Courtesy photo.
CENTRAL COAST — CenCal Health, the healthcare provider for nearly 180,000 Central Coast residents, marked its 10th anniversary operating in San Luis Obispo County with an evening of celebration and community recognitions on March 28.
Dr. Rene Bravo, M.D., F.A.A.P. of Bravo Pediatrics, and CenCal Health Board Member, served as Master of Ceremonies for the 10th Anniversary celebration and Awards ceremony. Dr. Bravo recalled his own childhood experience having been on Medi-Cal, and how happy he is to be able serve the CenCal Health membership as a pediatrician.
“CenCal Health means a lot to me personally because I’ve watched it since it has evolved into a bi-county health plan. CenCal Health has taken and created a safety net, which is irreplaceable on the Central Coast,” said Dr. Bravo. “Women, children, families have benefitted because of the good services of CenCal Health and its providers. I’m proud to be affiliated.”
Primary Care Provider 10-Year Service Awards were presented to physicians representing nine of CenCal Health’s local Providers and Provider groups: Central Coast Pediatrics; Community Health Centers of the Central Coast; William Morgan, M.D.; Pismo Family Practice; Bravo Pediatrics, Garry R. Kolb, M.D.; Warren H. Frankel, M.D.; Robert S. Firestone, M.D.; and Je?rey M. Bloom, M.D.
Legislative assistants for Senator William Monning, Congressman Salud Carbajal and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham joined Sherri Tarpchinoff Bennett, CenCal Health’s Director of Provider Services, to present the awards and recognition plaques to these valued Provider groups and individuals. The Awards presentation was followed by a heartfelt story from CenCal Health member Margaret Shepard.
Ron Castle, CEO of the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, concluded the evening’s program with a tribute to CenCal Health’s past and present leadership, acknowledging one of CenCal Health’s founding physicians, Dr. Larry Hart, and how Dr. Hart’s mission to help people get access to care continues to drive today’s CenCal Health.
CenCal Health CEO Bob Freeman bid guests and honorees a good evening with a final thought about the collaboration that makes quality healthcare a reality for so many local residents and families:
“Over the last decade, we have felt privileged to be the health insurance provider for so many families in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties,” said Freeman. “We look forward to many more years of continuing to provide our community members with the best, most reliable and comprehensive healthcare plan. We take pride in giving families the peace-of-mind in knowing that they have access to our vast network of primary care physicians, specialists, necessary medication, wellness resources, and our support.”
In the fall of 2018, CenCal health will also celebrate its 35th anniversary serving Santa Barbara County. The organization has earned an excellent rating among California’s Medicaid plans and was recently ranked fourth among the 36 health plans in California by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) in providing timely access to healthcare services for its membership.
About CenCal Health: CenCal Health provides health insurance for approximately 20 percent of residents in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, or nearly 180,000 members. CenCal Health coverage is accepted by the vast majority of local healthcare providers. CenCal Health has served the community for nearly 35 years, and provides education and assistance to its members in order to reduce potential health problems from chronic illness such as diabetes and asthma. For more information, visit www.cencalhealth.org or find CenCal Health on Facebook.