L.A. Care Launches Ambitious Initiative to Address Looming Physician Shortage

Up to $31 million committed to recruit physicians to serve the most vulnerable

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Jul 16, 2018, 11:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, July 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly-operated health plan in the country, announced it has committed up to $31 million dollars to recruit physicians into the safety net of providers – those committed to offering access to care regardless of a patient's ability to pay, which includes the uninsured, Medi-Cal members, and other vulnerable patients.

The initiative, called Elevating the Safety Net, seeks to enhance access to care in the midst of a sweeping physician shortage that a University of California San Francisco study projected would leave California with a shortfall of nearly 9,000 primary care physicians in just a little more than a decade.

"This is the largest commitment L.A. Care has ever made, and we're eager to see the positive impact on the communities we serve," said John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan. "Our members are going to need care next year, the year after, and 10 years from now, and this investment aligns with our mission of supporting the safety net of providers who serve them."

The initiative will initially be comprised of three grant programs – medical school scholarships, medical school loan repayments, and a program to help with physician salary subsidies, sign-on bonuses, and/or relocation costs. It is designed to relieve the financial burdens that often lead physicians away from practices and safety net facilities that treat many L.A. Care members.

On Thursday, July 19, in a ceremony to launch the initiative, L.A. Care will honor eight students who will be the first to receive full medical school scholarships. Four of the students will attend the University of California Los Angeles and four will attend Charles Drew University. All of the students have expressed a strong desire to work in underserved communities.

"These students won't have to carry a loan the size of a home mortgage when they graduate," said Baackes. "Our hope is that the relief from that financial burden will enable them to pursue their passion for serving the underserved, and work in the safety net treating our members."

The overall initiative will help to strengthen the safety net, ensuring access to quality health care for vulnerable populations in L.A. County for many years to come.

About L.A. Care Health Plan
L.A. Care Health Plan is a public entity and community-accountable health plan serving residents of Los Angeles County through a variety of health coverage programs including L.A. Care Covered™, Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Cal MediConnect Plan and PASC-SEIU Homecare Workers Health Care Plan. L.A. Care is a leader in developing new programs through innovative partnerships designed to provide health coverage to vulnerable populations and to support the safety net. With more than two million members, L.A. Care is the nation's largest publicly operated health plan.

Media Contact
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SOURCE L.A. Care Health Plan