Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, due to dangerous winds and fires.
We know this will be a challenging and potentially dangerous time. Our thoughts are with our L.A. Care members impacted by the winds and fires, 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 refill prescriptions at in-network or out-of-network pharmacies without prior authorization if their medications were lost in the fire, left behind during an evacuation, or their regular pharmacy is shut down due to the emergency. Members can also obtain new prescriptions at out-of-network pharmacies. These prescriptions will be at normal in-network cost-sharing.
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
- L.A. Care Medicare Plus 1-833-LAC-DSNP (1-833-522-3767) (TTY: 711)
For people with a hearing impairment, assistance is available through the 711 relay service.
Access to Medically Necessary Care
L.A. Care is dedicated to ensuring uninterrupted care for our members during this challenging period.
To support these efforts, there are temporary policy changes to expedite hospital admissions, discharges and transfers.
Notification of Admission requirements from both in network and out of network hospital emergency room departments will be suspended. Hospitals may request authorization post admission and may not be denied due to lack of repatriation attempt.
Effective immediately, prior authorization will not be required for discharge needs, such as:
- Home Health Services
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)
- Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Units
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 you are displaced, your usual provider is unable to work because the facility is shut down, or the provider is directly impacted by the fires. Medical equipment or supplies can also be replaced for displaced members.
Members accessing care out-of-network should not incur any additional cost-sharing. L.A. Care has chosen to extend filing deadlines for claims.
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
- L.A. Care Medicare Plus 1-833-LAC-DSNP (1-833-522-3767) (TTY: 711)
We are available 24/7.
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 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.
Mental Health
If you or your loved ones are experiencing mental health distress and are in need of services due to the Los Angeles wildfires, please contact L.A. Care and Carelon Behavioral Health crisis support line at: 800-580-6934.
Additional Resources that you may use to get assistance for yourself and your loved ones at this time:
- Department of Mental Health Help line: 800-854-7771
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
- Mental Health and Stress After An Emergency (LACDMH / DPH)
- LA County Emergency Response and Recovery Page
- Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990
- CalHOPE Warmline at 833-317-4673
- Crisis Text Line by texting LA to 741741
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.
L.A. Wildfire Relief Effort - Supporting Our Community
Community Distribution Event
Saturday, January 18 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Center of Hope Church
9550 Crenshaw Blvd, Inglewood CA 90305
L.A. Care and its Community Partner Collaborative are responding to the devastating impact of the recent L.A. wildfires by organizing relief efforts to support residents in the fire impacted areas. Our mission is to provide immediate aid through donations, volunteer support, and organized distribution of essential items.
Donation Drop-off: We are accepting contributions of essential items such as non-perishable food, water, hygiene products, and household supplies.
Donations can be dropped off at any of the 13 open L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers across Los Angeles County, as well as at the Center of Hope Church. Donations will be accepted daily until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Volunteers: We are looking for volunteers to assist with loading and unloading donations, sorting items, and preparing relief kits. Donated items and relief kits will be sorted, packaged, and distributed during the community drop-off and distribution event at Center of Hope Church on Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sign up to volunteer.
Partners: This collaborative effort includes L.A. Care Health Plan, Health Matters Clinic, Center of Hope Church, the Council of Black Nurses, Alzheimer’s Association Southern California Chapter, UC Irvine School of Public Health, National Action Network, Advocates for African American Elders, Humanity Heroes and Jenesee Domestic Violence Centers.
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.
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
- Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, and other wildfires (County of Los Angeles)
- Emergency Notifications (Ready LA County)
- Wildfire Smoke in Los Angeles County (County of Los Angeles Public Health)
- 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)
Additional Resources
- Cal OES Shelters for Communities Impacted by Wildfires
- 211 LA Resources
- The Mental Health Impact of Wildfires (American Psychiatric Association)
- Wildfire & Mental Health (California Department of Public Health)
- Children & Recovery from Wildfires – guide that goes through potential reactions and helpful responses according to kids’ age groups
- Helping children after a wildfire: Tips for caregivers and teachers (National Association of School Psychologists, 2023)
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Wildfire Resources (NCTSN)
- How to Talk to Your Children About the California Wildfires and Other Natural Disasters (Parents Magazine, 2025)
- BE PREPARED (UCLA COE) – Tipsheet to support parents in speaking with their kids about difficult situations
- Coping After a Natural Disaster (Zero to Three) – Resource for parents of babies and toddlers
- Coping with Trauma and Stress in the Face of Wildfires: Tips for Early Childhood Educators (Zero to Three) – Resource for Early Childhood Educators
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.