Rewarding Doctors for Better Health in 2025

In 2025, a big change happened in healthcare on the Central Coast. A program called QCIP gave over $16 million to doctors in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. This money was for doing a great job taking care of patients. The program focuses on important health areas like managing diabetes, asthma, and cancer screenings. It also rewards doctors who take care of patients with complex needs, like the elderly or disabled. Doctors who did really well in this program include Jeffrey Kaplan in Santa Maria, Cindy Blifeld in Lompoc, and groups like Jackson Medical Group and Community Health Centers. These doctors and clinics showed they could provide excellent care. Since 2022, when QCIP started, many health measures have improved. For example, more kids are getting their check-ups, and more women are getting screened for chlamydia. Even lead testing in children has gone up. All these improvements show that the program is working.Sansum Clinic, now part of Sutter Health, has been a top performer since the start. Dr. Marjorie Newman, the Chief Medical Officer, said the program helps them take better care of patients with complex needs. She also mentioned that the program helps direct resources to those who need it most. CenCal Health, the organization behind QCIP, recently won two awards for outstanding quality performance. These awards were given by the State of California for their excellent work in overall performance and children's health. Carlos Hernandez, the Chief Quality Officer, played a big role in starting QCIP. He is retiring after 31 years of service. His work has left a lasting impact on healthcare in the Central Coast.