President and CEO Lupe Alonzo-Diaz celebrates PHC’s efforts to improve health equity in California
September 8,
2023By Physicians for a Healthy California CEO Letter, Health Equity Leadership Summit
Developing a diverse physician workforce to provide equitable care to Californians most in need is a cornerstone of the Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) mission. The health budget trailer bill recently passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom included a new Managed Care Organization (MCO) Tax. In addition to increasing reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal providers, the budget provides an additional $75 million in state funding for graduate medical education to address the state’s workforce needs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the state to support the training of physicians to address the state’s most pressing health care needs.
To that end, we are also looking forward to partnering with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to grant an estimated $73.4 million in loan repayment funds to approximately 300 physicians and dentists serving Medi-Cal patients through the CalHealthCares program later this fall. In partnership with DHCS, CalHealthCares provides loan repayment to physicians and dentists who agree to serve at least 30% Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal patients for a minimum of five years. For many physicians, this program removes a major financial barrier to being able to serve California’s most at-risk patients. To date, CalHealthCares has issued 1117 awards totaling $256 million.
We’re proud of the work that we’re doing to promote health equity by investing in the physician workforce. That’s why we’re excited about the upcoming Health Equity Leadership Summit. This event, being held September 14-15, 2023, in San Jose, will provide in-depth conversations about how physicians, executives and advocates are addressing the issue of health equity in California.
Speakers include:
- Tonya Fancher, M.D., MPH, UC Davis
- Deena McRae, M.D., University of California Health
- Pooja Mittal, D.O., Health Net
- Manisha Sharma, M.D., Blue Shield Promise
- Aimee Sisson, M.D., MPH, Yolo County
It’s not too late to register! We look forward to seeing you there.
Lupe Alonzo-Diaz
President and Chief Executive Officer