More At-Risk Californians Find Housing and Get Access to Medical and Other Care thanks to More Than $284 Million in Investments This Decade by Health Net
MWN-AI** Summary
Health Net, a major Medi-Cal managed care health plan in California, has made significant strides in addressing the needs of at-risk populations through an investment of over $284 million between 2020 and 2025. This funding aims to enhance community-based healthcare access for Medi-Cal members, acknowledging that a holistic approach—including safe housing, nutritious food, and reliable care—is essential for overall well-being.
Under the leadership of Dorothy Seleski, Health Net emphasizes the importance of meeting patients where they are, offering critical services beyond conventional medical care. The organization's partnership with local California agencies focuses on reducing homelessness, improving healthcare accessibility, and addressing food insecurity. Noteworthy initiatives include a $34 million investment to secure nearly 1,900 housing units in Los Angeles and a recent $1.1 million grant to the California Association of Food Banks to combat rising food insecurity affecting 1 in 5 Californians.
Health Net's commitment extends to improving maternal healthcare outcomes, notably through The Community Doula Project, which saw C-section rates among Black mothers drop significantly. Additional resources, such as mobile clinics aimed at overcoming transportation barriers and a partnership with Project Angel Food to deliver over 1 million medically tailored meals, highlight the breadth of Health Net's efforts.
The overall impact of these investments has fostered better health outcomes for Medi-Cal members, enhanced stability through housing solutions, and improved access to necessary medical and social services. Health Net's multifaceted approach and strong community collaborations reflect its dedication to building healthier, more resilient communities across California.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Health Net's strategic investment of over $284 million in California’s community-based programs from 2020 to 2025 illustrates a profound commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of at-risk populations. As the state grapples with challenges such as homelessness, food insecurity, and healthcare access, these initiatives not only enhance the lives of Medi-Cal members but also present various market opportunities for investors and businesses to engage in sustainable healthcare solutions.
Investments in housing stability, like securing leases for 1,900 housing units in Los Angeles, exemplify a model that aligns with growing trends favoring social responsibility. Companies that can partner with such initiatives or integrate similar socially-focused programs could gain consumer loyalty, especially as public awareness of corporate social responsibility rises.
Furthermore, the focus on nutrition and preventive healthcare—evidenced by Health Net’s collaboration with partners to deliver medically tailored meals—presents untapped market segments for businesses specializing in nutritional products and services. Investors in health tech could also explore opportunities to integrate advanced data analytics within these community health programs to drive efficiency and improve health outcomes.
Transportation barriers, addressed through mobile health units, reveal a critical service gap in healthcare delivery systems. Companies involved in logistics, telehealth, or mobile services could establish partnerships with such programs, allowing them to broaden their outreach and enhance the patient experience.
Additionally, given the demonstrable impact on birth outcomes through targeted interventions, there's significant potential for pharmaceutical and prenatal care sectors to innovate tailored solutions, particularly in underserved communities.
In summary, Health Net’s investment strategy not only contributes to improving lives but also opens a path for businesses to engage in impactful initiatives and explore lucrative opportunities in the evolving healthcare market. Stakeholders should remain vigilant for similar ventures that align with ethical practices and community engagement, as they are likely to yield long-term financial benefits while making a tangible difference in underserved populations.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
From 2020 to 2025, Health Net's investments have fueled community-based programs to expand access to medical, behavioral, wellness and social services for Medi-Cal members
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most experienced Medi-Cal managed care health plans and a company of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), invested more than $284 million to strengthen and support community-based organizations from 2020 to 2025. This investment underscores Health Net's decades-long work to advancing access to quality healthcare, including medical, behavioral, nutritional, and supportive services.
"Good healthcare is more than addressing physical medical needs," said Dorothy Seleski, Medi-Cal plan president at Health Net. "At Health Net, we know safe housing, a full table, and trusted local relationships make a real difference. That's why we invest in partnerships, programs, and resources that meet people where they are. We connect members with housing options, nourishing food, dependable care and practical support, like transportation, to help them stay well. We're proud to stand with community organizations that turn immediate support into lasting opportunity."
Health Net continues to partner with hundreds of local California organizations to advance access to care and tackle barriers to health. This includes addressing the lack of housing, food deserts, transportation costs, and more. As a result, more Medi-Cal members now experience:
- Better Health: Medically tailored meals, street medicine, doulas, and coordinated care improve chronic disease control (e.g., diabetes), lower C-section rates, reduce catastrophic medical incidents requiring emergency response and much more.
- More stability and safety: Permanent housing placements and on-site supportive services reduce exposure to violence, illness, and environmental stressors.
- More reliable access to care: Transportation assistance, tele-mental health for students, and community-based services reduce missed appointments and help close more treatment gaps.
- Better birth outcomes: Doula support sharply reduces risky C-sections and maternal complications, especially for Black mothers.
- Stronger condition management: Nutrition education and sustained support help increase medication adherence and improve chronic disease control.
The following examples illustrate key initiatives supported through these investments:
Addressing Homelessness
Health Net has invested millions of dollars over time to address homelessness and housing instability in Los Angeles, supporting both immediate health needs and long?term housing solutions. In 2023, Health Net, in partnership with L.A. Care Health Plan, invested $34 million to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County. The investment is helping secure leases of as many as 1,900 housing units and funding critical services such as maintenance, pest control, and greenspace to support resident stability.
"When my diabetes was out of control, my physician assistant came to see me almost every day at my tent," a Health Net member who received street medicine services through Wesley Health Centers on Skid Row shared. "She helps me take my medicine, and now my sugars are the best they have ever been… I feel so much better, like I can start to get my life together. I am so grateful for her and her team."
In addition to these Los Angeles–focused collaborations, Health Net has committed an additional $37 million to expand the supply of affordable housing statewide, supporting the development of more than 900 new low?income housing units currently in progress across California.
Reducing Food Deserts
Health Net and the Centene Foundation committed a $1.1 million grant to the California Association of Food Banks in 2025 to help address the growing food insecurity crisis impacting 1 in 5 Californians. This funding bolsters emergency food responses and enhanced infrastructure—such as refrigerated trucks and cold storage—to distribute more nutrient-rich foods to 10 local food banks.
"When families in rural communities struggle to put food on the table, the entire community feels the impact," said Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, California's 27th Assembly District. "This investment from Health Net and the Centene Foundation strengthens local food banks and ensures that neighbors can support neighbors during these challenging times. By working together, we're building stronger, healthier communities for the future."
Overcoming Transportation Barriers
In 2025, Health Net and the Centene Foundation invested more than $7.2 million to expand healthcare access for Californians through mobile clinics. These mobile units offer preventive care, screenings, health education, and social services in community settings, helping reduce common barriers such as transportation and time away from work.
Through partnerships with AltaMed, Community Medical Centers, Kaweah Health, and Vision y Compromiso, the initiative brought essential care directly to neighborhoods, making services more accessible and building stronger connections between providers and the communities they serve.
Advancing Maternal Healthcare
C-section rates among Black mothers in Los Angeles dropped from 70% to 10% within just six months, thanks in large part to The Community Doula Project. This is in part due to a $150,000 grant in 2023 to support the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, the Preterm Birth Initiative at UCSF, and Cherished Futures for Black Moms & Babies, all of which contributed to this important outcome.
"To create lasting change, we need sustained investment in Black-led organizations, along with clear accountability and transparency," said Dana Sherrod, executive director of the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice. "We're grateful that Health Net recognized the importance of this work early on. Their support helped strengthen our foundation, and we hope it inspires others to step forward and invest in solutions that truly make a difference."
Delivering Medically Tailored Meals
A partnership with Project Angel Food delivered over 1 million medically tailored meals annually to Medi-Cal members through CalAIM from 2023 to 2025. In addition to meal delivery, the program provides twice-daily medically tailored meals for at least 12 weeks and includes nutrition counseling designed to improve health outcomes, support chronic disease management, and enhance overall well-being for participating members.
These initiatives represent just a fraction of Health Net's broader strategy to leverage data, partnerships, and community engagement to improve whole-person care and reduce health disparities across California.
Health Net's $284 million commitment is a testament to its mission of transforming communities and creating a healthier California for all.
To learn more about Health Net's local commitments, visit www.bridgingthedivideca.com.
About Health Net
Founded in California more than 45 years ago, Health Net, LLC ("Health Net"), a company of Centene Corporation, believes that every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare. With more than 117,000 of our network providers, Health Net serves more than three million members across the state. We also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services and managed healthcare products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans and services available through Health Net and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net and Centene Corporation employ more than 5,700 people in California who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com.
SOURCE Health Net
FAQ**
How does Health Net's investment of more than $284 million, under Centene Corporation CNC, specifically address the challenges faced by at-risk populations, particularly regarding housing and healthcare access?
Can Health Net provide data on the improvement of health outcomes for Medi-Cal members as a result of their initiatives funded by Centene Corporation CNC?
What role does Centene Corporation CNC play in supporting the long-term sustainability of community-based programs funded by Health Net's investments in California?
How are Health Net's partnerships with local organizations influenced by Centene Corporation CNC's overall mission in addressing social determinants of health?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC).
NASDAQ: CNC
CNC Trading
1.3% G/L:
$34.705 Last:
2,245,140 Volume:
$34.25 Open:
