CalOptima’s Board of Directors appointed Michael Hunn Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective November 8. Michael brings more than 25 years of health care leadership experience and has held senior executive roles at various health plans, hospitals and health systems. “I look forward to upholding CalOptima’s mission of providing access to quality health care for Orange County residents,” Hunn said. “The opportunity to serve as Interim CEO reflects my personal and professional passion for improving the human experience and delivering health care services for diverse and under-resourced communities.” According to CalOptima Board Chair and Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do, Hunn will lead CalOptima while a search for a permanent CEO is conducted.

CalOptima thanks outgoing CEO Richard Sanchez for leading the agency through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and for remaining focused on CalOptima’s member-first mission. Richard served at the County of Orange since 2005 and became a member of CalOptima’s Board of Directors in March 2017, before joining the agency as Interim CEO in April 2020 and permanent CEO in November 2020.

Click here to read the full press release.

Reflecting a longstanding commitment to quality care for members, CalOptima was singled out for outstanding adult consumer satisfaction among Medi-Cal managed care plans in California. At its Managed Care Quality Awards on October 27, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) named CalOptima the winner of the 2021 Consumer Satisfaction Award – Adult for a large-scale plan. DHCS’ annual awards recognize managed care plans that excel in improving health care for millions of Medi-Cal members statewide.

The DHCS award is based on responses to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey, a standardized method CalOptima uses to collect information about the health plan and provider services. “Positive survey responses and satisfaction levels from our members reflect the tireless, unwavering dedication to delivering quality health care from CalOptima staff and Orange County providers, which is especially remarkable during a national health emergency,” said Chief Medical Officer Emily Fonda, M.D., MMM, CHCQM.

Click here for the full press release.

CalOptima’s Board of Directors recently approved the appointment of Kathleen Lear as Vice Chair of the Whole-Child Model Family Advisory Committee (WCM FAC). Katheen was previously appointed to the committee as a Consumer Advocate in October 2019, and currently serves as an Authorized Family Member Representative as of July 2021. Kathleen is the parent of a special needs child who receives California Children Services (CCS). She is also a substitute instructional assistant to special education children in the Los Alamitos Unified School District. In addition to her WCM FAC role, Kathleen serves as Chair of the Family Advisory Committee at CHOC Children’s . “I’m very excited to give back to the community,” said Kathleen about her recent appointment. “By providing a parent and family perspective on CalOptima’s Whole-Child Model, I hope to make a positive difference for the future of our children.”

Parents and legal guardians of children ages 5-11 can now schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. OC Health Care Agency’s mobile clinics offer the Comirnaty® (Pfizer) vaccine and can be found by visiting Othena.com. For more information and resources about the COVID-19 vaccine available for children ages 5-11, visit COVIDVaccineFacts.com.

In anticipation of increased travel during the upcoming winter holiday season, the OC Health Care Agency advises residents and visitors to adhere to guidelines for domestic and international travel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Click here to read the OC Health Care Agency’s press release.

On November 18, from 2:30–5 p.m. CalOptima and other public agencies and community-based organizations such as the OC Health Care Agency, the Orange County Department of Education and the American Cancer Society will host Escape the Vape! at the Ponderosa Park Family Resource Center in Anaheim.

The event was developed to educate children, teens and families about the harmful effects of smoking and vaping, and will feature various peer-to-peer education activities, including:

For more information, including event registration, click here.

Smile, California will host a Spanish-language Facebook Live presentation for Medi-Cal members on November 18, 2021, at

1 p.m. Participants will learn about Medi-Cal dental benefits and will have an opportunity to ask questions of the presenter(s). Participants who stay for the entire presentation will be entered in an opportunity drawing for a $50 gift card.

Join the State Council on Developmental Disabilities Orange County Office for the virtual Comprehensive Employment First Resource Review, which will be held on December 1 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Learn about tools and resources designed to advance competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities. Click here to register.

CalOptima Customer Service remains ready to respond to member needs as we adhere to guidelines to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission. Our building is closed to visitors. Members can call Customer Service from the safety of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have staff who speak their language. Members can also visit www.caloptima.org and access their member portal.