Helpful Links

LACMA is an advocacy organization supporting physicians and their patients. We are unable, however, to resolve specific patient inquiries such as bills or claims, medical necessity or similar complaints patients may have regarding insurance companies, health plans or physician offices. There are many excellent resources devoted to helping patients with these concerns. Below are some resources that may be of assistance:

California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC)
The HMO Help Center is a part of the DMHC. The DMHC oversees HMOs and some other health plans in California. The HMO Help Center can help you with your complaint and can also provide you with an Independent Medical Review (IMR), if you qualify. Call 888-HMO-2219; the TDD line is 877-688-9891. The HMO Help Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can provide help in many languages.

California Department of Insurance (CDI)
The CDI regulates point-of-service and certain Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) health plans. The CDI toll-free number, dedicated to the handling of complaints and inquiries is 800-927-HELP for all areas of California except area codes 213, 310, and 818, for which you should dial 213-897-8921; the TDD line is 800-482-4833. The CDI also provides a simple complaint form, which is available at www.insurance.ca.gov.

Medicare: How to Get Help
Free individual counseling about Medicare and other health care issues is available through the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). HICAP counseling is available in every county in California. For counseling or more information call 800-434-0222 or visit www.cahealthadvocates.org.

MEDI-CAL Managed Care Office of the Ombudsman
The Medi-Cal Managed Care Office of the Ombudsman helps solve problems from a neutral standpoint to ensure that Medi-Cal patients receive medically necessary covered services for which plans are contractually responsible. The Ombudsman considers all sides in an impartial and objective way and develops fair solutions to health care access problems. Contact 888-452-8609.

Medline Plus
MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.

Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney
If you believe your health insurance company has wrongfully denied or delayed your claim and/or cancelled your coverage, please contact Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. Should an investigation warrant legal action, the City Attorney may seek injunctive relief, restitution for victims and civil penalties. For more information contact 213-978-8100.

Patient Support Groups

• ALS Association
• Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorders Association
• American Cancer Society
• American Diabetes Association
• American Heart Association
• American Liver Foundation
• American Lung Association
• American Melanoma Foundation
• American Red Cross
• Arthritis Foundation
• Autism Society of American
• Burn Institute
• Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
• Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Devic's Disease / NMO
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Fresh Start Surgical Gifts
• Huntington's Disease Society of America
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Lupus Foundation of Southern California
• Mental Health Association
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, San Diego Chapter
• NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
• National Kidney Foundation
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Neuropathy Action Foundation
• Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
• Spastic Paraplegia Foundation
• Transverse Myeltits Association
• United Cerebral Palsy

No Cost or Low Cost Healthcare in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County residents can get needed medical care at no cost or at low cost at Los Angeles County hospitals and clinics.

YOU CAN GET NEEDED MEDICAL CARE AT NO COST OR AT LOW COST. To get it, you must be unable to pay the full cost of your medical care. And you must have charges which Medi-Cal, Medicare, private insurance, or other medical benefits won't fully cover. YOU CAN GET NEEDED MEDICAL CARE EVEN IF YOU CAN'T PAY IN ADVANCE, if you qualify for any of the plans listed below:

Ability to Pay Plan (ATP) and Outpatient Reduced-Cost Simplified Application (ORSA)
Under these plans, you can get medical care, including prenatal and maternity services, at County hospitals and clinics at no cost or at low cost. If you get medical care at no cost under ATP/ORSA, you can get medicines at no cost. If you get clinic care at lower cost, you get medicines at no extra cost. Although you can get these plans at any County medical center, you can apply for them only at specified centers.

For more information, see our ATP Fact Sheet , ORSA Fact Sheet, or visit the Department of Public Social Services Website.

Pre-Payment Plan
Use this plan at any County medical center for clinic care. If you pay within seven days of treatment, you do not have to prove your income, other resources, or family size. For each visit to the clinic, you pay:

• $60 at County Hospital Outpatient Clinics except emergency room visits ($50 for prenatal services for the first seven visits; remaining prenatal visits at no charge)
• $50 at Health Centers or at Comprehensive Health Centers except Urgent Care Center visits ($50 for prenatal services for the first seven visits; remaining prenatal visits at no charge)
• $65 at Comprehensive Health Center Urgent Care Center
• $100 at County Hospital Emergency Rooms
• $300 at Hospital Outpatient Surgery Clinics

Child Delivery Plan
This plan covers labor and delivery service for pregnant women. For herself, each mother must pay $1500 within seven days after she leaves the hospital. For her baby, each mother must apply for Medi-Cal.

Kidney Dialysis, Tuberculosis, and Post Polio Plans
Special low-cost plans cover these services. Apply for them at the center where the treatment is given.

No Extra Cost Medicines
All clinic patients can get medicines at no extra cost for emergency and public health services.