The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37799

Linda Jones, Community Outreach & Education, L.A.Care Health Plan, 555 W. Fifth Street, 29th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013-1054, 213.694.1250 x4196, ljones@lacare.org

L.A. Care Health Plan is a non-profit, community accountable health maintenance organization that serves more than 740,000 residents of L.A. County who particpate in the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families(California's Medicaid and SCHIP)programs. L. A. Care Health Plan has five plan partners that provide medical services to the members. Our mission is to help our members receive quality health care from doctors and other medical professionals who understand and respect them. To provide an opportunity for our consumer members to act as true stakeholders, L. A. Care has designated 11 regional areas within the county, and each area has a Regional Community Advisory Committee(RCAC). The RCACs serve as the forum for L.A. Care members, community advocates and providers to discuss issues related to health care services and needs. Additionally, the monthly meetings are an opportunity to plan collaborative regional health promotion activities. Examples of some of the activities planned and implemented by RCAC members include community forums on asthma, diabetes, and domestic violence, first aid training, and advocacy activities with both local and state legislators. Each of the chairpersons of the 11 RCACs serve on the Executive Community Advisory Committee(ECAC). Concerns discussed at RCAC meetings may be brought to the ECAC by the local chairperson. The ECAC may help resolve local concerns or may take requests for policy change to the Board of Governors. The staff of the Community Outreach and Education Department supports the function and activities of the RCACs.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the benefits of involving all stakeholders in the decision making process of managed care health plans.
• Identify ways that stakeholder involvement can be introduced into the system currently in place.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.