IEHP CEO Receives the 2019 Spirit of ITUP Award for Outstanding Service to Improve the Health of Californians

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Feb 11, 2019, 15:21 ET

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Bradley P. Gilbert, MD, MPP, Chief Executive Officer of Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), received the 2019 Spirit of ITUP Award on February 4 at the 23^rd Annual ITUP Conference in Sacramento.

The annual award, given by the Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP), recognizes organizations or individuals who work collaboratively to improve the health of Californians, particularly in low-income and underserved communities.

"My mantra as a physician and throughout my whole career has been To Do The Right Thing," said Dr. Gilbert, who leads the largest not-for-profit Medicaid and Medicare health plan in the Inland Empire. "With a strong partnership with our Providers and our community partners, our organization has consistently created and introduced programs that are on the cutting edge for taking care of more than 1.2 million Members. I give most of the credit to my team, including my Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Sayles, other leaders and the entire Team at IEHP."

Dr. Gilbert's work, including the leadership from his Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sayles, has evolved from focusing on health needs of IEHP Members to highlighting population-based strategy that addresses social determinants of health, including housing, food, and many other social support services. Early this year, Dr. Gilbert supported the launch of the Connect IE website, which delivers community resource data to Members, Providers and the community. Plus, with Dr. Sayles bringing the concept, he supported a housing initiative to offer eligible Members a pathway to stable housing.

To address the chronic shortage of Providers and improve health access in the Inland Empire, Dr. Gilbert spearheaded the development of a $30 million Network Expansion Fund, attracting more than 280 new Primary Care Providers (PCP), specialists and mid-level Providers to the region. In a collaboration with Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Riverside University Health System, Dr. Gilbert also helped launch the Multi-County eConsult Initiative. This secure online care coordination process allows PCPs to connect with specialists about their patients and receive advice electronically.

He has also introduced an innovative Behavioral Health Integration Complex Care Initiative. It strives to improve Members' health outcomes by coordinating complex physical and behavioral needs across multiple Providers and health care systems in the region.

To view Dr. Gilbert accepting the award, click: https://vimeo.com/315955819

About IEHP

IEHP, Inland Empire Health Plan, is a not-for-profit Medicaid and Medicare health plan located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. With a network of more than 6,000 providers and more than 2,000 employees, IEHP serves more than 1.2 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plan (Medicare-Medicaid Plan). Through a dynamic partnership with providers, award-winning service and innovative products, IEHP is fully committed to providing members with quality, accessible and wellness-based healthcare services. www.iehp.org.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)