California Department of Managed Health Care

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The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) is a regulatory body governing managed health care plans, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and most Medi-Cal managed care plans in California. The DMHC was created as the first state department in the country solely dedicated to regulating managed health care plans and assisting consumers to resolve disputes with their health plans. The DMHC Help Center educates consumers about their health care rights, resolves consumer complaints, helps consumers navigate and understand their coverage and assists consumers in getting timely access to appropriate health care services.^[1]

The DMHC Help Center provides direct assistance in all languages to health care consumers through the Department’s website, www.HealthHelp.ca.gov, and a toll-free phone number, 1-888-466-2219.

Mary Watanabe is currently the director of the DMHC. The DMHC is part of the California Health and Human Services Agency. It was established in 2000 and is responsible for enforcing the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, and other related laws and regulations.^[2]