VENTURA, Calif, June 1, 2023 – Dignity Health Medical Foundation (DHMF) announced today that Valley Care Independent Physician Association, a Medical Group (VCIPA), will now operate as part of Dignity Health Medical Network – Ventura (DHMN – Ventura), an affiliate of DHMF. VCIPA was established in 1994, with the goal to provide local families with a choice of physicians practicing in Santa Paula and Fillmore. They have since expanded their service area throughout Ventura County.

The agreement, which keeps the physicians independent and local, is expected to bring about additional benefits to the community, including more integrated and affordable services for patients, access to a state-wide network of care, additional support for independent physicians, and increased physician recruitment to serve the community’s health care needs.

As part of the agreement, DHMF has acquired VCIPA’s HMO health plan administrative functions and their HMO physician network. As part of the agreement, Camarillo-based Identity Management Services Organization (IdMSO) which provides practice and medical management services for the VCIPA independent provider practices is joining the Dignity Health family and will continue to support the Ventura medical network.

“I am excited for Dignity's acquisition of Valley Care IPA and anticipate that our patients and physicians will see enhanced quality and level of service as their footprint grows.” said Dr. Micah Dickey, Regional Medical Director, Dignity Health Medical Foundation.

There is no action for Valley Care IPA members (patients) to take today as a result of this change. If they have questions, they are encouraged to call Valley Care IPA’s Customer Service Representatives at 805-604-3332. Members may continue to see their same primary and specialty care providers and do not need to change health plans. Members will continue to experience the same quality services and local customer service. There will be a period of co-branding between Valley Care IPA and Dignity Health Medical Network as the new name is introduced to the community. Members may see either name listed on their insurance card depending on their insurance provider as part of this transition. Both names give members the same access to the network and their provider of choice.

"By partnering with Valley Care IPA Affiliate, the members of our community will now have a greater selection of locally based, independent physicians to choose from, while having access to the resources here at our St. John's hospitals," says Barry Wolfman, President and CEO, St. John's hospitals. "This is an excellent opportunity for the families we serve, as they will have more options available to them through the Dignity Health Medical Network - Ventura.

DHMN is Dignity Health Medical Foundation’s managed care health plan contracting entity for independent physician associations (IPAs) in California, providing the support and resources to help IPAs better serve their managed care patients. It partners with providers, hospitals, and health care delivery systems to create networks that deliver value for the communities they serve.

“Our long-standing partnership with Dignity Health and Dignity Health Medical Foundation has been successful for both our providers and our valued patients,” said Sonya Araiza, Chief Executive Officer of IdMSO. “This affiliation builds on our existing collaboration and allows us to better serve our community, while remaining independent.”

“Valley Care IPA has been an essential health care partner for our Ventura County communities,” said Anthony Quan, vice president of operations, Dignity Health Medical Foundation, Southern and Central California. “We look forward to this newly formed relationship, as we partner to broaden our services and strengthen our delivery of high quality and affordable health care choices to the community.”

DHMF supports physician medical groups, independent physician associations, and network providers, representing 1,500 employed and independent providers across California. This includes Dignity Health Medical Group — Ventura, with 11 locations in Ventura County, serving the health care needs of Camarillo, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Ventura. They offer an integrated care delivery system that provides high-quality, compassionate care in family medicine, pediatrics, and cardiology.

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About Dignity Health Medical Foundation
Dignity Health Medical Foundation, established in 1990, is a not-for-profit organization providing award-winning and patient-centered ambulatory services in a variety of areas including primary and specialty care, diagnostic imaging, vision, occupational health, urgent care, and behavioral health. Dignity Health Medical Foundation collaborates with physician medical groups, Independent Physician Associations (IPAs), and network providers representing 1,500 employed and independent providers across California. For more information on Dignity Health Medical Foundation and the wide range of services it provides, please visit www.dhmf.org

About Valley Care IPA
When Valley Care IPA was established in 1994, its goal was to provide local families with a choice of physicians practicing in Santa Paula and Fillmore. Since that time, we have expanded our service throughout Ventura County. Valley Care IPA is comprised of physicians who have cared for members of our community for many years and have joined together to better serve the needs of area residents. Our physicians are dedicated to providing health care of the highest quality, delivered with care and compassion., please visit https://valleycareipa.com/