LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHC), the non-profit Medi-Cal health plan in Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Marin, Mendocino and Yolo counties, continues its work on the expansion of its managed care program into eight additional northern California counties late this summer: Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity counties.

Medi-Cal, nationally known as Medicaid, is a state and federal program that provides health care to over seven million low-income residents in California.

PHC and its community partners want to ensure that this transition is a smooth one for its members and medical providers.

While there will be no change in benefits as a result of this switch to managed care, it’s important to note that Medi-Cal recipients must choose a primary care provider for their health care under the new system.

The move to managed care for Medi-Cal recipients in the northern counties has been in the works for several years.

Beginning Sept. 1, 296,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in 14 counties will have a medical home through PHC, coordination of care, and supplemental benefits not covered by the State’s traditional Medi-Cal program.

The goal of PHC has been to expand upon the existing number of medical providers willing to see Medi-Cal patients and to support the delivery of more care locally, so that when possible, residents do not need to leave their communities to seek care.

The roughly 103,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the eight northern California counties will have access to a Member Services Call Center to learn more about their benefits, select a physician, and have their complaints addressed.

A small number of Medi-Cal recipients will remain in the State’s traditional Medi-Cal program and can continue to see medical providers who accept Medi-Cal for payment.

However, those Medi-Cal members who are enrolled in PHC will have access to substance abuse benefits and several benefits such as audiology services and podiatry services for diabetics; services that were cut in 2009 by the State of California due to the ongoing economic issues that impact the State’s budget.

Members from each county covered by Partnership HealthPlan of California are represented on the PHC Governing Board.

The board includes representatives from the member and provider communities, all appointed by each county’s Board of Supervisors.

Members also are represented on a number of advisory committees, which bring together PHC members and medical providers from various counties and programs to discuss ways PHC can improve.

“We have tremendous support from our provider community and government partners in making sure that the transition to managed care is fluid. PHC has a process in place to ensure that medical care does not get interrupted during this time,” said Jack Horn, chief executive officer of Partnership HealthPlan of California.

PHC meets on a regular basis with primary care and specialty physicians, community stakeholders, hospitals, local government representatives and safety net providers to gather input, collaborate and plan for the transition.

“High quality continuity of care is our biggest priority,” Horn said. “With this expansion, these rural Medi-Cal recipients will have access to a primary care physician, better access to specialty care, and access to health plan staff dedicated to providing quality assistance and care to all of our members. We are pleased to be working with our partners in the north. They have been very innovative in providing care for patients and we are learning a lot from each other. The relationship is very collaborative.”

Partnership HealthPlan of California began operating in 1994. Additional information about PHC can be found at www.partnershiphp.org .