Updated 11/11/19
L.A. Care Health Plan has returned to normal business service however if you are a member who was impacted by the recent LA Fires then refer to the information below.
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
Cal MediConnect 1-888-522-1298
L.A. Care Covered 1-855-270-2327
PASC-SEIU Plan 1-844-854-7272
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 members call: 1-888-839-9909
Cal MediConnect members call: 1-888-522-1298
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
Cal MediConnect 1-888-522-1298
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.
L.A. Care provides mental health services through the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. For information about counseling related to stress or grief during or after the fires, call 1-800-854-7771.
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) issues advisories regarding wildfire smoke inhalation, including steps to take when residents are able to return to the area safely. CDPH also has a very informative Wildfire Smoke FAQs, which answers questions related to issues such as reducing exposure to smoke, effects on health and water supplies, and the ineffectiveness of masks.
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
L.A. Care wants our members, colleagues, staff and residents to know that our thoughts are with you. We're also sharing some messages from public safety agencies in the hopes that they will help you and your loved ones during this dangerous 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
Preventive Resources
The following preventive web resources are available for our members, colleagues, providers, staff and residents.
- 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)