News

October 8, 2024By Physicians for a Healthy California CalHealthCares

In 2024, the first cohort of CalHealthCares, the physician and dentist loan repayment program, complete their five-year commitment to improve access to care and support underserved communities by providing care to Medi-Cal patients. These awardees have actively worked to ensure that all Californians have access to timely, affordable health care. 

Based on initial feedback from over half of the awardees: 

• 98% indicate they plan to continue serving Medi-Cal patients 

• 84% indicate participation in the program influenced their decision to continue practicing in California 

• 99% indicate they would recommend the program to others 

To date, CalHealthCares has provided loan repayment awards to 1,187 physicians and dentists who work to expand access to care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. More than $114 million have been dispersed to alleviate the burden of educational debt for those awardees. 

As of September 2024, awardees, on average, have taken 4.5% more Medi-Cal patients than their proposed caseload, demonstrating an even greater commitment to expanding access to care.  

The California Department of Health Care Services is working to secure additional program funding to provide continued opportunities for eligible physicians and dentists. The latest information on the program can be found here.