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.