#United States #California #Centene Corporation #Health Net #Medi-Cal

Major Investment for Healthier Communities in California

Health Net has made a remarkable commitment exceeding $284 million between 2020 and 2025, aimed at fostering community-based programs that expand access to essential medical, behavioral, wellness, and social services for Medi-Cal members. As a key player among California's Medi-Cal managed care health plans and a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, Health Net's recent financial efforts reflect its long-standing mission to enhance healthcare quality.

Dorothy Seleski, president of Health Net's Medi-Cal plan, emphasizes that healthcare should encompass more than just physical treatment. She states, "Good healthcare is more than addressing physical medical needs. Safe housing, nutritious food, and established local connections can significantly impact health outcomes." This statement drives the foundation of their investments in holistic resources designed to foster community well-being.

Creating New Opportunities

Health Net's partnerships with hundreds of local organizations play a vital role in breaking down health barriers such as housing insecurity, food scarcity, and transportation costs. Notably, their investments have led to:

• - Improved Health Outcomes: Services like medically tailored meals, street medicine, and patient doulas have collectively worked towards better chronic disease management, lower emergency incidents, and enhanced care coordination.
• - Stable Living Conditions: The strategy to address homelessness and housing instability has helped many families find permanent housing, ensuring their safety and reducing environmental stressors.
• - Reliable Access to Healthcare: Innovative transport solutions, tele-mental health, and expanded community services have minimized missed medical appointments while bridging existing treatment gaps.
• - Better Maternal Results: Collaborations aimed at supporting maternal health have seen significant reductions in C-section rates for Black mothers.
• - Effective Condition Management: Sustained nutrition education fosters medication adherence and chronic condition control.

Addressing Homelessness Head-On

Part of Health Net's significant investments has gone towards combatting homelessness in Los Angeles. In partnership with L.A. Care Health Plan, they allocated $34 million in 2023 specifically to tackle the housing crisis. This financial boost aims to secure leases for approximately 1,900 housing units and to fund necessary support services like maintenance and pest control.

A member who benefited from these services remarked, "When my diabetes was out of control, my physician assistant visited me almost daily at my tent. She helped me manage my medicines, and now my blood sugar is the best it has ever been. I’m feeling rejuvenated and grateful for her help and support."

In addition to efforts in Los Angeles, Health Net committed another $37 million to produce over 900 low-income housing units throughout California.

Combatting Food Insecurity

Additionally, recognizing the plight of food deserts, Health Net and the Centene Foundation granted $1.1 million to the California Association of Food Banks in 2025 to confront the troubling reality of food insecurity. This funding is aimed at bolstering emergency food responses and enhancing infrastructure, enabling local food banks to distribute more nutritious foods.

Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria highlights the impact of such investments: "When rural families face dining struggles, the entire community feels it. Such collaborations build a stronger, healthier future for everyone."

Improving Healthcare Access

The mobile clinic initiative spearheaded by Health Net received $7.2 million in 2025 to enhance healthcare access for Californians. These units offer preventive measures, screenings, and health education right in community neighborhoods, effectively bridging transportation and time-related barriers that many face.

Partnerships established with health organizations such as AltaMed and Community Medical Centers have proved essential in directly delivering vital care and reinforcing connections with the communities.

Advancing Maternal Care Solutions

A glance at Health Net's maternal healthcare initiatives showcases a stark change in C-section rates among Black mothers in Los Angeles which decreased from 70% to 10%. This was significantly supported by a substantial grant to organizations like the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, emphasizing the necessity for robust investment in community-led solutions.

Dana Sherrod, the executive director, notes: "Sustained investment in Black-led organizations is key to creating impactful change. Health Net recognized our needs early and has provided the necessary support that helps us make a tangible difference in our communities."

Contributing to a Healthier California

Another impactful collaboration with Project Angel Food has delivered over one million medically customized meals to Medi-Cal families between 2023 and 2025. The provided meal service includes nutritional counseling, medicines, and other support vital for chronic disease management and overall wellness.

Health Net’s comprehensive investments underscore their mission to transform communities while striving to reduce health disparities throughout California. Each initiative illustrates their commitment to forging pathways toward a healthier, more inclusive state. For further insights into Health Net's community coherence strategies, visit Health Net's Bridging the Divide site.

About Health Net

Founded over 45 years ago, Health Net is dedicated to offering a safety net for health irrespective of one’s income, age, or current health status. With over three million members across California and 117,000 network providers, Health Net stands committed to innovating healthcare solutions. Visit Health Net's official site for more details on their services.