Statutes

The “Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority” was created originally in 1983 as a pilot program in the California Welfare & Institutions Code and the California Health and Safety Code. The effort in this program was to enhance local, quality healthcare to the residents of Santa Barbara County who received Medi-Cal medical services.

A local plan that partnered with local providers; not run from Sacramento.

For decades after that pilot program, the Santa Barbara County model has been repeated in California and the nation as the way to ensure local accountability and service.

In 2008, when San Luis Obispo County wanted to move from an inefficient Sacramento-based payment system to a locally managed health care model, San Luis Obispo County worked with the Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority to become CenCal Health.

Today, we cover 1 in 4 people in Santa Barbara County, and 1 in 5 in San Luis Obispo County. CenCal Health continues to be a leader in ensuring that its members receive local, quality healthcare that makes our two counties the special place we all call home.