Low-income mothers in Modesto will have improved access to labor and delivery services following a new initiative at Doctors Medical Center. Health Plan of San Joaquin, a nonprofit Medi-Cal managed-care organization that serves 390,000 residents in Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and two other counties, is investing nearly $1.8 million to launch a laborist program with First Choice Physician Partners.
The investment aims to provide around-the-clock obstetric care at the hospital after Golden Valley Health Centers reduced its hospital-based program effective April 30. The change by Golden Valley shifted resources from hospital deliveries to providing obstetric care within its clinics, raising concerns about continuous coverage for women arriving at the hospital in labor.
Jennifer Howard, president and chief executive of First California Physician Partners, stated: “Our goal is simple: to make sure no woman walks into a hospital in crisis and has to wait for care. Thanks to the support of Health Plan of San Joaquin, we’re turning that goal into a reality.”
First California Physician Partners is collaborating with Doctors Medical Center on ongoing funding plans for this coverage. The $1.8 million provided by Health Plan of San Joaquin covers the period from May 2025 through April 2026.
The new program deploys board-certified OB-GYN physicians and advanced practice providers to offer 24-hour in-house coverage. It is expected to serve approximately 10,000 women enrolled in Medi-Cal within the San Joaquin Valley.
Earlier this year, Central Valley Doctors Health System Physicians announced they would provide coverage at Doctors Medical Center for patients with high-risk pregnancies. This continues an existing partnership with Golden Valley Health Centers, ensuring OB-GYN hospitalists coordinate care with local safety-net clinics.
