Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, August 18 due to wildfires and record heat across California.
We know this will continue to be a challenging and dangerous fire season. Our thoughts are with our L.A. Care members impacted by local wildfires, and we want to help ensure your access to care.
Please note the following service updates for L.A. Care members affected by wildfires 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 in the fire, 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 1-888-839-9909
- L.A. Care Covered ™ 1-855-270-2327
- 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 medical transportation could be impacted by the fires currently active in and around Los Angeles County, we will accommodate changes to your existing reservation. In addition, we will waive the advanced notice requirement to allow you to reschedule for a future date or alternative facility. Contact L.A. Care to request a change to your existing reservation.
- Medi-Cal 1-888-839-9909
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 fires.
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
- 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 after the flames have been extinguished, 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:
- Beacon Health Services 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 1-800-985-5990 (TTY 1-800-846-8517) or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. This hotline is free, multilingual and confidential.
Smoke Exposure and Air Quality
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has a very informative Wildfire Smoke FAQs, which answers questions related to reducing exposure to smoke, effects on health and water supplies, and more.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) issues smoke advisories that detail the status of fires in Los Angeles and other counties. You can see their daily advisory updates and access other air quality resources at the SCAQMD website.
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 these fires, 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 and evacuation information on the official Los Angeles County Fire Department Twitter account (@LACoFD) or the official Los Angeles County Twitter account (@CountyofLA).
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
Resources to Help Be Prepared
- READY!SET!GO! Your Personal Wildfire Action Plan (County of Los Angeles Fire Department)
- Wildfires (Ready LA County)
- Power Outage and Fire Response Resources (State of California)
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.