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Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) had officially opened its doors.  Twenty-six years later, a small cohort of team members hired during the health plan’s opening year – self-proclaimed, “The Originals” – continue to serve their community as IEHP team members.  Comprised of team members from various departments across the health plan, the Originals have contributed to some of IEHP’s most critical projects, supporting the health plan’s innovative spirit and providing optimal care for more than 1.6 million members.  “Our IEHP Originals continue to push us forward through their deep commitment and understanding of what it means to be an IEHP team member,” said IEHP Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton. “This group reminds us each and every day of where we’ve been, and why we must continue to move forward.” As IEHP celebrates and reflects on the organization’s 26th anniversary this year, the health plan is also honoring its Originals to share more about their commitment and their unique place in IEHP’s history.  “If we worked late or on the weekends, you’d often find our kids at work – they’d play in the open spaces or at the desks while we kept working,” recalled IEHP IT Test Governance and Coordination Manager Imelda Ramirez. “My son used to play under my desk with his Matchbox cars. I still have them at my desk. It was a family adventure getting ready for go-live in 1996 and those first few years.”   To learn more about IEHP’s Originals and their stories, visit IEHP on LinkedIn.  

Indio, Calif., on Dec. 4 and 5.  A long-time supporter of the festival, IEHP will provide health education resources and host a free vaccine clinic near the festival. In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, IEHP’s vaccine clinic will be located just two blocks away from the festival at 45720 Smurr St. in Indio and will offer free COVID-19 and flu vaccines to adults and children from 12-6 p.m. Appointments are not required. Indio’s International Tamale Festival began in 1992 and welcomes diverse crowds to enjoy handmade tamales from around the world. In addition to world-famous tamales, this year’s festival will feature live musical performances, entry to the World’s Biggest Bounce House, a roller rink, carnival rides and hundreds of booths. “Supporting the Indio Tamale Festival has become a tradition for IEHP for more than 15 years,” said Marci Coffey, IEHP’s Community Partnerships Director. “The festival provides fun, family-centered time for our community, and we’re always eager to provide benefit information and connections to resources. This year, we’re especially eager to get back to the festival and offer vaccines to the community.” Historically, hundreds of IEHP Team Members and their family members volunteered for the annual event and were bussed from the health plan’s corporate headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga to Indio. This year, IEHP’s community health teams will be spread throughout the region to support Indio’s Tamale Festival and additional community events in Rialto, Victorville and Needles.  “We want our members and communities to enjoy all the fun during the holidays in the safest way possible,” said Cesar Armendariz, IEHP’s Senior Director of Community Health. “We’re grateful to have the resources and strategic partnerships in place to make vaccines accessible to those who need them and look forward to continuing to encourage optimal care and vibrant health in our region.”  

the health plan in the 99th percentile for provider satisfaction nationwide.  Administered to the health plan’s provider network by phone through a third party vendor, the annual survey measures provider satisfaction with the services and support received directly from IEHP. The survey included responses from primary care physicians, specialists and behavioral health providers.  “To deliver the best care to our members, our providers need ongoing support from their health plan partner,” said Susie White, IEHP Chief Operating Officer. “Survey responses alert us to what areas we need to improve upon and where gaps lie so we can be effective in applying strategic solutions to support our providers. Ultimately we want to ensure our Providers are feeling secure and confident in the work and services they provide to our members. This survey provides great insight into that.” To gain actionable feedback from the plan’s provider network, the survey focused on key drivers of provider satisfaction. Top drivers included: access to case and care managers, timeliness of claims processing, and number of specialists in the network.  A notable 98.1% of providers shared they would recommend IEHP to other physician practices. Broken down by category, IEHP ranked within the 99th percentile for provider relations, health plan call center staff, pharmacy, utilization and quality management, and coordination of care. The health plan also scored in the 99th percentile in the financial category, highlighting the health plan’s ability to resolve questions or discrepancies of payment.  The survey provided additional insight for ways to improve support activities. “Our provider feedback pointed us to a really great opportunity to enhance access to resources and information supporting telehealth services,” said White. “As we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic together, reinforcing efforts in this area will be critical for our communities.” “The last two years have been an extraordinarily difficult time for our Providers as healthcare professionals and as human beings,” said Jarrod McNaughton, IEHP Chief Executive Officer. “I can’t begin to say how grateful we are for their work in our community and IEHP is committed to make every effort to support our Providers so our Members and Communities can enjoy the optimal care they deserve.”  

spread awareness about Type 1 diabetes and the detection of the chronic health condition in children. Together, the two organizations will actively distribute and promote educational material and work to connect the community with supportive resources. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the frequency of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in young people is a growing clinical and public health concern. While Type 2 diabetes is preventable, Type 1 diabetes is not. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily doses of the key hormone that converts glucose into energy. Diabetes has the potential to damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves, according to the World Health Organization. EASE T1D is the joint effort of two mothers, Debbie George and Michelle Thornburg, who have children with Type 1 (T1D) diabetes. Through their more than 25 years of combined experience, they have come to recognize areas of significant need and have joined forces to apply their knowledge as parents of young diabetics through Education, Awareness, Support and Empowerment (EASE). “The goal of EASE T1D is to raise public awareness of what Type 1 diabetes is and the onset symptoms,” said Debbie George, who co-founded EASE T1D. “So many times, children go undiagnosed because a parent thought it was a simple virus.” “Excessive thirst, frequent urination, weakness and weight loss are the top four symptoms,” added George. “And because there are so many illnesses these symptoms could be attributed to, awareness is critical.”     The non-profit group is also active in shaping state law, recently partnering with Poison lead singer and reality TV star Bret Michaels – diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 6 years old – in support of California’s Senate Bill 97, which requires Type 1 diabetes information to be available on the California Department of Education’s website and to be distributed to parents and guardians of K-12 students. The bill was signed into law in October 2021 as a part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $123.9 billion K-12 package.   “Empowering parents and guardians with this information is a great step in extending preventive health care services to our community,” said Dr. Wada, IEHP’s chief medical officer. “This partnership will help us to fill in the gaps and truly meet our members where they are.” To learn more about EASE T1D, visit EASET1D.org.  

AN AND IEHP HEALTH ACCESS. Date of Meeting: December 13, 2021 Time of Meeting: 9:00 AM Location of Meeting:  Inland Empire Health Plan Headquarters 10801 Sixth Street, Suite 120 Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730 This Notice shall confirm the REGULAR MEETING of the Joint Powers Agencies - INLAND EMPIRE HEALTH PLAN AND IEHP HEALTH ACCESS. If disability-related accommodations are needed to participate in this meeting, please contact Annette Taylor, Secretary to the IEHP Governing Board at (909) 296-3584 during regular business hours of IEHP (M-F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) Agenda  Copies of the Packet may be obtained here.

in their upcoming event, MALO ‘E OFA Christmas 2022 Extravaganza Resource Fair and Vaccine Clinic, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at First United Methodist Church of Ontario, in Ontario, Calif. The event will provide attendees with free vaccines, groceries, children’s toys and gifts, afternoon Zumba and lots of holiday cheer. Vaccines will include Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Pediatric Moderna vaccines and boosters for children 6 months through 11 years old will also be available. Those who would like to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to make an appointment online here. MALO, a non-profit organization established in 2017, serves more than 2,000 Tongan Americans in the Inland Empire through youth mentorship, job readiness, resource literacy and cultural gathering events. “Our community has been under-resourced for decades – these partnerships are a sign of hope that our beautiful and deserving community will get the resources needed to live a life with good health and accessible health care,” said Lolofi Soakai, MALO founder and executive director. “Having partners in health care gives a peace of mind knowing that current health concerns are addressed, and preventive care is accessible” Through their years of partnership, MALO and IEHP have collaborated to distribute back-to-school backpacks, hosted various vaccine clinics, and provided personal protective equipment and household items during the COVID-19 pandemic. IEHP has also assisted MALO by providing information on health and wellness benefits. “Meeting our communities where they are and ensuring their access to vaccines and health and wellness resources is a cornerstone of who IEHP is,” said LuAnna Jauregui, IEHP community partnerships manager. “Partnering with organizations like MALO allows us to deliver on our promise to ‘heal and inspire the human spirit’ and support health equity in our region.” To learn more about MALO and their important work in the Inland Empire, visit malotongaie.org

ion residents, contracting with over 6,700 providers, and employing nearly 2,500 team members, the health plan is honoring this momentous milestone by continuing to embark on a strategic path forward. “In the last 25 years, we’ve had the incredible pleasure of connecting millions in our region to whole-person healthcare services,” said Jarrod McNaughton, IEHP chief executive officer. “With large initiatives like CalAIM underway and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we continue to meet our members, providers and team members where they are, so that we may effectively work together to deliver optimal care and vibrant health to residents in our region.” IEHP began its operation in 1996 with over 60,000 Medi-Cal members and worked proactively to provide coverage to uninsured children in working families who did not qualify for Medi-Cal by launching the Healthy Families program in 1998. By 2000, IEHP had become one of the first Medi-Cal only health plans in California to receive “Commendable” NCQA Accreditation and ranked the ninth largest Medicaid Plan in the United States.   With the development of several programs supporting children (Healthy Kids), seniors (Medicaid), persons with disabilities (Medicare DualChoice), and specific health conditions (like diabetes and asthma), IEHP was able to support the influx of Inland Empire Residents who became eligible for its health services through the Affordable Care Act, increasing the health plan’s membership to 1 million members by 2015. Recently, the health plan was mentioned as a model in California’s Master Plan for Aging and has contributed several ideas to the state’s multi-year transformational initiative to address many of the complex challenges impacting the state’s Medi-Cal population (CalAIM). Programs serving as models include the health plan’s innovating work around health and housing, like IEHP’s  Housing Initiative and Health Home programs. In addition to supporting transformative initiatives like CalAIM, IEHP is also working towards sustainable solutions to increase positive health outcomes of residents in the region. “While we celebrate the great work done in our region, our job as a community-based health plan is far from over,” said McNaughton. “Building and strengthening networks of providers in the I.E. to offset the on-going provider shortage and working with our partners to create an Electronic Medical Record system to better care for members, are only two of the large priorities we’re working through,” added McNaughton. “Accompanied by our mantra to always ‘do the right thing’ for our members, our mission to heal and inspire the human spirit will guide our thoughts, our decisions, and most importantly, our actions through these projects and at IEHP in the months and years to come.”

rst social worker Dennis Kaney, who served residents of the Inland Empire for 16 years before his passing earlier this month. In speaking with Kaney earlier this year to learn more about his experience as an IEHP Team Member, he described his role as "doing what he loved most”—providing individualized, quality care and support to the region’s most vulnerable Members through his work as an IEHP Case Manager.  In January, Kaney met an IEHP Member who had sustained life-threatening injuries in a car accident, leaving the Member with paralysis in their limbs (known as a quadriplegia).   Kaney, who was wheelchair-bound himself, understood the need for multi-level support and wasted no time connecting the Member to resources to aid in the massive life transition. “I believe through my work at IEHP, I am able to do exactly what I am meant to do and use my personal experiences to help someone navigate their new beginning,” Kaney said. Through this connection, Kaney helped the Member discover new ways to manage daily life, including how to travel with a chair, how to write, talk, and how to best utilize available resources and tools. This ultimately provided the Member with hope and a reminder that their life was in no way over. “A heartfelt connection provides more care to the human spirit than we realize,” said Jarrod McNaughton, IEHP’s Chief Executive Officer. “As we honor Dennis and observe Social Work Month, we celebrate the spirit of all social workers who bring courage and empathy to a world that desperately needs their light and love.”  

ers to consider assessments and support for their children. This includes evaluations to detect conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).   IEHP Medi-Cal members can receive a free autism screening at centers like the Inland Empire Autism Assessment Center of Excellence (IEAACE) or from any IEHP network provider before the member reaches age 21. “Rapidly changing environments, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the social isolation tied to it, brought significant disruptions to the lives of our youth,” said IEHP Behavioral Health and Care Management Manager Heather Waters. “Given the circumstances, it’s completely normal for children to need additional support. What’s important is ensuring they receive the right care at the right time.” Waters highlighted that early treatment and recognition of symptoms, as early as 1 year of age and before a child enters school, can result in better health outcomes. Signs and symptoms vary and can range from obsessive or compulsive behaviors to poor social skills, delayed milestones and more.  What to Expect at IEAACE “Accurate assessment, diagnoses and subsequent treatment are critical to improving the lives of children and their families within the Inland Empire and beyond. The comprehensive diagnostic evaluation process at IEAACE results in more accurate diagnoses and the creation of effective treatment recommendations, which is critical to avoiding missed diagnoses, delays in intervention and misdiagnoses with inappropriate treatments,” said IEAACE Executive Director Zachary Ginder, MD. During the initial assessment appointment, caregivers/parents and their children will meet with an evaluation coordinator for interviews and observations. Information gathered during the appointment will be processed and reviewed by the IEAACE transdisciplinary team for next steps and follow up.  “IEAACE looks at the whole child from multiple clinical perspectives to ensure we give the child and their family the greatest opportunity for long-term health and prosperity,” added Dr. Ginder. “With IEHP as our primary managed care partner, children and their families now have greater access to these services, which will ideally result in reducing health disparities within our communities.”  To receive an evaluation or additional services, members are encouraged to call IEHP Member Services at 1-800-440-4347 and ask for the Behavioral Health Department. Members can also learn more about IEAACE by visiting autismassessment4ie.org.  

red location, the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) team member knew he had to act. “For five years, my family and I have walked in memory of my sister Melanie and to advocate for suicide prevention and education,” said Lopez about the annual American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) event. “We had been registered for months to take part in the walk and were deeply saddened to hear the walk wouldn’t be happening in the Inland Empire. I thought, ‘I know where the walk could be held.’” Lopez, an information technology specialist at IEHP, shared the event cancellation news with the company’s leadership team, who moved quickly to offer IEHP’s Rancho Cucamonga campus as the site for this year’s event. With a few signatures and approvals, the walk’s new location at IEHP was official.  So, in addition to sponsoring the event, IEHP was also a proud host of AFSP’s Inland Empire Out of Darkness Community Walk.  More than 500 Inland Empire community residents gathered on Oct. 29 and walked on IEHP’s Sixth Street campus in remembrance, hope and support of those impacted and lost by suicide. Together, the group walked 2 miles and raised more than $30,000 to fund research for suicide prevention, create and distribute education programs, advocate for public policy and support people affected by suicide.  “I take pride in working for IEHP, an organization that truly lives up to their mission,” added Lopez. “This event helps families find closure, support and hope. Helping others in our community was a large proponent of who my sister was, and I know how happy she would be to know we’re continuing to push forward to erase the stigma behind suicide and mental health, especially for those in underserved communities.” To learn more about AFSP and future events and walks, visit afsp.org.  

ew moms and moms-to-be are invited to visit IEHP’s Community Resource Centers in December for free maternal mental health events, which will offer health and wellness resources and connections to prenatal and postpartum care. Events will be hosted by IEHP’s Maternal Mental Health Team at all three of the health plan’s Community Resource Centers: Thursday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. at IEHP’s Victorville center, 12353 Mariposa Road, Suites C-2 & C-3, Victorville, Calif., 92395 Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m.- noon at IEHP’s San Bernardino center, 805 W. Second St., Suite C, San Bernardino, Calif., 92410 Friday, Dec. 9, 2- 5 p.m. at IEHP’s Riverside center, 3590 Tyler St., Suite 101, Riverside, Calif., 92503 Registration is encouraged by visiting Connect I.E. or IEHP’s Events page on Facebook. In addition to information on community resources for prenatal and postpartum care, attendees will receive baby items and will be eligible for raffle prizes. Members will also learn more about their maternal health benefits and the services they can access.  “The pregnancy process doesn’t end once the baby is born,” said IEHP Manager Heather Waters, LCSW. “Postpartum care is just as important as prenatal care. Our team at IEHP can assist you with linkage to your postpartum appointment and any additional services, such as transportation and behavioral health.”  A recent report from the CDC also highlights this need, citing that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths between 2017-2019 were preventable and 53% of deaths occurred between seven days and one year after delivery. The report also notes the leading underlying causes of pregnancy-related deaths include mental health conditions.  “Our Maternal Mental Health team at IEHP is serious about improving maternal health outcomes in our communities, and we look forward to equipping our members with the necessary tools, benefit information and resources they need to deliver healthy babies and remain well after delivery,” added Waters. 

he right way makes all the difference in providing quality health care services. Illustrating the significance of data management with industry peers and professionals, IEHP is sharing their experience mitigating bias in data algorithms and insight on how data can be used to enhance care quality at the Local Health Plans of California (LHPC) Moving the Needle: Advancing Health Equity Seminar in Sacramento Oct. 27 and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. Oct. 31. Both events target strategic collaboration and sharing of ideas to accelerate the delivery of quality care and reduce gaps in health care among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.  In their LHPC presentation, IEHP Chief Quality Officer Dr. Edward Juhn and Vice President of Quality Genia Fick will explain how data can be used to identify health disparities, define health equity issues and lay the groundwork for effective interventions to improve health outcomes.  “We are committed to leveraging new data to help inform health equity,” said Fick. “This will ensure we are funding and prioritizing the appropriate resources for those who need it most.” Dr. Juhn will also be joining ideas42 Managing Director Ted Robertson at NCQA’s Health Innovation Summit to present their collaborative work in addressing algorithmic bias to advance quality and equity outcomes. Their presentation will focus on the importance of addressing disparities unintentionally produced by algorithms and how health care organizations can mitigate it in practice.  “It is critical to be better stewards of our data to impactfully serve our community,” said Juhn. “Our goal and focus of leveraging data should be to improve health outcomes.” To learn more about IEHP, visit iehp.org.  

r in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current team members say about their experience working at IEHP. This year, 92% of employees said IEHP is a Great Place To Work® – 35 points higher than the average U.S. company. Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. “At IEHP, our team members are at the heart of everything we do,” said IEHP’s Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton. “Their effort and engagement are what makes us truly a Great Place to Work. We will continue to strive for excellence and ensure that IEHP remains a place where all people feel valued, supported and empowered to achieve their full potential.” IEHP’s mission is to “heal and inspire the human spirit,” and its team members are vital to that mission, serving 1.6 million members residing in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Life at IEHP includes a wide range of benefits and resources for employees to assist with health and wellness and job growth, including on-site or remote fitness classes, a computer lab, on-site partner agencies connecting people with vital social services and career coaching. Of IEHP’s 3,184 employees, 90% completed the survey that covered a variety of workplace quality-related experiences, including pride in the organization’s impact on the community, its reputation within areas served and the level of camaraderie created within the company. Highlights from the survey showed: 96% feel good about ways the organization contributes to its community. 95% report having special and unique company benefits. 94% are proud to tell others their place of employment. "Great Place To Work® Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place To Work®. She emphasizes that certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that IEHP stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.” Later this year, IEHP will know if the organization made the list of the Top 100 Best Workplaces in Healthcare for a second year in a row. According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion. WE’RE HIRING! Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at https://careers.iehp.org

tients in Barstow to primary care physicians, needed social services, and more.  "Through our collaboration with Barstow Community Hospital, we realized that there was an additional benefit to our members through post-discharge calls from IEHP’s Health Services and Community Health teams." said Sylvia Lozano, IEHP's Vice President of Hospital Relations. "A follow-up telephone call upon discharge is an essential activity to improve the transition from hospitalization to their return home," said Lozano. "This partnership with Barstow Community Hospital shows IEHP's unwavering commitment to our Members and Providers and demonstrates how the power of collaboration and dreaming of better ways to deliver care and services can ultimately lead to optimal care and vibrant health for our communities." IEHP Health Navigators provide referrals to other health plan services based on needs expressed during the calls, including organizing doctor’s appointments for members.  The pilot program also connects both hospital and health plan teams for weekly huddles to share insights, data trends, and discuss additional points of partnership to meet the needs of both organizations and the populations they serve.  "Our post-discharge call from trained hospital staff allows the patient's questions and misunderstandings, including discrepancies in the discharge plan, to be identified and addressed, as well as any concerns from caregivers or family members,” Margaret Ventura, Case Management Director for Barstow Community Hospital. "Additional follow-up calls post-discharge from IEHP to their members will only further benefit their members by improving the continuum of care for patients," added Ventura. Since the pilot program began in early October, more than 30 IEHP Members have been supported. While Member needs vary, IEHP's Health Navigators have reported cases where the need for resources and social support has been critical. "This pilot began with a compassionate team who saw an unmet need and found an innovative way to solve it," said Jarrod McNaughton, IEHP Chief Executive Officer. "We are developing this pilot to further demonstrate our commitment to the optimal care and vibrant health of our communities."   

of fun into life skills training classes, then watch the positivity ensue. High Desert children and teens are well on their way to success, thanks to Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy (YVYLA) and its Creative Arts and Cognitive Life Skills program, which is offered at Inland Empire Health Plan’s (IEHP) Victorville Community Resource Center. A regular on-site partner at IEHP’s Victorville center, YVYLA works tirelessly to empower and enrich the lives of young people (ages 10-19) through life-building activities and instruction in the areas of education, employment and mentoring. To achieve this, YVYLA offers various programs as well as family and social resources.  “Three days a week, we bring creative arts classes, cooking and support groups for teens in Victorville,” said Terrance Stone, YVYLA chief executive officer. “Each class is intentionally designed and provides a positive environment where students learn cultural awareness, life skills and much more.” In addition to the IEHP partnership, YVYLA collaborates with school districts across the High Desert and IEHP agency partners, like Desert Mountain Children’s Center, which provides weekly teen support groups.  “Like all our on-site partners, YVYLA is committed to the health and wellness of IEHP’s members and the communities we serve,” said IEHP Community Resource Center Manager Delia Orosco. “YVYLA pours an immense amount of love, support and resources into our youths and we are so grateful and excited about our future collaborations.” Currently, IEHP’s Victorville Community Resource Center hosts five on-site partners: Goodwill, Housing Authority of County San Bernardino, TODEC Legal Center, Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County and YVYLA.  To learn more about YVYLA, visit yvyla-ie.org or stop by IEHP’s Victorville Community Resource Center at 12353 Mariposa Road, Suites C-2 & C-3, in Victorville.

will not rest until our communities enjoy Optimal Care and Vibrant Health.  So year after year, #TeamIEHP does what they do best – heal and inspire the human spirit by giving back to the Inland Empire community. Between turkey distributions, vaccine clinics and senior citizen holiday gift drives, 2022 is no different.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday, IEHP distributed 200 free turkeys through its community resource centers, while the remaining holiday season of giving will include a company toy drive for the city of Trona, handwritten cards to local children in the foster system, and community vaccine clinics at holiday events, including Motivating Action Leadership Opportunity’s (MALO) Christmas Extravaganza. IEHP is also hosting an internal holiday gift drive to support senior citizens who have been identified as isolated, neglected or abused. Last year, IEHP team members provided cash donations and filled several boxes with items like blankets, socks, home décor, hygiene products and slippers. All donations were given to the Office on Aging. This year, IEHP team members are looking forward to exceeding last year’s contributions. “It’s the right thing to do,” said IEHP Behavioral Health and Care Management Support Services Manager Ben Jauregui. “Each year, our teams look forward to giving back in this way and reminding our local seniors they are cared for and loved.” For seniors who are isolated, vulnerable or medically at-risk, the holiday season can be challenging – even lonely – according to Jewel Lee, director of the Riverside County Office on Aging.  “This is an opportunity for us to highlight to everyone that even short moments of joy are very valuable to those who have no family or live alone,” Lee added. “We are fortunate to have community partners – like IEHP – who help us touch the lives of people in need of hope and positivity at this time of year.”      

of Riverside and San Bernardino families that rely on Medi-Cal benefits. To avoid a public health crisis after the annual redetermination process of Medi-Cal resumed this week, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Riverside County’s Department of Public Social Services and San Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department are coordinating a first-of-its-kind partnership. California warns that approximately 2-3 million Medi-Cal enrollees statewide could lose or see interruptions in their health care coverage during the process. “The annual redetermination process is one of the biggest efforts taking place in the history of the Medi-Cal program,” said IEHP Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton. “The partnership with the two counties demonstrates our commitment to making sure Inland Empire residents have continued coverage.” All three entities are working in tandem to share data and coordinate strategic outreach efforts to ensure residents undergoing the Medi-Cal renewal process complete and submit requested information. “The county and partner agencies are ready to help residents impacted through the redetermination process to keep these essential benefits,” said Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen. “We are reaching out to the 37,000 residents by mail and phone whose redeterminations are due in June. We’ve also alerted local hospitals, clinics, and health care providers. We will be reaching out to our impacted residents directly each month as their redeterminations come due.” Beginning this month, residents who receive Medi-Cal renewal packets in the mail must complete and send back the requested information included in the yellow renewal packets within 60 days or lose their Medi-Cal benefits. Members could start losing coverage as early as July 1, impacting current treatment of severe illnesses or chronic conditions and increasing out-of-pocket medical costs. “The County is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of those who depend on Medi-Cal benefits,” said San Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department Director Gilbert Ramos. “With the end of the federal Public Health Emergency, collaborating with IEHP and Riverside County will help raise awareness of the actions beneficiaries must take to maintain their health care coverage and in many cases their quality of life.”   In December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (CAA) – which stipulated the continuous coverage provision that prohibited states from disenrolling members from Medicaid since 2020, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency would expire at the end of March 2023. To prepare, IEHP has hired an eligibility team fully dedicated to helping IEHP members complete the Medi-Cal redetermination process. Each month after receiving lists of members coming up for renewal and updated and verified contact information from both counties, the IEHP team will reach out to members via text and/or phone to alert them this important packet is coming in the mail. “The County’s partnership will help beneficiaries stay informed of these next crucial steps to complete the requested information within the 60 days and ensure continuity of health care coverage,” said San Bernardino County’s Chief Executive Officer Leonard X. Hernandez. Once the packet is received, IEHP will assist the member in completing and submitting the required information, whether by phone or with one-on-one assistance at a community resource center. The IEHP team will continue checking in until the member has submitted the information by mail, phone, online, or at a local county Medi-Cal office. Medi-Cal members may also receive assistance through the county Medi-Cal office. The good news is Medi-Cal members whose household income now exceeds eligibility requirements won’t fall through the system. These members will be automatically enrolled into Covered California, the state health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. There, they may be eligible for a federally subsidized health plan. For more information or assistance, IEHP members may call the IEHP eligibility team at 1-888-860-1296. Non-IEHP members should visit benefitscal.com.

Department of Child Support Services, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) Community Resource Centers will host Roadshow Recruitment job fairs.  Events will be held at all three IEHP Community Resource Centers at the following dates and times:  Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at IEHP’s Riverside center, 3590 Tyler St., Suite 101, Riverside, Calif., 92503 Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at IEHP’s Victorville center, 12353 Mariposa Road, Suites C-2 & C-3, Victorville, Calif., 92395 Thursday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at IEHP’s San Bernardino center, 805 W. Second St., Suite C, San Bernardino, Calif., 92410 Each event will have about eight employers on site, all accepting applications and conducting interviews for various roles. Industry positions include jobs in retail, education, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, law enforcement, U.S. armed forces, administrative and more. Registration is required by filling out this form.  “With so many in need and right before the holidays, this job fair is greatly needed,” said IEHP Community Resource Center Manager Maria Gallegos. “We’re thrilled to connect our members and neighbors to trusted employers, who are actively looking to hire within our communities.” Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and to bring several copies of their resumes. Workshops for resume building will also be offered by Goodwill of Southern California.  “Our centers are an invaluable resource for our region because of our community partners and their willingness to consistently collaborate with us to support our most vulnerable residents,” said IEHP Community Resource Center Manager Delia Orosco. “We are eager to help facilitate these connections and foster growth in our neighborhoods because of events like these.” 

s, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) member Lavinia experienced panic and anxiety attacks that compounded her heart issues and led to more hospital visits.  IEHP team members identified Lavinia’s specialized needs and connected her to a pilot program with focused support coordination for patients with congestive heart failure.  By participating in the program, Lavinia received free, medically tailored meals; regular check-ins from IEHP case management representatives; and tools like a glucometer, blood pressure cuff and weight scale to encourage her health. The program also connected Lavinia to IEHP’s Health Navigator team, who conducted in-home visits.  “Being able to be that person that they can socialize with, laugh with – even for just, maybe 30 minutes that we were there, it made a whole difference in their life, knowing that they had that support,” said IEHP Health Navigator Lucia Reyes. IEHP Care Manager Jonathan Lee called Lavinia for weekly check-ins, receiving inspiring progress reports about following her diet of no salt/no sodium and partnering with her Providers on her road back to health. “IEHP was calling … ‘Lavinia, what can we do to help you?’ … And that’s what helped me because I realized there were people that cared,” said Lavinia. Today, more than 18 months after being discharged from the ER, Lavinia feels better and stronger and has learned how to control her weight, losing 44 pounds so far, crediting the tasty and healthy meals provided to her. “IEHP helped me be a better person – because if it wasn’t being part of that program, I don’t think I would be here,” Lavinia said. “They saved my life – thank you. You guys did more than what you know.” IEHP members who would like to learn more about medically tailored meals and community support services can reach out to their care managers to see if they qualify.  For more details and information on Lavinia’s story, follow IEHP on LinkedIn.    

Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE®) Eligibility, Claim Status, and Payment & Remittance Certification Seals. This means IEHP successfully completed an extensive testing process and review of national operating standards, enabling health plans and providers to electronically share large quantities of administrative data quickly and accurately. These rules and guidelines aim to improve the efficiency and improve national health care system costs. “Exceeding these standards is critical to ensuring our providers have the necessary information to provide the very best care to our members,” said Vinil Devabhaktuni, IEHP’s Chief Information Officer. “Our teams work tirelessly to build sustainable systems and processes to support this effort and will continue to find innovative solutions to support the ongoing needs of our members and providers.” Widely viewed as the industry “gold standard,” the CORE Certification illustrates IEHP’s commitment to the secure exchange of member data and timely provisions of health care services. The certification also demonstrates IEHP’s ongoing work effort adhering to the operating rules and their underlying standards, plus going above and beyond what is required. “Inland Empire Health Plan is demonstrating industry leadership,” said Robin J. Thomashauer, CAQH president. “Operating rules are most effective when everyone follows them, and today, thanks to IEHP, our nation’s health care system has taken another important step forward.” CAQH CORE is a collaboration of more than 130 participating organizations that work together to develop operating rules. Participants represent health care providers, health plans, vendors, associations, government entities and the organizations that set standards for health care and data exchange. CORE Certification is currently available for all currently published Operating Rule Sets. To learn more about IEHP visit  iehp.org. For more information about CAQH CORE, visit www.caqhcore.org.