain access to the most valuable health resources and education.
September 2023
L.A. Care won the WebAwards 2023 Health Care Standard of Excellence for its Community Resource Centers website. The website provides valuable information about the twelve Community Resource Centers, which are jointly operated by L.A. Care and its plan partner Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan.
Website Credits:
- UX Designer & Project Manager: Sharon Paras
- Digital Designer: Criss Magana
- Digital Developer: James Hovell
- Digital Writer: Afton Kobayashi
- Digital Specialist: Jeffrey Ramos
- Digital Specialist: Wade Butcher
- Community Resource Center Integrated Engagement Strategies Specialist: Carol Nguyen
- External Relations Manager: Hector Andrade
- Supervisor, Digital Communications: Hannibal Tabu
- Supervisor, Digital Communications: Simon Bliss
- Director, Communications: Misty de Lamare
- Executive Sponsor: Francisco Oaxaca
September 2023
L.A. Care partnered with the Los Angeles Rams for Play 60, the National Football League’s campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day to help reverse rising childhood obesity rates. L.A. Care sponsored three Play 60 events, which were interactive events that promote the importance of healthy lifestyles to children in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
August 2023
People experiencing homelessness often have irregular or no access to health care, which results in more costly chronic conditions. L.A. Care is investing $4,050,000 in a Street Medicine Initiative to expand access and improve the quality of medical care available to unsheltered people where they are and on their terms. Nine organizations offering street medicine each received up to $500,000.
August 2023
Community clinic staffing shortages persist, and there continues to be a lack of diversity in the clinic workforce. L.A. Care announced its latest round of Robert E. Tranquada Safety Net Initiative grants totaling $2,050,000, which will help address the shortage of non-physician certified and licensed professionals in clinics that serve low-income communities of color.
July 2023
L.A. Care announces its sixth group of Elevating the Safety Net medical school scholarship awardees. Eight students from underrepresented communities each receive a full-ride medical school scholarship worth more than $375,000, allowing them to graduate without medical school debt.
Elevating the Safety Net is a $155 million initiative that launched in 2018 to address a growing physician shortage across the country. Since its inception, L.A. Care’s total investment in medical school scholarships is more than $17.6 million. In addition to the scholarships, Elevating the Safety Net offers grants for clinics and practices to recruit new physicians into the safety net clinics and practices that treat these communities. It also offers medical school loan repayment for physicians who commit to working in the safety net for three years.
Thanks to the Elevating the Safety Net initiative, there are 152 newly recruited physicians now working in the L.A. County safety net, and 174 physicians have been awarded loan repayment grants since 2018.
June 2023
L.A. Care Health Plan and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan host a grand opening celebration for the Community Resource Center in Long Beach. The Center, located at 5599 Atlantic Avenue, is one of 12 out of 14 planned centers jointly operated by the health plans throughout Los Angeles County.
June 2023
L.A. Care sponsors the 2023 LA Pride Parade and Festival, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the country, bringing together more than 300,000 Southern California residents. This is L.A. Care’s sixth year as a sponsor of Los Angeles area Pride events.
June 2023
Pregnancy-related mortality rates among Black women are more than three times higher than the rate for White women. L.A. Care committed $1.1 million to benefit nine community-based organizations, policy research agencies, and clinical providers to help close the historic and widening health disparity gap. L.A. Care also launched the Generating African American Infant and Nurturers’ Survival Initiative (GAAINS) last year, with an initial $1 million commitment for eight organizations working toward that end.
May 2023
L.A. Care and Health Net invest $114 million over multiple years to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County. In collaboration with the Los Angeles County CEO Homeless Initiative, the investment increases access to permanent housing to benefit people who need higher levels of care.
March 2023
L.A. Care Health Plan and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan host the grand opening of the Community Resource Center in Norwalk, located at 11721 Rosecrans Ave.
March 2023
People are more likely to have poor oral health in this country if they are low-income, uninsured, or people of color. Many of these people live in what are known as “dental deserts,” areas where there are already a shortage of dentists. L.A. Care has been working to address this problem, and awarded a total of $1.5 million to 15 facilities in its latest round of Oral Health Initiative grants. Since 2003, L.A. Care has awarded $17.85 million for 185 projects that provide oral health infrastructure, education, prevention and treatment services to low-income communities.
February 2023
The Los Angeles County Office of Education, in partnership with L.A. Care, Health Net, their plan partners, and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, makes mental telehealth services available to over one million K-12 public school students at no cost to families through Hazel Health. L.A. Care and Health Net allocate up to $24 million over two years to cover the new service.
January 2023
In May of 2021, L.A. Care and the family of Leonard Nimoy, the legendary actor of Star Trek™ fame, launched a billboard and social media campaign to encourage vaccination and masking. In January 2023, L.A. Care announced the addition of actor LeVar Burton, another member of the Star Trek family who starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
December 2022
L.A. Care commits $14,426,430 in CalAIM Incentive Payment Program (IPP) funding to 64 providers offering Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports. Funding was awarded to providers to help them develop the infrastructure necessary to deliver Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, as well as to allow them to build capacity through technology upgrades and recruitment, hiring and training of new staff.
November 2022
L.A. Care awarded $750,000 to five community-based organizations as part of its Equity and Resilience Initiative. These organizations, which are led by individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), are working to mitigate the impact of historic maltreatment and marginalization of low-income communities of color.
October 2022
L.A. Care launches its new L.A. Care Medicare Plus plan, with enrollment beginning October 15 and coverage beginning January 1, 2023. L.A. Care Medicare Plus, a dual eligible special needs plan (D-SNP), offers complete care that coordinates benefits for members eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits.
September 2022
St. John's Community Health bestows its Champion Award upon John Baackes, the CEO of L.A. Care. St. John's honored Baackes for his leadership of the plan that allows millions of Los Angeles County residents to receive access to quality and affordable health care.
August 2022
L.A. Care receives the Stakeholders Appreciation Award at the Multicultural Health Fair and Children's Appreciation Day, hosted by the Comprehensive Community Health Centers (CCHC). The event capped off National Health Center Week, an annual celebration with a goal of raising awareness about America's health centers.
August 2022
L.A. Care Health Plan was proud to receive the Stakeholders Appreciation Award at the Multicultural Health Fair and Children’s Appreciation Day, which was hosted by the Comprehensive Community Health Centers (CCHC). The event capped off National Health Center Week, an annual celebration with a goal of raising awareness about America’s health centers.
July 2022
The nonprofit SALVA in Palmdale hosted its 6th Anniversary Gala Dinner, which included an awards ceremony honoring community leaders in the Antelope Valley. Among the honorees was Rocio Castellanos, the Manager of the L.A. Care/Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Center in Palmdale. Castellanos was named the Mujer Lider del Año or Woman Leader of the Year.
April 2022
L.A. Care celebrates 25 years of serving Los Angeles County.
March 2022
The Healthcare Innovation team selected L.A. Care as a semifinalist for the 2022 Innovator Awards Program for supporting those who are family caregivers for dual-eligible plan members. L.A. Care's CEO John Baackes has been leading an initiative that is part of a large cluster of initiatives designed to improve the health status of L.A. Care's members. In that regard, nearly four years ago, the L.A. Care leaders established a ten-week training program, with 30-50 students in each cohort, and with classes given in English Spanish, various Chinese dialects, and Russian, to teach basic observation skills, as well as caregiver burnout skills. Over 4,200 have been trained, and have contributed to the improved health status of their loved ones. What's more, Baackes explains, "We're now monitoring the utilization of the healthcare services by the clients, and we're beginning to get a body of data that shows that the utilization prior to the training goes down after the In-Home Support Service Worker goes through the training."
January 2022
The State of California launches California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), a long-term commitment to transform and strengthen Medi-Cal, offering Californians a more equitable, coordinated, and person-centered approach to maximizing their health and life trajectory.
December 2021
L.A. Care joins forces with the Los Angeles Rams in a series of COVID-19 vaccination events in under vaccinated communities.
October 2021
L.A. Care was given the prestigious Golden Eagle Award at the 34th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards, which honors the very best in social service delivery to the County's 10 million residents. The collaboration of Health Services (HSA and Emergency Medical Services Agency), L.A. Care's Dr. Alex Li and Brandon Shelton, Berry Consultants, Chief Executive Office, Public Health, and UCLA Departments of Biostatistics, Mathematics, and Statistics provided data and support in developing the County's models for forecasting resources against demand, such as hospital beds and ventilator capacity.
September 2021
L.A. Care won Best Intranet Website from the Web Marketing Association's 2021 WebAwards. The L.A. Care Intranet, recently underwent a strategic redesign where employee stories and ideas are at the forefront, creating a deeper sense of pride in the health plan and in one another.
June 2021
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded L.A. Care a Distinction in Multicultural Health Care. The award is given out every two years, and this is the fifth time L.A. Care, the largest publicly operated plan in the country, has received the honor for its Medi-Cal, Cal MediConnect and L.A. Care Covered product lines.
June 2021
The American Heart Association Los Angeles (AHA Los Angeles) recognized L.A. Care CEO John Baackes for our commitment to health equity at the Heart of Los Angeles 2021 Heart & Stroke Ball. The annual event raises critical funding to support awareness efforts and cutting-edge research related to cardiovascular health and stroke.
April 2021
The L.A. Care Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Center monthly newsletters are used to share important information with key community partners that work with the resource centers to serve our mutual clients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the newsletters have been instrumental in informing partners about virtual programming and important community events such as free drive-thru food pantries and COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The Community Resource Center newsletters have proven so valuable to community partners over the past year that the project has been named the 2021 Best Health Care Online Newsletter Campaign by the Internet Advertising Competition (IAC).
April 2021
L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise offer free COVID-19 vaccine clinics in high-need areas near their Community Resource Centers to address vaccine equity.
November 2020
Launches campaign to thank all providers for their determination to provide high quality patient care under immeasurable COVID-19 pandemic challenges.
October 2020
Aunt Bertha, the company that operates a search tool to help connect people to much-needed social services, honored Michael Brodsky, MD, the Medical Director for Behavioral Health and Social Services at L.A. Care, with its Community Contribution Award. The award goes to individuals who go above and beyond to improve access to social care resources in their communities.
August 2020
John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care, was named Insurance Executive of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ). The LABJ announced the award at the publication's Health Care Panel and Awards, a virtual event that brought together industry leaders for a panel discussion on a variety of health-related topics.
August 2020
Stands in support of Black Lives Matter. L.A. Care is committed to advancing health equity for our members and their communities.
June 2020
L.A. Care's Online Newsroom received a 2020 Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation. For more than 45 years, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Bronze Anvil Awards have recognized the best of the best in public relations. Our redesigned newsroom saw a more than 1450% increase in page views, and visitor spent 139% more time reading news items.
June 2020
The Web Marketing Association honored the L.A. Care team with 2020 WebAwards in two categories – health care and nonprofit. The website received its highest marks in content, and the team credits exhaustive efforts to understand the taxonomy structure of legacy content on the site and optimize, when possible, for a stronger contextual search. The L.A. Care website also received high marks in design and interactivity. On interactivity, the team evolved toward approaching web design and development with a "mobile first" mentality. Each page experience is calibrated to automatically display seamlessly across every device and platform.
March 2020
COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe. LA. Care immediately swings into action to address member and physician needs, including:
- Hosts blood drive to help with severe blood shortage caused by the pandemic
- Commits Nearly $120 Million to Frontline Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Tackles food security caused by COVID-19 with drive-through food pantry events
- Hosts backpack drive through events at CRCs to distribute school supplies and food
- Leads second COVID-19 Disparities Leadership Summit with health care and community leaders
- Awards $1 Million to organizations serving marginalized communities during COVID-19 pandemic
- Commits nearly $2 Million to increase COVID-19 vaccines in low-income communities of color
- Launches COVID-19 vaccination incentive program
October 2019
L.A. Care Health Plan and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan invest $146 million in Community Resource Center expansion, with a promise to jointly operate 14 locations. Today, we have nine locations with five more to go.
February 2019
Approximately 300 community members took part in free health screenings, arts and crafts and giveaways as part of our February 9th East L.A. Family Resource Center (FRC) grand opening event. Participants toured L.A. Care's newest and sixth frc, which features an 8,344-square-foot facility to house a variety of free exercise classes, support groups and health workshops.
November 2018
The Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) honored L.A. Care with the Innovation Award for Community Service at its annual Los Angeles Healthcare Awards event. L.A. Care was recognized for its physician shortage initiative, Elevating the Safety Net, which focuses on enabling more providers to work in clinics that serve Medi-Cal patients and the uninsured.
November 2018
L.A. Care's Lynwood Family Resource Center hosted a free and fun community event on November 10 to celebrate its grand re-opening in a larger location at 3200 E. Imperial Hwy. The celebration featured dental and hearing screenings, face painting, Folklorico dancers, popcorn, rock climbing and much more for the 400-plus community members in attendance.
October 2018
On October 29, L.A. Care and UCLA signed a three-year contract which will allow our 2.2 million members to receive advanced and highly-specialized care (i.e., tertiary and quaternary care), when deemed medically necessary, at the world-class Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica.
October 2018
MM&M, previously known as Medical Marketing & Media, named L.A. Care's Elevating Healthcare ads as the Best Multicultural Campaign for 2018. L.A. Care's campaign was deemed "uplifting" and was recognized for going beyond language translation with imagery that captured the diverse cultures of Los Angeles County.
September 2018
Augustavia Haydel, L.A. Care's General Counsel, received the Extraordinary and Inspirational Achievement Award from the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA). As part of its 2018 Celebration of Women in Medicine event, LACMA recognized Ms. Haydel for her dedication to diversity and inclusion in health care.
August 2018
Twenty physicians participated in the second session of L.A. Care's Physician Leadership Program. This program increases the leadership and management skills of physicians serving the health care needs of our most vulnerable members – those struggling with homelessness, trauma from incarceration, poverty and mental health issues. The six-month program equips participating physicians with skills and ideas to make meaningful change in practice management.
July 2018
L.A. Care's Pacoima Family Resource Center hosted a back-to-school fair on July 28, providing free school supplies and backpacks to hundreds of community members. Many families brought their kids for free haircuts in preparation for the new school year, and together enjoyed the event's fun activities, including rock wall climbing and face painting. The Palmdale and Boyle Heights Family Resource Centers also held similar back-to-school health fairs the following month.
June 2018
L.A. Care recognized eight medical students with a "white coat ceremony" on June 19, celebrating their selection as the first recipients of our Elevating the Safety Net scholarships. Four students from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and four from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science received full medical school scholarships, with the goal of clearing the enormous debt that may otherwise halt them from working in the Los Angeles County safety net. The scholars were also presented with stethoscopes by young children, symbolizing the nurturing care these new doctors will be giving back to the community.
May 2018
Accompanied by our Communications and Community Relations team, 20 L.A. Care Community Advisory Council members traveled to Sacramento on May 22 for Advocacy Day. The members met with their elected representatives to advocate for Assembly Bill 2965 and Senate Bill 974 to expand Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible adults, regardless of immigration status.
May 2018
The Los Angeles Business Journal 2018 Book of Lists ranked L.A. Care as the largest health plan in Los Angeles County for the third year in a row. We're proud to have more members in L.A. County than any other health plan, and remain dedicated to providing them with high quality health care and critically-needed community resources.
January 2018
A young woman named Ma'Lissa was referred to our Social Services department by a local hospital after a high-risk pregnancy. The mother of twins was struggling with homelessness, but secured permanent housing thanks to the $20 million commitment L.A. Care made to Brilliant Corners back in April 2017.
September 2017
The Achievable Foundation recognized L.A. Care's leadership in health care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the Achievers Award. L.A. Care was honored for its partnership in expanding medical services to patients with developmental disabilities.
July 2017
National Medical Fellowships (NMF) honored L.A. Care for excellence in health care leadership as part of its Champion of Health Awards.
April 2017
Celebrates 20 years of serving Los Angeles County.
March 2017
Reaches two million enrolled Medi-Cal members.
November 2016
CEO John Baackes begins serving on the governing board of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a national trade association dedicated to advancing a patient-focused health care system.
October 2016
Community event sponsored by L.A. Care draws hundreds to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Medi-Cal and L.A. Care's role in bringing better health to the vulnerable populations of L.A. County.
September 2016
The National Human Resources Executive Association named L.A. Care Chief Human Resources Officer, Robert Turner PhD, "The Executive of the Year".
August 2016
Elections held for consumer and community member posts on L.A. Care's Board of Governors.
July 2016
The L.A. Care Connect member portal celebrates one year of providing member access to mobile-friendly, personalized resources, including wellness programs, changing doctors, or seeing their prescription history.
June 2016
National trade association Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) welcomes L.A. Care CEO John Baackes to its Board of Directors.
June 2016
Los Angeles Practice Transformation Network (LAPTN), an innovative project of L.A. Care, helps L.A. County clinicians improve care for diabetes and depression through a $15.8 million grant award over four years.
May 2016
Los Angeles Business Journal ranks L.A. Care as the top-ranked health insurer in L.A. County by enrollment. CEO John Baackes is also named Los Angeles Business Journal "Insurance CEO of the Year."
May 2016
L.A. Care awards Brilliant Corners $200,000 in move-in assistance funds to help transition for 100 homeless individuals, including L.A. Care members, into stable housing.
May 2016
L.A. Care Nurse Academy begins in partnership with Mount St. Mary's University to provide nursing students with onsite care management training and to encourage them to consider a health plan career.
May 2016
L.A. Care Health Plan is the top ranked health insurer with more than 2 million members, which represents a 16% increase in members over a year ago. Based on current membership figures, this makes L.A. Care not only the nation's largest publicly operated health plan, but also L.A. County's largest health insurer.
April 2016
The L.A. Care Community Access Network (L.A. Care CAN) launches in the Antelope Valley. Read more
More than 70 primary care physicians and specialists are directly contracted to improve access to care for Medi-Cal members.
March 2016
L.A. Care Health Plan enrollment reaches two million members in Los Angeles County.
February 2016
L.A. Care extends outreach program in the San Gabriel Valley through the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival in Monterey Park.
January 2016
Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County awards 8-month extension to L.A. Care's HITEC-LA for continuing work with improving patient care quality through technology in partnership with the L.A. Regional Health Center Controlled Network.
January 2016
L.A. County Board of Supervisors Hilda Solis joins the L.A. Care Board of Governors.
December 2015
Total membership across all L.A. Care product lines surpasses 1.9 million in Los Angeles County.
December 2015
Inside Healthcare features L.A. Care and CEO John Baackes.
November 2015
Total membership across all L.A. Care product lines surpasses 1.8 million in Los Angeles County.
November 2015
L.A. Care honored by L.A. County and White Memorial Hospital's Charitable Foundation for providing $100,000 grant funds to help continue care for those displaced by the closing of Martin Luther King Hospital.
November 2015
DHCS awards $10 million contract to L.A. Care to provide Electronic Health Record (EHR) technical support to L.A. County Medi-Cal providers.
October 2015
L.A. Care is the presenting sponsor for the fourth consecutive year of the 4-day Care Harbor/LA free clinic that provides no-cost medical, dental and vision care for Los Angeles' uninsured, underinsured and underserved populations.
October 2015
L.A. Care's Family Resource Center in Pacoima hosts first "Beautiful Minds of the San Fernando Valley" event to heighten awareness about behavioral health.
October 2015
New Member Reception Center opens to provide additional customer service to members at L.A. Care's Downtown Los Angeles headquarters.
September 2015
L.A. Care receives Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative Award of $15.8 million over four years.
September 2015
CEO John Baackes announces L.A. Care's new organizational priorities for 2016-18.
August 2015
New advertising campaign begins for L.A. Care's Family Resource Centers in Los Angeles County.
August 2015
L.A. Care's Board of Governors elects new officers: Mark Gamble, chair; Louise McCarthy, vice chair; Michael Rembus, treasurer; Alex Li, M.D., secretary.
August 2015
Northeast Valley Health Corporation opens new Adult Wellness Center in San Fernando with aid of L.A. Care $300,000 grant from L.A. Care's Community Health Investment Fund (CHIF).
July 2015
L.A. Care launches new online member portal for direct Medi-Cal and L.A. Care Covered members and achieves NCQA communications standards for providing hands-on access to information and health care services.
June 2015
L.A. Care's Behavioral Health department hosts first LGBTQ conference for L.A. County physicians to increase their understanding and customer service for their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual or questioning patients.
May 2015
L.A. Care earns NCQA Distinction in Multicultural Health Care.
May 2015
Total membership across all L.A. Care product lines surpasses 1.7 million in Los Angeles County.
April 2015
Extension award allows HITEC LA to continue EHR support for L.A. County's health care providers.
April 2015
L.A. Care becomes first ACA health plan to offer a cash payment option.
March 2015
New CEO John Baackes relocates from Philadelphia to helm the nation's largest public health agency.
March 2015
Enrollment in L.A. Care's Cal MediConnect, the duals demonstration pilot, reaches nearly 16,000.
February 2015
Howard Kahn bids farewell after 13 years as Chief Executive Officer. His successor, John Baackes, is to begin his tenure in late March.
January 2015
Passive enrollment begins for L.A. Care's Cal MediConnect program for elderly and vulnerable members.
January 2015
L.A. Care's total membership across all product lines surpasses 1.6 million in Los Angeles County.
January 2015
L.A. Care teams up with the American Cancer Society to bring L.A. Care's members vital cervical cancer prevention and early detection messages to help prevent cancer or detect it early when it's most treatable.
November 2014
County Supervisor Michael Antonovich joins L.A. Care's Board of Governors. Antonovich replaces the Honorable Gloria Molina who served on the board for four years.
November 2014
- The fourth L.A. Care Family Resource Center opens in Pacoima offering free and culturally-focused health education resources and programs designed to promote overall wellness and healthy living.
October 2014
Annual Medicare Star Ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services show that L.A. Care has improved its Medicare Part D Star Rating and can begin accepting passive enrollment into the Cal MediConnect program starting January 2015. To fully participate in the program, L.A. Care will close its Medicare D-SNP product line on December 31, 2014.
October 2014
L.A. Care's 13-member Board of Governors welcomes new member Hector De La Torre, who represents stakeholders with health plan/health insurance expertise. De La Torre is the first Board member to be nominated by the Board for consideration by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
September 2014
The L.A. Care-funded and managed telehealth program eConsult surpasses 150,000 electronic consultations between primary care providers and specialists, resulting in faster, more convenient and cost-effective treatments for low-income and vulnerable residents throughout L.A. County.
September 2014
A $200,000 grant is awarded by L.A. Care to the Corporation for Supportive Housing to provide intensive case management services to the plan's estimated 20,000 homeless members in an effort to reduce re-hospitalization.
August 2014
With L.A. Care as the presenting sponsor, the massive 4-day Care Harbor/LA free clinic event provides no-cost medical, dental and vision care for Los Angeles' uninsured, underinsured and underserved population.
August 2014
Cedars-Sinai Hospital signs agreement to provide medical and provider services to L.A. Care's dual eligible Cal MediConnect members.
July 2014
Healthcare Partners signs an agreement with L.A. Care to provide medical and physician services for its dual eligible Cal MediConnect members in Los Angeles County and to also work with L.A. Care to provide long term services and support resources and behavioral health needs.
July 2014
The Healthcare Marketing Report and Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Association present Golden Advocate advertising excellence awards for L.A. Care's multicultural marketing campaign promoting the new L.A. Care Covered™ product line.
July 2014
L.A. Care awards 14 oral health initiative grants to support and expand safety net dental services for low-income residents.
July 2014
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) bestows Three-Year Accreditation on L.A. Care in recognition of its exemplary care.
June 2014
L.A. Care partners with DPS Health to offer an evidence-based weight loss and member engagement program to help overweight and obese members improve their health.
June 2014
Physician payments from L.A. Care increase to Medicare reimbursement levels for eligible primary care providers in its Medi-Cal network for 2013 and 2014 that is expected to total more than $400 million over two years.
June 2014
L.A. Care receives grant from the Blue Shield of California Foundation as the lead agency in a collaborative designed to improve system-level integration of primary care, substance abuse and behavioral health care services for Med-Cal recipients and otherwise unserved or underserved residents of Los Angeles County.
May 2014
Blue Shield of California awards $200,000 grant to L.A. Care for further development of eConsult to improve patient access to specialty care.
April 2014
L.A. Care launches L.A. Care Cal MediConnect (CMC), a product line for dual Medicare and Medi-Cal. Read more
The plan's goal is to improve continuity of member care and health outcomes, and maximize their ability to remain in their homes and in their community. Currently, the health plan serves nearly 14,000 CMC members.
April 2014
The L.A. Care funded and managed telehealth program eConsult surpasses 100,000 electronic consultations between primary care providers and specialists, resulting in a faster, more convenient and cost-effective treatment.
March 2014
L.A. Care successfully passes the federal readiness review for Cal MediConnect participation and prepares to accept dual eligible members who choose L.A. Care beginning July 1, 2014, with passive enrollment to begin January 1, 2015.
March 2014
L.A. Care opens its third Family Resource Center at The Wellness Center at the Historic General Hospital in Boyle Heights and begins offering free health education and exercise classes as well as health care reform information in April.
February 2014
CEO Howard Kahn announces his planned departure in early 2015 after 13 years at the helm of America's largest publicly operated health plan.
February 2014
First L.A. Care Medi-Cal "Blue Button" members receive access to their personal prescription information online.
January 2014
L.A. Care welcomes 180,000 new Affordable Care Act members through the expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility and launch of L.A. Care Covered™ under the state's Covered California Marketplace.
January 2014
L.A. Care signs a 3-way contract with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in Cal MediConnect, a pilot program for dual Medicare and Medi-Cal eligible beneficiaries to improve continuity of their care and health outcomes, and maximize their ability to remain in their homes and in their community.
December 2013
L.A. Care launches Spanish language website www.lacarecovered.org/es to assist Angelenos with L.A. Care Covered™ information and enrollment.
November 2013
L.A. Care funded and managed telehealth program eConsult surpasses 50,000 electronic consultations between primary care providers and specialists, enabling patients to receive the right treatment at the best place in the shortest time.
November 2013
U.C. Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement awards $400,000 to L.A. Care to develop Blue Button functionality to give patients access to their own prescription data online.
October 2013
Launches L.A. Care Covered™, the plan's first commercial health plan. Read more
The new product line is part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Currently, the health plan serves more than 24,000 L.A. Care Covered members.
September 2013
"Obamacare 101" workshops begin in L.A. County to educate staff at community clinics and community-based organizations about Affordable Care Act transitions, including the state's marketplace, Covered California and the expansion of Medi-Cal, so that they may further educate others about new health care coverage opportunities.
July 2013
L.A. Care announces payouts of $3.7 million in health IT incentives to over 1,400 eligible L.A. County safety net primary care providers to help them reach meaningful use with certified electronic health records and improve patient care.
May 2013
L.A. Care is selected for participation in the new insurance marketplace Covered California Heath Benefit Exchange offering L.A. Care's first commercial health insurance product to uninsured or underinsured consumers. The plan is named L.A. Care Covered™.
May 2013
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awards L.A. Care the Multicultural Health Care Distinction (MHC) designation for its sensitivity to delivering health care that pays attention to members' culture, ethnicity or language.
April 2013
Medical Nutrition Therapy is offered as an intervention to L.A. Care direct line of business members with chronic conditions over the telephone with a registered dietitian (RD) who can counsel in English and Spanish. Referred members receive a one-hour consultation and typically three follow-up consultations.
March 2013
On March 1, approximately 15,000 L.A. Care active Healthy Families (LAHF) members successfully transitioned to Medi-Cal (MCLA) as part of the State Legislature's budget-savings closure of the Healthy Families program.
March 2013
L.A. Care's HITEC-LA reaches 50% of its goal of assisting 3,000 eligible primary care physicians in Los Angeles County to reach meaningful use with certified electronic health records (EHR) systems.
February 2013
L.A. Care's eConsult program shows a 56% decrease in required face-to-face visits with a specialist; 36% of patients were taken care of by primary care doctors with specialists' support; and 8% were helped through redirected Web-based consults.
January 2013
Alexandria House, a residence providing housing for women and children in transition, thanks L.A. Care employees for their generosity during the holidays through the L.A. Care Giving Back program.
December 2012
L.A. Care announces new members on the stakeholder Board of Governors (BoG). New Board members include Alex Li, M.D., CEO of Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Ambulatory Care Network, will represent the County; Sheryl Spiller, head of the Department of Public Social Services will also represent the County; Jann Hamilton Lee, MHA, President and Chief Executive Officer for South Bay Family Health Care will represent the Federally Qualified Health Centers; Hilda Perez, health promoter and member and former chair of the Regional Community Advisory Committee and the Executive Community Advisory Committee will represent consumers and Ozzie Lopez, Executive Director of Los Angeles Youth Opportunity Movement Boyle Heights will represent consumers too on the BoG.
December 2012
L.A. Care's eConsult program receives a $200,000 grant from the Blue Shield of California Foundation to support eConsult operations and activities in 2013.
October 2012
Gertrude "Trudi" Carter, M.D., accepts the position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at L.A. Care. Dr. Carter joins L.A. Care from her previous position of CMO at CalOptima.
September 2012
As the presenting sponsor, L.A. Care supports the massive free health clinic, Care Harbor. Read more
Then on its fourth event, Care Harbor (formerly CareNow) expands its mission to offer follow-up care to the uninsured population of Los Angeles County and provided extensive preventive care education and resources for all who attended.
August 2012
L.A. Care announces that its eConsult platform, an electronic primary care-to-specialist consultation and referral system, has successfully launched and completed its first patient consults for dermatology and neurology specialties.
July 2012
L.A. Cares About Asthma® program receives 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
June 2012
In partnership with the California Long-Term Care Education Center, L.A. Care Health Plan, SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW), Shirley Ware Education Center (SEIU-UHW), Health Plan of San Mateo, Contra Costa County Department of Aging and Health Services, and the UCSF Center for Health Professions, are selected by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to receive a Health Care Innovation Award. The project will train In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), personal and home care attendants (PHCAs) to assume key roles in the patient's health, including health monitor, coach and communicator, navigator, and care aide.
May 2012
L.A. Care is selected to receive the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management for its exemplary efforts to deliver high-quality asthma care that includes environmental controls.
April 2012
L.A. County Board of Supervisors honors L.A. Care Health Plan for 15 years of providing health coverage to low-income and vulnerable populations in Los Angeles County.
April 2012
The State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announces that Los Angeles County was chosen as one of four sites for an integrated care initiative for individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal. L.A. Care is selected as one of two health plans in the county who will participate in the new pilot program.
February 2012
Launches Homecare Workers Health Care Plan (PASC- SEIU Plan). Currently serves more than 48,000 members.
January 2012
Reaches one million members enrolled across all product lines.
September 2011
L.A. Care's Oral Health Initiative awards $635,000 to 16 L.A. County safety net clinics to provide diagnostic, preventive and treatment services, state-of-the-art dental equipment, a mobile dental clinic and software systems.
August 2011
L.A. Care announces an investment of $1.5 million to implement an innovative eConsult system, an electronic physician-to-specialist consultation and referral system, at approximately 47 L.A. County safety net sites, including Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) health care facilities. Louise McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC), joins the Board of Governors, serving until late 2014.
June 2011
L.A. Care starts enrolling seniors and people with disabilities (SPDs) into Medi-Cal as a result of the 1115 Waiver.
May 2011
The Partners in Care Foundation awarded L.A. Care CEO its Mathies award for his significant contributions to providing quality access to health care for low-income families and helping transform the health care system in Los Angeles County.
May 2011
CEO Howard Kahn is honored by the Partners in Care Foundation for his significant contributions to providing access to quality health care for low-income families and helping transform the health care system in Los Angeles County.
March 2011
L.A. Care announces Walter Zelman, Ph.D professor, and chair of the Department of Health Science at California State University, Los Angeles, the new chair of L.A. Care's Board of Governors for a one-year term. L.A. Care allocates $2 million through its Health I.T. Incentive Program to assist community clinics and physicians in high-membership solo and small group practices implement Electronic Health Records (EHRs) certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
February 2011
County Supervisor Gloria Molina joins L.A. Care's Board of Governors. Molina replaces the Honorable Don Knabe who served on the board for 10 years. L.A. Care's Board of Governors approves $210,000 in funding to support the South Bay Children's Health Center's (SBCHC) dental program in its new dental clinic in Lawndale. This start-up dental clinic will add four new dental operating rooms and provide 30 hours per week of pediatric dental services.
December 2010
L.A. Care's Board of Governors elects Dr. Walter Zelman, Chair of the Department of Health Science at California State University, Los Angeles, as Board Chair; Dr. Thomas Horowitz, osteopathic physician at Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Vincent Medical Center, as Vice Chair; Philip Browning, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, as Treasurer; and member advocate, Mario Ramos, as Secretary.
November 2010
The federal government approves the Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver for California, which brings the state $10 billion in federal Medicaid support over the next five years. The waiver allows California to enroll seniors and people with disabilities (SPDs) into Medi-Cal managed care. L.A. Care grants $572,000 to help continue interpretation services through the Video Medical Interpretation (VMI) system at four Los Angeles County hospitals. L.A. Care and L.A. County Department of Public Health partner to bring a free flu clinic to the Inglewood Family Resource Center. The state increases L.A. Care's Auto-Assignment Rate from 69% to 73% for 2011. The auto-assignment rate determines how Medi-Cal members who don't choose a health plan are distributed between L.A. Care and Health Net. As a part of L.A. Care's Giving Back Program, employees hold a second Casual Week Fundraiser to purchase educational toys and holiday gift bags for 400 preschool through 1st grade children attending Rosemont Early Education Center and Lake Street Primary School.
October 2010
NCQA awards L.A. Care its highest Accreditation status of "Excellent." Read more
The accreditation is given for ensuring that our members receive high quality health care.
September 2010
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded L.A. Care an Accreditation status of "Excellent." L.A. Care's Accreditation status, the highest possible level, recognizes the high quality care received by L.A. Care's members.
September 2010
L.A. Care celebrates the grand opening of the Antelope Valley Community Clinic's Community Health and Wellness Center. In 2008, L.A. Care awarded $500,000 to help build the new nonprofit clinic in Lancaster. L.A. Care awards $210,000 in funding to support the South Bay Children's Health Center's dental program at its new dental clinic in Lawndale. Howard Kahn, as CEO of L.A. Care and member of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) Executive Committee, presents the "2010 Congressional Health Leader" award to Congressman Henry A. Waxman on behalf of the association in recognition of his leadership in expanding health coverage, strengthening public health programs, and preserving the role of safety net health plans. During FY 2010, L.A. Care's Pay-For-Performance Program awards more than $25 million in performance-based incentives to eligible members of its provider network of more than 15,000 physicians, hospitals, clinics, medical groups and plan partners, making L.A. Care a leader among Medi-Cal plans. L.A. Care's Community Health Investment Fund (CHIF) awards nearly $4.15 million to strengthen the safety net, improve community and public health and expand health insurance coverage during FY 2010. L.A. Care's Community Health Improvement Project (CHIP), a grassroots health education effort conducted by the Regional Community Advisory Committee members, successfully reached out to more than 37,000 Los Angeles community members during FY 2010, focusing on the importance of prenatal care, cancer screenings and well-child visits for adolescents.
August 2010
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) Rewards and Recognition Program awarded L.A. Care with the "2010 Community Partner Award." Along with DHS, the Office of Diversity & Cultural Competency, and the Diversity Operations Council/LEP Administrators recognized L.A. Care's ongoing support in helping build the DHS' Cultural and Linguistic (C/L) infrastructure to provide services to vulnerable populations in Los Angeles County.
August 2010
Dr. Elaine Batchlor, Chief Medical Officer at L.A. Care, is nominated to the board of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital. Through its Health Information Technology (HIT) Initiative, L.A. Care grants $529,000 to support five L.A. County community clinics' HIT projects. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services' Office of Diversity & Cultural Competency awards L.A. Care with the "2010 Community Partner Award" for L.A. Care's ongoing support in helping build DHS' Cultural and Linguistic infrastructure.
July 2010
Mary Franz, former Chief Operating Officer at Connecture, joins L.A. Care as the new Executive Director of HITEC-LA. L.A. Care awards $153,000 to the Western Health Information Network (WHIN), formerly known as Long Beach Network for Health, to help connect a minimum of 10 L.A. County community clinics to an existing WHIN health information exchange (HIE) network. L.A. Care celebrates the 1st anniversary of its Inglewood Family Resource Center with an Island Style anniversary event, where Adai Lamar, KJLH radio host, participates as the hostess. The celebration includes free food, goody bags, raffles, health screenings, craft activities, and children's face painting.
June 2010
Due in part to L.A. Care's media outreach and grassroots efforts, the parents of over 15,000 Healthy Kids children ages 6 – 18 elect to keep their children in the health insurance program.
May 2010
The UCLA School of Public Health's Health Services Alumni Association (HSAA) honored Howard Kahn at its 2010 Leader of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow annual dinner. The award recognized Howard's commitment to working with diverse communities, his ability to bridge the public and private sections, and his leadership in overseeing the nation's largest publicly governed managed care organization.
May 2010
L.A. Care awards $795,000 to five community clinics as part of L.A. Care's Robert E. Tranquada, M.D., Safety Net Awards for infrastructure improvement projects. UCLA Health Services Alumni Association honors Howard Kahn as a "2010 Leader of Today" at its Leaders of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow annual dinner for Kahn's outstanding leadership in public health. L.A. Care saves the Healthy Kids program by awarding $9.01 million in funding to continue offering health coverage at low cost to existing members ages 6 – 18 enrolled in the program. Healthy Kids parents are urged to send back their response forms agreeing to pay an increased premium of $15 per child. The Healthy Kids 0-5 program remains intact thanks to continued funding from First 5 LA. L.A. Care enrolls more than 1,000 new members in L.A. Care's Medicare Advantage HMO SNP.
April 2010
L.A. Care receives $15.6 million in federal funding to establish a Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center called HITEC-LA. Read more
The program is intended to help doctors in L.A. County adopt and use Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in a meaningful way.
March 2010
L.A. Care awards $500,000 to Los Angeles County to jumpstart the planning process to help reopen the Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital. Altamed Health Services honors Howard Kahn with the "Visionary Award" at its 2010 Policy Forum and Odyssey Gala. The award recognized Kahn's dedication as a partner with AltaMed in providing quality health care to underserved communities throughout Greater Los Angeles. President Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act bill, the new health care reform law. L.A. Care begins preparing to serve newly qualifying Medicaid members and starts a planning process to participate in the national health insurance exchange in 2014.
February 2010
L.A. Care celebrates National Cancer Prevention Month with author and radio personality MOTHER LOVE in A Morning of "Me" Time at the Inglewood Family Resource Center.
January 2010
L.A. Care and L.A. County Department of Public Health join efforts to bring a free H1N1 vaccine clinic to the Lynwood Family Resource Center.
December 2009
L.A. Care's Auto-Assignment Rate increases from 58% to 69% for 2010. The auto-assignment rate determines how Medi-Cal members who don't choose a health plan are split between L.A. Care and Health Net. Instead of a holiday party, L.A. Care's employees adopt 9th Street Elementary School, located in downtown Los Angeles, and provide the entire student body of nearly 400 children backpacks filled with school supplies.
November 2009
L.A. Care launches thePULSE, a quarterly e-newsletter designed to give our providers timely updates on L.A. Care operations, such as new co-pay information, new claims codes, or incentive information. L.A. Care launches an e-consult pilot program to increase both collaboration between primary care physicians and specialists regarding a patient's care and the speed with which a patient's care is delivered. The Board of Governors re-elects its officers, Dr. Thomas Klitzner as Chair, Dr. Walter Zelman as Vice Chair, Mario Ramos as Treasurer and Supervisor Don Knabe as Secretary for the year 2010. L.A. Care celebrates the 2nd anniversary of its Lynwood Family Resource Center, which received more than 2,000 visits in October. L.A. Care enrolls more than 500 members in the newly re-named L.A. Care Health Plan Medicare Advantage HMO. L.A. Care reaches over 100,000 members in its four direct lines of business.
November 2009 – APHA's 137th Annual Meeting and Exposition
The American Public Health Association's (APHA) 137th Annual Meeting and Exposition accepted four of L.A. Care's innovative practices to be presented at their international convention. The innovative programs included those that provided access to quality health care for the health plan's members and support health care providers who serve these patients.
October 2009 – KHEIR Leadership Award
KHEIR Center honored L.A. Care with a "Leadership Award" for its contributions in the area of public health at the "Increasing Access to Health Care: Faces of Cancer" dinner.
October 2009
L.A. Care's Communications and Marketing department won 3 PRism Awards and 4 Awards of Excellence certificates from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Los Angeles Chapter. PRism Awards recognized L.A. Care's website, logo, and a media tour campaign. Awards of Excellence acknowledged L.A. Care's projects such as the multicultural communications program, the 10-year anniversary report, and the co-marketing creative materials.
October 2009
The Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities (LACCOD) awarded L.A. Care with an L.A. County Disability Access Award. The L.A.C.O.D. honored L.A. Care for its Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD) Initiative, which invested $1.5 million to improve physical access to care, provide health education and conduct community outreach.
October 2009
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded L.A. Care the prestigious "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award." NCQA recognized L.A. Care's Health Disparities Improvement Project, intended to overcome cultural and language barriers for African-Americans and Latina women by providing access to health care services.
October 2009
L.A. Care celebrates Women's Health Month with A Morning of "Me" Time event held at the Lynwood Family Resource Center to raise awareness of the many health issues facing women and provide them with free health screenings and other free services. L.A. Care receives the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Multicultural Health Care Award for its Health Disparities Improvement Project, which overcomes cultural and language barriers for African-American and Latina women by providing access to health care services that meet their unique needs. The Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities honors L.A. Care for investing $1.5 million through its Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD) Initiative and for other SPD-related activities that improve access to care for seniors and people with disabilities in Los Angeles County.
September 2009
L.A. Care's Robert E. Tranquada Safety Net Awards grant more than $345,000 to seven community clinics throughout Los Angeles County to help them assess and plan projects that strengthen their long-term infrastructure. L.A. Care's Oral Health Initiative awards more than $679,000 to 10 community clinics and health care organizations to provide dental services for adults, including people with disabilities, who lost their dental benefits due to the State of California cutbacks.
August 2009
L.A. Care volunteers, and is a major sponsor of the Remote Area Medical (RAM) health expedition, which provided 14,561 free patient services to over 6,000 men, women and children in need, for a total value of care exceeding $2.8 million.
July 2009
America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Foundation awarded L.A. Care the 2009 Community Leadership Award. This prestigious award recognized L.A. Care's Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD) Initiative for investing $1.5 million to improve physical access to care, provide health education, and conduct community outreach.
June 2009
As part of a $567,050 grant made to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, L.A. Care participates in the largest in-person giveaway of nicotine patches and gum ever in California available at participating Ralphs grocery stores. Howard Kahn testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce's Subcommittee on Health on the public plan option for health care reform. The Regional Community Advisory Committees (RCACs) enrolls more than 300 members.
May 2009
L.A. Care, along with the State of California, the Medi-Cal Managed Care Division and 22 other contracted health plans, launch a Health Education Campaign to reduce the number of Medi-Cal Managed Care members who use the Emergency Room (ER) for avoidable visits.
April 2009
L.A. Care holds a mini Walk-A-Thon at the Family Resource Center in Lynwood to fight childhood obesity and encourage physical activity among 4th and 5th grade students, teachers and parents from the Compton Unified School District. Partners include the Network for a Healthy California, the Children's Power Play! Campaign, the KID HEALTHY—Steps for a Healthy Living Campaign, the YMCA of Orange County and ABC 7.
January 2009
L.A. Care becomes the content source of a weekly health segment on Telemundo Channel 52's midday newscast. Over the next ten months, L.A. Care addresses 26 community-wide health issues, features 20 Spanish-speaking network providers and partners and increases visibility of L.A. Care.
December 2008
Jim Mangia, President and CEO of St. John's Well Child and Family Center, joins L.A. Care's Board of Governors.
November 2008
Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC) held its 35th Anniversary "Let the Sun Shine In" Gala and Silent Auction where they honored L.A. Care with their 2008 "Health Partner" Award for the health plan's continued support and contributions.
November 2008
L.A. Care's Board of Governors appoints Thomas S. Klitzner, M.D., PhD., a pediatric cardiologist at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, as Chair, and re-elects Walter Zelman as Vice Chair, Mario Ramos as Treasurer, and Supervisor Don Knabe as Secretary.
September 2008
John F. Schunhoff, Ph.D., Director of Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, joins L.A. Care's Board of Governors.
August 2008
Through its Health Information Technology Initiative, L.A. Care awards more than $1 million to a combination of nine community clinics to implement disease registries and electronic health records.
April 2008
Philip Browning, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, joins L.A. Care's Board of Governors.
February 2008
L.A. Care, in partnership with Children's Dental Health Clinic, COACH for Kids, and Pacific Smiles, raises awareness of the importance of oral health by hosting a Dental Health Day at its Family Resource Center in Lynwood. To encourage healthy dental habits, the event provides child attendees with free fluoride varnishes, dental screenings and oral health education.
January 2008
Begins enrolling senior and people with disabilities in Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan, which combines Medi-Cal and Medicare benefits for those members who are dually-eligible. This program sunset in 2014 to make way for L.A. Care's Cal MediConnect Plan.
December 2007
L.A. Care's Board of Governors re-appoints Jim Lott as Chair, and elects Walter Zelman, PhD., Director of Health Sciences at Cal State L.A. as Vice-Chair, Mario Ramos, consumer member, as Treasurer and Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe as Secretary.
November 2007
L.A. Care opens its first Family Resource Center (FRC) at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood. Read more
To date, L.A. Care also has FRCs located in Inglewood, Pacoima and Boyle Heights, with as many as three more in 2017.
October 2007
L.A. Care's Board of Governors announces the first round of Tranquada Safety Net Awards to 11 community clinics in Los Angeles County, totaling $4.1 million.
July 2007
L.A. Care announces grants totaling $6 million to Los Angeles County for health care safety net support. $3 million is dedicated to establish a new nursing school at Olive View Medical Center. The additional grants, funded by L.A. Care's CHIF, support the redesign of the Harbor UCLA Ambulatory Clinic, two new ambulatory optometry suites within the LAC + USC Health Network, new endoscopy suites at the Hudson Comprehensive Health Center, and video interpreter call center program at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
April 2007
Dr. Robert Tranquada, L.A. Care's longest serving board member, retires from the Board of Governors.
January 2007
L.A. Care launches the Health Promoters program. Read more
The program sends trained members into the community to disseminate health education and resource information.
November 2006
L.A. Care announces the $1.25 million Enhanced Access Initiative, which will fund equipment purchases, programs, and outreach efforts to improve health care access for people with disabilities in Los Angeles County.
October 2006
Governor Schwarzenegger signs AB 225, a bill sponsored by L.A. Care which promotes electronic prescribing by providers in order to reduce the number of medical errors stemming from illegible handwritten prescriptions.
September 2006
Launches direct Medi-Cal line of business with an emphasis on seniors and people with disabilities.
April 2006
L.A. Care's Adolescent Health Conference focuses on educating providers on how to create a comfortable medical environment where adolescents can communicate with their providers. The Conference includes a Q&A with a teen panel, and over 300 health care professionals attend. Gloria Rodriguez, CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC), is appointed to L.A. Care's Board of Governors.
February 2006
L.A. Care helps re-open the Norwalk Regional Health Center, a community clinic that closed due to County budget cuts. L.A. Care's Board of Governors approves a $300,000 grant to fund health care services for the first year of operation at the Sun Valley Health Center, slated to open as early as 2007.
January 2006
To help community clinics understand and take advantage of available e-health technology, L.A. Care co-sponsors the eClinic Conference with Kaiser and Unihealth Foundation. A $1 million technical assistance grant for e-health was announced at the conference.
December 2005
L.A. Care's Board of Governors elects Jim Lott, Executive Vice President of the Hospital Association of Southern California as Chair, Bryce Yokomizu, Director of Los Angeles County's Department of Public Social Services as Vice-Chair, Dr. Peter Rivera as Secretary, and Kim Wyard, CEO of Northeast Valley Health Corporation as Treasurer.
November 2005
L.A. Care participates in a media briefing on a national physician pay-for-performance study at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. L.A. Care is one of six California health plans to participate in the largest pay-for-performance collaborative conducted by Medicaid.
September 2005
L.A. Care is distinguished by Governor Schwarzenegger as the only public health plan on the Governor's Honor Roll on Health, Nutrition, and Obesity.
April 2005
L.A. Care is honored by Rancho Los Amigos Foundation with the Amistad Award for Community Service.
March 2005
L.A. Care's grant of $100,000 helps re-open Bell Gardens Health Center, which closed due to County budget cuts in 2002. The clinic closure left thousands of Bell Gardens residents without access to free and low-cost health care.
February 2005
As part of L.A. Care's Oral Health Initiative, L.A. Care sponsors a conference to train primary care providers to conduct oral health exams to help increase the likelihood of early detection of oral diseases since children are more likely to visit primary care providers than dentists. Funded by L.A. Care's CHIF, L.A. Care establishes the Robert E. Tranquada, M.D. Award for Safety Net Infrastructure Support to provide nonprofit safety net clinics with funding of up to $500,000 to support infrastructure improvement projects that will help position them for long-term growth.
November 2004
L.A. Care improves health care quality and access for members by giving providers a telephonic translation device, a handset and adaptor which enables a doctor and patient to speak to each other through a remote translator. L.A. Care also launches L.A. Care's Pocket Rx Initiative, a pilot project to improve patient safety and reduce the amount of time health care providers must use to reference drug formularies. Seventy-five doctors are given PDAs, loaded with ePocrates software, which enables a health care provider to cross-reference dangerous drug interactions and check drug formularies by health plan.
October 2004
Consumer members of L.A. Care elect Maria Guerrero and Mario Ramos to represent them on L.A. Care's Board of Governors. As part of L.A. Care's Fitness & Obesity Initiative, L.A. Care sponsors a conference on obesity intervention, with keynote by Assistant U.S. Surgeon General Woodie Kessel, M.D. The conference focuses on teaching health care providers the basics of obesity intervention strategies since most doctors attended medical school at a time when obesity was not regarded as a major health issue.
August 2004
L.A. Care provides an additional $1.2 million in continuation funding to 14 grantees through the Oral Health Initiative to provide direct services and case management in order to ensure that patients who are referred actually see a dentist and receive the needed treatment.
June 2004
CHI publicly launched an expansion of the Healthy Kids program to children ages 6-18. Read more
At its peak, the CHI provided health insurance to nearly 40,000 children ages 0-18 living in Los Angeles County. This program was sunset in 2016.
March 2004
L.A. Care launches its Fitness & Obesity Initiative with an educational conference for providers and community based organizations attended by over 600 people.
July 2003
The Children's Health Initiative (CHI) of Greater Los Angeles launches Healthy Kids, a privately-funded expansion of health coverage for children ages 0-5, with incomes up to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
February 2003
L.A. Care allocates $500,000 in emergency funding for short-term assistance to community clinics affected by the reorganization and fiscal crisis of the Los Angeles County Health Department. This funding provided immediate relief and technical assistance, enabling four school-based clinics to remain open and effectively serve low-income and uninsured residents.
June 2002
Recognizing the agency's efforts in provider education, L.A. Care becomes the first health plan without a hospital to be accredited as a Continuing Medical Education (CME) provider by the California Medical Association.
February 2002
L.A. Care launches a $3.4 million Oral Health Initiative, which includes $200,000 in support from The California Endowment, to provide increased access to direct services, oral health education and promotion, and provider training programs to 22 grantees.
November 2001
After conducting a nationwide search, L.A. Care announces that Howard A. Kahn is joining the agency as its new CEO.
February 2001
Anthony D. Rodgers steps down as Chief Executive Officer.
July 2000
Launches the Community Health Investment Fund (CHIF). To date, CHIF has granted more than $160 million to implement more than 402 projects to improve community and public health, expand health care insurance coverage and strengthen the health care safety net.
June 1999
L.A. Care experiences significant growth as its total Medi-Cal membership rises to 609,083.
April 1999
L.A. Care hosts first "Legislative Day" in Sacramento to cultivate positive relationships with legislators.
April 1999
First formal elections are held for two Regional Community Advisory Committees (RCAC) consumer members to serve on L.A. Care's Board of Governors.
March 1999
The Internal Revenue Service confirms L.A. Care's tax-exempt status.
July 1998
Begins serving children through the state's newly-launched Healthy Families program, California's federal equivalent of the Children's Health Insurance Program. This program sunset in 2012, when the state of California transitioned these children into Medi-Cal.
April 1997
Launches 11 Regional Community Advisory Committees. Today, members make their voices heard through these committees and the four Coordinated Care Initiative Councils
April 1997
Opens doors and begins serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries in partnership with seven Plan Partners. Today, L.A. Care directly serves more than one million Medi-Cal members, and serves an additional one million members in collaboration with our Plan Partners – Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California/Care1st and Kaiser Permanente.