Ensure Initial Health Appointment Completion

March 2024

Did You Know: provider and patientAll newly enrolled L.A. Care members must receive an Initial Health Appointment within 120 days of enrollment, per APL 22-030. The visit can be completed in one or multiple visits either in person or virtually. At least one component must be completed in person. The provider must confirm all IHA components are documented in the medical record.

The IHA includes, but is not limited to:

  • Physical history
  • Mental health history
  • Identification of risks
  • Assessment of need for preventive screens or services
  • Health Education
  • Diagnosis and plan of treatment for diseases

Providers must document all outreach efforts to schedule a patient’s IHA, including outreach for missed appointments and/or refusal in the medical record, as this counts toward the IHA requirement.

To support your efforts, L.A. Care has updated Learning Management System provider training that covers how to access IHA reports within the L.A. Care provider portal, how to track and document IHA outreach attempts, and more. Additionally, the IHA will be included as a Pay-for-Performance (P4P) measure this year as an incentive to bolster IHA completion rates.

If you have questions, please email us