VHP 40th Anniversary
Celebrating 40 Years of Community-Centered Care
This year, Valley Health Plan (VHP) proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary, four decades of delivering high-quality, affordable health coverage to the residents of Santa Clara County. Since our founding in 1985, we have grown from a small, countybased health plan for public employees into a regional not-for-profit health plan leader serving over 200,000 members.
What began as a mission to care for essential County workers has evolved into a broader commitment: to serve diverse populations with compassion, equity, and excellence. From our roots in the County’s health system to our expansion through the Affordable Care Act and Covered California, VHP has remained true to its founding purpose of putting people over profit and prioritizing community health.
For our valued providers, this milestone is a shared achievement. Together, we have supported over one million annual healthcare visits, ranging from preventive care and chronic-condition management, to key services such as pediatrics, maternal health, mental health, and comprehensive cancer care.
● Equity and Quality Recognition: VHP earned NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation (2023) and Full Health Plan Accreditation (2025), affirming our dedication to inclusive, high-quality care.
● Responsive Growth: We continue to streamline systems and support providers, improving coordination and decision-making across our network.
● Community Integration: Our partnerships with community-based organizations, behavioral health programs, County services, hospitals, and clinics ensure members and providers benefit from a connected, whole-person approach to care.
● Affordability Focus: VHP continues to offer low premiums, helping patients access care and stay covered.
As we look ahead, our strategic roadmap centers on easier access to care, smarter growth, and advancing health equity—so that providers like you can continue to deliver meaningful, life-changing care to every patient.
Thank you for your partnership, your dedication, and the vital role you play in the VHP story.
Diabetes
Diabetes Meter and Test Strips Change to FreeStyle Brand for Your VHP Patients
VHP is now covering FreeStyle brand diabetes meters and test strips for your patients with diabetes. VHP will no longer cover One Touch meters or test strips as of August 1, 2025.
If you currently have patients using the One Touch meters and test strips, we request that they bring their new prescriptions for Freestyle meters and test strips, along with their VHP ID cards, to any VHP plan pharmacy to obtain their new meters and test strips.
Eligible VHP members with diabetes can receive one FreeStyle brand meter at no cost to them by:
● Taking their prescriptions to any VHP plan pharmacy
● Calling Abbott’s diabetes care division toll-free at 1-800-680-6850 with Offer Code KAVMJ0FJ
● Signing up at ChooseFreeStyle.com with Offer Code KAVMJ0FJ
For a list of VHP plan pharmacies, members can visit: Pharmacy | Valley Health Plan.
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact Freestyle support at 1-888522-5226 or VHP Provider Relations at providerrelations@vhp.sccgov.org.
Why A1C Control Matters
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), diabetes affects over 37 million Americans, and nearly 1 in 5 do not know they have it.
Left uncontrolled, diabetes becomes a silent and progressive threat. Elevated blood glucose levels damage blood vessels and vital organs over time, resulting in a waterfall of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, and blindness. A1C testing is a critical tool that reflects blood sugar control over two to three months, helping to prevent complications and improve quality of life.
VHP monitors diabetes care using two critical Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) quality measures:
● A1C < 8.0% - Good control
● A1C > 9.0% - Poor control or missing data
Collaborating for Better Diabetes Outcomes
Only about half of the people with diabetes reach their A1C goals. But research shows that just a
1% reduction can cut complications by 40%. Managing A1C saves lives, preserves quality of life, and prevents costly health issues.
Improving A1C control is not just a metric, it is a mission. By working together, we can reduce disparities, empower members, and build healthier communities.
Ways VHP can help:
● Clinical guidelines
● Bilingual educational materials
● Community-based referrals
● Transparent HEDIS® data for quality improvement
● SCFHP Diabetes Class for Medi-Cal members
● Virta Diabetes Care Program for your Covered California and Commercial VHP patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
For more ways VHP can help your patients manage their diabetes, please contact VHP’s Health Education Department at healtheducation@vhp.sccgov.org or 669-220-5235.
Reframing Hypertension Management
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one in two adults in the U.S. has hypertension, and only 24% have it under control. But we also know that progress is possible. It just does not happen all at once.
Helping patients manage high blood pressure requires more than prescriptions. It is about relationships, trust, consistency, and patience. And sometimes, it is about reframing what success looks like.
You might find it helpful to ask:
● “Do you check your blood pressure at home? Let’s look at those numbers together.”
● “What is making it hard to take your meds every day? Let’s talk about solutions.”
● “How has stress been lately? Sleep, eating, movement- what is feeling manageable right now?”
Even small adjustments, like switching to 90or 100-day supplies, can ease the burden. And tools like home monitoring, lifestyle coaching, or pharmacy delivery can make the path to control less overwhelming.
For patients on Medi-Cal:
● Use the Medi-Cal Rx Portal for quick Prior Authorization (PA) requests.
● Recommend a home delivery service.
● Refer patients to local health education classes for nutrition or stress management.
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/high-bloodpressure/index.html
Childhood Wellness and Immunization
Strong Kids, Smart Care: Prioritizing Immunizations and Well-Child Checkups
As providers, you know the foundation of lifelong health is built early and often. A gentle conversation at a 2-month checkup, a reassuring developmental screen at 9 months, and a flu shot at 18 months that prevents a hospital stay—these moments matter.
However, we are still seeing gaps. Nationally, only 6 in every 10 children complete their recommended child wellness visits by 15 months, according to the latest HEDIS® State of Health Care Quality Report. The pandemic has widened disparities in childhood immunization coverage, and families, especially those juggling multiple jobs, transportation hurdles, or housing instability, are struggling to keep up.
That is where your voice carries weight. These visits offer so much more than vaccines. They are checking in on language, feeding, bonding, and behavior. They are our chance to affirm parents’ instincts and flag issues early, when intervention makes all the difference.
You might find it helpful to ask:
● “Has anything changed with your child’s sleep, appetite, or play since we last saw you?”
● “What has been the hardest part of parenting lately? Let’s talk about it.”
● “Can we schedule the next visit now, so it is one less thing to worry about?”
Even better, Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) and Valley Health Plan Medi-Cal incentives are designed to reduce barriers. These incentives are not just rewards; they remind families that someone is rooting for their child’s success. To learn more about Medi-Cal Incentives, read below or visit SCFHP Wellness Rewards.
Reference: https://www.ncqa.org/report-cards/healthplans/state-of-health-care-quality-report/
Wellness Rewards for Your Medi-Cal Patients
Pediatric Wellness Rewards
Did you know?
Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) rewards Medi-Cal members for completing important pediatric wellness visits in 2025. These incentives support early childhood health while streamlining the provider process— no forms or signed attestations are needed. Here is what your patients can earn and why it matters:
Pediatric Wellness Rewards
● Well-Child Visits (0–15 months): $50 reward for completing six PCP visits by 15 months.
Why it matters: These visits track growth, provide vaccinations, and screen for developmental issues early when interventions are most effective.
● Well-Child Visits (15–30 months): $30 reward for completing two PCP visits by 30 months.
Why it matters: These check-ins ensure continued developmental progress and build lifelong health habits.
● Flu Vaccine (age 2): $10 reward for one dose of flu vaccine by the second birthday
Why it matters: Young children are highly vulnerable to flu complications. Vaccination protects them and their community.
● Lead Screening (by age 2): $10 reward for completing venous or capillary blood lead test. Why it matters: Lead exposure can harm brain development. Early detection can prevent longterm health and learning problems.
Click here to learn more about SCFHP
Wellness Rewards.
Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Rewards
● Baby Shower (pregnant members 17+): Free diaper bag for attending an SCFHP Baby Shower.
Why it matters: Members receive education, resources, and support for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period.
● Postpartum Class (new parents 17+): free Welcome Baby Kit for attending a “The Fourth Trimester” class.
Why it matters: Postpartum education helps reduce health risks and supports the mental well-being of new parents.
● Car Seat Safety Class: Free convertible car seat for attending “Buckle Up with SCFHP.”
Why it matters: Proper car seat use drastically reduces injury risk in accidents for children under age 5.
Click here to learn more about Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies and Car Seat Safety Class.
SCFHP Member Orientation:
$25 reward for Medi-Cal members who attend the SCFHP Member Orientation for the first time. Why it matters: Orientation empowers members to understand and use their benefits, improving care outcomes.
Click here to learn more about SCFHP Member Orientation.
How to Participate
There is no additional paperwork. Submit an electronic claim as normal with the appropriate code(s) to SCFHP. VHP will handle the rest. Members receive their reward approximately 90 days after receiving the claim.
To qualify:
● All preventive health care activities must be completed by December 31, 2025.
● Patients must be enrolled with SCFHP at the time the preventive health care activity is completed.
● Other eligibility requirements and terms may apply.
Fraud Alert: COVID-19 Testing Scams
Please be aware of the ongoing COVID-19 scams. Some people are using phone calls, text messages, social media, fake COVID-19 testing sites on the street, and even going doorto-door to trick our community. They may offer money and COVID-19 services for personal information, such as Medicare or Medi-Cal details. Inform your patients that these services are fake. They should never give out personal information to strangers, especially for money.
Scammers can use the information collected to steal their identity or scam health care programs. Encourage members to get COVID-19 tested in your office if available or to pick up over-the-counter test kits from a VHP network pharmacy. For more information about COVID-19 tests, your patients can contact VHP Member Services at 1-888-421-8444 or memberservices@vhp.sccgov.org.