Member Handbook - Los Angeles County Department of Health ...

Medi-Cal Member Handbook / Benefit Year 2006-2007Let’s get started:How do I get health care?In this handbook, we will call your primary carephysician “your PCP doctor.” Your PCP doctor isresponsible for making sure you get the medicalcare you need and are entitled to.You were asked to choose a primary care physician(PCP) doctor and a health plan when youfilled out the Medi-Cal enrollment form. Sometimeswe cannot give you the PCP doctor youchoose. Some of the reasons are:• the doctor is not taking new patients;• the doctor does not work with the health planyou chose;• the doctor only sees patients of a certain ageor only women (Ob/Gyns);• the doctor does not work with L.A. Care.If you did not get the PCP doctor or health planyou chose, call L.A. Care at 1-888-452-2273 tosee if that PCP doctor or health plan is available.Each member has a PCP doctor. A PCP doctorcan even be a clinic. You can pick one PCPdoctor for all members of your family in Medi-Cal. Or, you can pick a different PCP doctor foreach member of your family in Medi-Cal.Women can choose an Ob/Gyn or family planningclinic as their PCP doctor.Your PCP doctorYour PCP doctor gives you “primary” – or basicmedical care. Health care services you can getfrom your PCP doctor include:not sick, like when you need shots. It is importantto see your PCP doctor even when youare not sick!• Sick care. These visits are when you see yourPCP doctor when you are not feeling well.When you need a check-up or if you get sick,you need to go to your PCP doctor. Call yourPCP doctor. The phone number is on your IDcard.Start getting your care now! Call yourPCP doctor for a check-up.It is important for a new member to get a checkupeven if you are not sick. Be sure to schedulethis check-up soon after becoming a L.A.Care/Community Health Plan member. Call yourPCP doctor today to make an appointment fora “new member check-up.” This visit is alsocalled a “well visit” or “initial health assessment.”Your PCP doctor’s telephone number ison your L.A. Care/Community Health Plan IDcard.This first visit is important. Your PCP doctorlooks at your medical history, finds out what yourhealth is today, and can begin any new treatmentyou might need. You and your PCP doctor willalso talk about preventive care. This is care thathelps “prevent” you from getting sick or diseases.And, remember, children need to get a check-upevery year, even when they are not sick to makesure they are healthy and growing properly.L.A. Care gives rewards to babies and teens whoget check-ups! Call L.A. Care for more information.• Routine care.• Check-ups (also called “well-visits”). This iswhen you see your PCP doctor when you are5Community Health Plan Member Services Department toll-free 1-800-475-5550L.A. Care Health Plan Member Services Department toll-free 1-888-4LA-Care or 1-888-452-2273