Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Southern California due to the winter storms.
Our thoughts are with our L.A. Care members impacted by this event, and we want to help ensure your access to care.
Please note the following service updates for L.A. Care members affected by the winter storms in Los Angeles County.
Prescriptions
L.A. Care will help members fill prescriptions early or fill them at an out-of-network pharmacy if their medications were lost due to the emergency, left behind during an evacuation, or their regular pharmacy is shut down due to the emergency.
If you know of another L.A. Care member in need, please let them know this service is available to them. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays for emergency or urgent situations. Please contact us at one of the following numbers for further assistance:
- Medi-Cal - contact DHCS Medical-Rx at 1-800-977-2273
- L.A. Care Covered ™ 1-855-270-2327
- Medicare Plus (HMO-DSNP) 1.833.592.DSNP
- PASC-SEIU Plan 1-844-854-7272
For people with a hearing impairment, assistance is available through the 711 relay service.
Transportation
If you are a member whose planned Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) or Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) is impacted by rain or flooding in and around Los Angeles County, we will make our best efforts to accommodate changes to your existing reservation. Contact L.A. Care to request a change to your existing reservation.
- Medi-Cal 1-888-839-9909
- Medicare Plus (HMO-DSNP) 1.833.592.DSNP
For people with a hearing impairment, assistance is available through the 711 relay service.
Health Care Providers
L.A. Care understands that during this emergency some members may have to seek out-of-network services. This may happen if a member's usual provider is unable to work because the facility is shut down, or the provider is directly impacted by the winter storms.
For guidance in this situation, please call one of the following numbers:
- Medi-Cal 1-888-839-9909
- L.A. Care Covered ™ 1-855-270-2327
- Medicare Plus (HMO-DSNP) 1.833.592.DSNP
- PASC-SEIU Plan 1-844-854-7272
For people with a hearing impairment, assistance is available through the 711 relay service.
Mental Health
Survival is paramount in any disaster, but a second trauma often arises — the pain associated with loss and memories of the chaos.
It's okay to get help. For counseling related to stress and grief, as well as other mental health services, L.A. Care members can call:
- Carelon Behavioral Health 1-877-344-2858
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health 1-800-854-7771
Visit L.A. Care's Behavioral Health Services for more information.
In addition, the Disaster Distress Helpline is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to a disaster. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (TTY 1-800-846-8517) to connect with a trained crisis counselor. This hotline is free, multilingual and confidential.
24/7 Health Care Service Options
Please be advised that our Nurse Advice Line and telehealth options are still available.
- L.A. Care Nurse Advice Line 1-800-249-3619 (TTY 711)
- Teladoc 1.800.TELADOC (1.800.835.2362) (TTY 711) or visit our telehealth web page.
Additional Information
We're also sharing some messages from public safety agencies in the hopes that they will help you and your loved ones during this time.
If you live in an area affected by the winter storms, please be careful and follow the instructions of the public safety officers that are working to protect lives and property.
They are also providing alerts on the official Los Angeles County Fire Department X account (@LACoFD).
The Los Angeles Fire Department suggests keeping the six "P's" in mind in case you must evacuate:
- People and pets
- Papers, phone numbers and important documents
- Prescriptions, vitamins and eyeglasses
- Personal computers
- "Plastic" (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash
If you need help with other issues, L.A. Care Community Link is a useful tool to connect you to community agencies and government programs in your area. L.A. Care Community Link can show you local services for essentials like food, unemployment, housing and financial assistance.