Since 2018, the Health Plan Has Invested More Than $20 Million
Resulting in 152 Active Physicians
LOS ANGELES – L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the country, is proud to announce its latest round of Provider Recruitment Program grants — a total of $625,000 has been awarded to five clinics for each to hire a new physician to serve in the Los Angeles County safety net. The safety net consists of those clinics and practices that treat many Medi-Cal beneficiaries and the uninsured. The grants are part of Elevating the Safety Net, a $155 million initiative to recruit highly qualified primary care physicians into the Los Angeles County safety net.
“L.A. Care launched the initiative in 2018 in the wake of a growing physician shortage that threatened the clinics and practices that care for our members,” said John Baackes, L.A. Care CEO. “Our grant funding is helping bring new doctors into these clinics and practices. In fact, we now have 152 new doctors working in the county safety net after launching Elevating the Safety Net.”
Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC) is one of the awardees in this 14th round of Provider Recruitment Program grants.
“Northeast Valley Health Corporation is grateful for L.A. Care Health Plan’s support of our recruitment of a Family Medicine physician,” said Kimberly Wyard, NEVHC CEO. “The award comes at a most opportune time, as the new physician will help support the expansion of our Adult Medicine practice at our Van Nuys Adult Health Center—increasing access to higher acuity care for Van Nuys adults with uncontrolled blood pressure and diabetes.”
The following clinics will each receive up to $125,000 when they have hired a new physician:
• Northeast Valley Health Corporation – San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley
• Chinatown Service Center – West San Gabriel Valley, Metro L.A.
• Angeles Community Health Center – Metro L.A., Glendale
• Southern California Medical Center – Long Beach
• ROADS Community Clinic – Compton, Inglewood
The Provider Recruitment Program is just one part of Elevating the Safety Net. The initiative also provides medical school loan repayments for new physicians who commit to working in the safety net for three years. Provider Loan Repayment Program grants have been awarded to 174 physicians. The initiative also provides eight medical school scholarships each year to scholars who have expressed an interest in practicing medicine in underserved communities. So far, 48 scholarships have been awarded, with half of the scholars attending the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and half attending the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
The Elevating the Safety Net initiative is part of L.A. Care’s commitment to advancing health equity for members and their communities.