IEHP Celebrates 15 Years of Building a Healthy Community

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) – one of the largest public health plans in California and recognized for organizing care to more than 1.4 million people in the Inland Empire since 1996 – celebrates its 15-year anniversary today.

At its San Bernardino headquarters, IEHP is celebrating this significant milestone with its team members, healthcare providers and community partners under the theme of, "Building a Healthy Community…Working Together, Growing Together."  

On July 26, 1994, IEHP was established as the "Local Initiative" under a Medi-Cal managed care 2-plan model in the Inland Empire. On September 1, 1996, IEHP commenced operations with 62,000 Medi-Cal members and over 650 physicians and other providers.

Today – IEHP membership has increased to more than 515,000 in four healthcare coverage programs: Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Healthy Kids and a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan. The IEHP provider network has grown to more than 3,000 physicians and other providers.

"We are proud to have reached 15 years in serving the community," said Dr. Bradley Gilbert, IEHP chief executive officer. "IEHP's strength comes from working with providers and community partners who share our vision for providing the highest quality care to our members."

Through the years, IEHP has gained wide attention for its many accomplishments:

• In 2000, IEHP was the first Medicaid-only plan in California to earn an Accreditation status for its Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
• IEHP was ranked the No. 1 Medicaid Plan in California in 2008 by U.S. News and World Report
• IEHP is one of five Medicare Advantage health plans in the nation to earn a 5-star rating in 2010 for its Medicare Part D quality and performance by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• IEHP ranked in the 90th percentile four consecutive years for Member Services, according to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey

"IEHP's track record underscores its commitment to the community," said Gary Ovitt, Chairman of the IEHP Governing Board. "It's evident that IEHP has led the way in creating a healthy community and will carry on that mission into the future."

As the future unveils a transformed healthcare landscape stemming from the historic federal healthcare reform bill, IEHP is ready to pursue tomorrow with vision and commitment in serving the community.  

IEHP, Inland Empire Health Plan, a Knox-Keene licensed health plan located in San Bernardino, California, is a not-for-profit public entity. The IEHP service area includes San Bernardino and Riverside counties and currently serves over 510,000 members in the following programs: Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Healthy Kids, and a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan. www.iehp.org.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)