The California Medical Association (CMA) recently learned that Partnership HealthPlan of California’s contract with Dignity Health expired as of March 31, 2024, and the parties have been unable to come to terms on a new contract agreement.

Partnership HealthPlan of California is a nonprofit health care organization that administers Medi-Cal benefits to 900,000 low-income Californians across 24 counties. The contract termination affects more than 64,000 Medi-Cal patients in five Northern California counties – Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Yolo.

Patients may in certain circumstances be able to continue to see their physicians under California’s continuity of care laws. Under Health and Safety Code §1373.96, patients can request continuity of care for ongoing treatment of an acute condition, serious chronic condition, pregnancy or terminal illness. Continuity of care can also be requested for children between birth and 36 months, and for the performance of a surgery or other procedure that has already been authorized.

For more information on continuity of care requirements, see CMA health law library document #7051, “Contract Termination By Physicians and Continuity of Care Provisions.”

Any patient with challenges accessing Continuity of Care can contact the Partnership Care Coordination team at (800) 809-1350. Other questions can be directed to Partnership Member Services at (800) 863-4155.