All plan patient records will be held at a secure location until each member picks a new Primary Care Physician, the release said. Members have until April 22 to choose their new doctors. After that date, the plan will assign new primary doctors to members whom have not yet chosen one.
Once notified by the member’s new doctor, the plan will forward each patient’s records to the appropriate doctor or medical center. Plan administrators said in the release that, should a member not like the chosen doctor, he or she can change.
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“The community is very saddened [by the closure of CFMC], and concerned about their health coverage,” said health plan Member Services and Outreach Director Carolyn Thon in a prepared release. “It’s important for all our members to know that their health coverage continues, and that we’re doing everything we can to help them select new (primary physicians).”
Of the 2,000 Health Plan of San Mateo members affected by the clinic closing, more than half have already been assigned to new primary doctors — some to private-practice physicians in the Half Moon Bay area.
Last week health plan staff gave out 390 change of physician forms — and have already received back 292 completed forms. In addition, a bilingual (English-Spanish) plan representative will be at 1131 Main St. in Half Moon Bay at 6 p.m. tonight, and at 6 p.m. at 2001 Miramontes Point Road in Moonridge on Thursday, to assist members who are day laborers or were otherwise not able to attend last week’s information sessions. “We just want to ensure that our members continue to get the coverage and medical care they need,” said Thon.
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