California Provider Networks for Brokers
Welcome to our new site experience to help you guide clients to quality care in California. Here you’ll find both new and familiar resources, including agent guides, provider spotlights, urgent care clinics and more agent tools.
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Improving health in California, one client at a time
Optum network doctors serve 300,000 members every year. Together we can help connect your community to high-quality, affordable care focused on better experiences and outcomes.
In Southern California, your clients can access:
- 15,000+ primary and specialty care providers
- 150+ local urgent care centers
- Clinics across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.
In Northern California, your clients can access:
- Hundreds of contracted primary and specialty care providers
- Local labs and urgent care centers
- Clinics throughout Santa Clara County, from Palo Alto to Gilroy
California growth leadership
See our full Optum CA Growth Team with contact information for support in your area.
Emilee Contreras
Growth Partner
emilee.contreras@optum.com
1-661-859-9830, TTY 711
Claire Ferrante
Growth Partner
cferrante1@optum.com
1-949-923-3436, TTY 711
Elijah German
IPA Growth Manager
elijah.german@optum.com
1-415-450-5461, TTY 711
Imran Quidwai
Growth Partner
imran.z.quidwai@optum.com
1-818-794-9879, TTY 711
Estella Robinson
Growth Partner
estella.robinson@optum.com
1-510-367-9974, TTY 711
Melissa Gutierrez
VP of Growth and Retention, California market
Melissa.Gutierrez1@optum.com
1-562-325-7279, TTY 711
Agent resources
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Guide
Optum Southern California Agent Guide
Our agent guide provides information you can use to help direct your clients to make the right choice for their health in Southern California.
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Guide
Optum Northern California Agent Guide
Our agent guide provides information you can use to help direct your clients to make the right choice for their health in Northern California.
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Guide
California Provider Spotlight
Find Optum network providers welcoming new patients in LA County, Orange County, Inland Empire, San Diego County and Santa Clara County.
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Guide
Contracted Urgent Care Center Guide
Explore our network of contracted urgent care centers across California.
Each network has a group of primary care doctors (PCPs), specialists and hospitals in the member’s area. This makes it easier for members to get the local care they need. It also offers more flexibility, thanks to our large, contracted network.
Optum group sites and contracted IPA clinics both offer flexibility and give members access to the Optum network. Optum-owned group clinics are fully owned and operated by Optum-affiliated medical groups. That means the providers at these clinics are Optum employees. Contracted IPA clinics are individually owned and operated. These clinics can still access our in-network contracted specialty doctors and hospitals but Optum is contracted with them rather than owning them.
Provider enrollment codes are on the health plan’s website. If you have any questions during this process, reach out to your Optum growth team contact.
Your client can change their PCP at any time. They simply need to contact their health plan to change their primary care provider to an Optum network doctor.
In most cases, yes. Providers in our network accept many different health insurance plans and types. You will just need to make sure that your client’s Optum network doctor is in-network on their new health plan. To confirm that a provider is in-network with your client's health plan for continuity of care, check the health plan’s website.
As needed, a member’s PCP will refer them to one of the thousands of specialty doctors in our network. Standard referrals are usually reviewed for authorization within 14 business days. Urgent referrals are reviewed within 72 hours. If a member has questions about their referral request, they can call their PCP’s office.
If a member has an existing specialist that is not in-network, they can work with their PCP office. The office will help them fill out a request for continuity of care, for review and approval by local medical director.
Members who get care at a group (Optum-owned) clinic can call our Patient Support Center at 1-800-403-4160, TTY 711. The Patient Support Center can answer questions about finding care, scheduling appointments, billing, referrals, medical records and more.
Members who get care at a contracted clinic should call their doctor's office for more support.
For questions about contracted urgent care, members should call the urgent care clinic they’d like to visit to verify whether the Optum California Network is accepted.
Additional patient support and resources include:
- Upcoming Medicare events for your clients
- Patient Resource Center for health education and new member resources
- DispatchHealth® for in-home urgent care in Orange County, call 1-888-635-8670, TTY 711
Download a copy of our recent issues here:
Industry updates
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This edition of Notable New Drugs includes new treatments for high cholesterol, excessive daytime sleepiness and autoimmune disease that offer promising results and improved competition.
Article
A transparent fee-based model, real-time tools, and integrated pharmacy care help plan sponsors achieve affordability, predictability and better member outcomes.
Report
This edition of Notable New Drugs includes another oral GLP-1, the first preventative treatment for COVID-19 and the most effective oral drug for plaque psoriasis.
Better health outcomes, every day
To help ensure your clients get the care they need, when they need it, we deliver value-based care. This means we define success not by the number of services our members receive but by the quality of their experience and outcomes.
Optum care teams focus on preventive care, study the latest scientific research and take a holistic approach to physical, mental and emotional health. This can result in:
- Lower health care costs
- Fewer ER visits and hospitalizations
- More timely preventive care*
Urgent care choices in California
For non-emergency health issues when their primary care doctor isn't available, Optum members can visit one of our 150+ contracted urgent care centers across California. Many offer walk-in care on weekends, holidays and evenings. Plus, urgent care often costs less and is faster than the ER.
Patients of Optum-owned clinics can also call our 24/7 nurse line at 1-800-403-4160, TTY 711, for guidance on symptoms and where to go for care.
See our contracted urgent care centers: Urgent Care Center Guide
