HEALTHmattersMD

This spring, the Ravenswood Family Health Network will open a brand-new dental clinic in Redwood City at 525 Veterans Boulevard with support from the Sequoia Healthcare District and the Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM). HPSM was honored to help support the expansion of this clinic by providing funding for new dental chairs as well as a dental assistant training program.      

With this investment by HPSM, Ravenswood expects to serve more than 1,000 HPSM members who are new to their system in the clinic’s first year, and nearly 3,000 by year three. The dental assistant training program will also strengthen the local workforce by preparing five to ten new dental assistants over two years. These improvements will help reduce wait times, increase access and support long-term oral health for thousands of people.

Access to dental care is critical to HPSM’s goal of achieving better overall health outcomes for our members by seamlessly integrating dental, medical and mental health care. That is why, in 2023, we proudly launched HPSM Dental – California's first and only dental plan for Medi-Cal members that is fully integrated with medical and mental health care benefits. Despite improvements to access in recent years, many HPSM members still struggle to find timely dental appointments. This new clinic addresses the growing need for dental care in our network. Ravenswood is one of the largest providers of dental care for our members and has a strong history of expanding services where they are needed most.

Starting January 1, 2026, the Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) removed all frequency limits for pediatric well visits for Medi-Cal members aged 0-21 years old. This is in reference to Preventive Medicine Service codes 993981-5 and 99391-5. 

Previously, HPSM denied claims if frequency exceeded a maximum threshold by member age. By removing restrictions on payments based on periodicity schedules, HPSM hopes to offer providers increased flexibility and completion of well visits among pediatric members.

While the codes 993981-5 and 99391-5 are included in the scope of HPSM’s primary care partial capitation, claims will now be paid at the allowable amount under either of the following scenarios:

1. Primary care provider receiving HPSM primary care partial capitation has billed for Preventive Medicine Services rendered to HPSM Medi-Cal members who are not assigned to their group for primary care
2. Primary care provider not eligible for or opted-in to partial capitation has billed for Preventive Medicine Services rendered to any HPSM Medi-Cal member

Last year, the Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) made true on its promise to invest in primary care in San Mateo County to help our network tackle the primary care crisis and lay the groundwork for advanced primary care. Through four new provider grants, HPSM’s commission has already approved $10 million for primary care practices across our county to stabilize, expand and/or enhance the way primary care teams do their work.

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Primary Care Provider Grants, here are some important metrics from the program’s first year:

There’s still time to apply for grants

Funding will be available until 2028 or until it runs out. Our four Primary Care Provider Grants are: 

1. Primary Care Team Expansion Grant – Hire and integrate new interprofessional team members 
2. Core Team Stabilization Grant – Recruit and retain primary care providers and medical assistants
3. Provider Sabbatical Grant – Retain providers by enhancing resilience through sabbatical
4. Custom Pilot Grant – Design pilots and programs that improve primary care team capacity, bandwidth and joy