Health Net Supports New "Specialty Connect" Program to Increase Access to Specialty Care for Sacramento Medi-Cal Members

Date: 01/27/23

Medi-Cal members can often struggle to get the specialty care they need in a timely manner due to a variety of factors. One of those factors can be a lack of access to specialists. Health Net worked with WellSpace Health (WellSpace) and UC Davis Health (UCDH) in support of a new program that will expand specialty referral access for their new program called Specialty Connect.

Specialty Connect embeds UC Davis Health specialty providers in WellSpace Health's Oak Park Community Health Center. This will increase access to care for historically underserved populations in the Sacramento Area.

Becky LaCroix-Milani, Vice President, Contracting & Network Development at Health Net joined WellSpace and UCDH to celebrate the new program on January 20, 2023. Specialty Connect launched earlier this month with a UCDH rheumatologist. A rheumatologist focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. There is also planning in progress to provide more specialized services that Medi-Cal patients urgently need.

"Specialists can be in short supply, and oftentimes, this can cause delays in care," said LaCroix-Milani. "Our partnership will provide access to much needed specialty care for Health Net's members in Sacramento. We're very excited to know that Specialty Connect will help people get more timely access to care, diagnostic testing and procedures."

Medi-Cal patients may be referred to specialty care that will be available through the Specialty Connect program, by their Primary Care Provider or through any of seven Federally Qualified Health Centers that serve the Sacramento region, including:

• Elica Health
• Health and Life Organization (HALO)
• One Community Health
• Peach Tree Health
• Sacramento County Primary Care Clinic
• Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC)
• WellSpace Health

Supporting Specialty Connect is another way in which Health Net demonstrates our commitment to increase access to care for our members. We will continue to work for a future where members will have even more options when it comes to getting the specialty care they need.

Jonathan Porteus, CEO of WellSpace Health, speaks at the joint press conference with UCDH on January 20, 2023.