Detailed Agenda

Our introductory comments will frame the day, the agenda, and the purpose of State of Reform as we kick off the day-long conference.

DJ Wilson: Host, State of Reform 

We'll host a series of "One on One Conversations" with some of the more interesting market executives and policy makers from across Southern California. Learn how these leaders are approaching reform and what might be gleaned from their professional experience.

Beth Andersen: President, CA Commercial Business, Anthem Blue Cross

Brianna Lierman: CEO, Local Health Plans of California

Dimitrios Alexiou: CEO, Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties

Navigating the continued changes in health care regulatory and statutory compliance is not easy. Moreover, with political and legal activism still high, the ground might shift quickly in health care. This session will survey those threats and highlight smart strategies to mitigate them.

Bill Barcellona: Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, APG

Michael Cohen: Founding Partner, Cohen Healthcare Law Group

Fred Fisher: Director, Toyon Associates

The reality of Southern California health care includes residents with a broad range of legal status. This session will discuss both the clinical and business considerations, as well as some of the political implications for this work. Bring your questions for a session at the leading edge of reform.

Carolina Valle: Policy Manager, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

Kate Clark: Senior Director, Immigration Services, Jewish Family Services

Esmerelda Flores: Immigration Rights & Binational Affairs Advocate, ACLU San Diego & Imperial Counties 

One of the biggest topics in Medicaid managed care is the implementation of the health home. The approach holds considerable promise to manage high cost beneficiaries. But, how can this model be scaled to have broader impact on the system? This session will discuss the promise of the model, and the lessons which may be learned from its implementation.

Beau Hennemann: Director, Special Programs, Anthem Blue Cross

Jennifer Miyamoto Echeverria: Director, Social Services Management, Blue Shield of California

With the CalAIM framework now released, the conversation around the next waiver will now continue in earnest. So, what might we learn from the last few years of working within the current waiver ecosystem, and how can those lessons be applied moving forward? This panel will discuss both the past performance of California's 1115, and what lessons might be applied to the next waiver.

Margaret Tatar: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Lisa Chan-Sawin: Prinicipal, Transform Health

California's counties play a unique role in the health care ecosystem, both traditionally and as a result of the current waiver. This panel will discuss the leadership role counties are playing across the state, and will survey the results of that work to date.

Luke Bergmann, PhD: Director, Behavioral Health Services, San Diego County HHSA

Andrew Gruchy, LCSW: Deputy Director, Community Behavioral Health, San Bernadino Department of Behavioral Health

Judi Nightingale, DrPH: Director, Population Health, Riverside University Health System

Catherine Teare: Associate Director, High-Value Care, California Health Care Foundation (moderator)

It is now mainstream opinion that the social determinants are important to one's health status.  But, it's still not entirely clear what the delivery system might do with that knowledge. This panel will discuss the topic, and offer insights from trying to address this challenge in the real world rather than in theory.

RJ Briscione: Sr. Director, SDOH Strategy & Execution, Aetna

Amanda Schultz Brochu: Senior Director, Programs, San Diego Hunger Coalition

James Cruz, MD: Principal, Health Management Associates

There are substantive changes in health care being driven by health technology. There is also a range of organizations with more promise than performance... Which initiatives will provide a meaningful difference at the system level? This panel will explore that which is working, and separate it from that which might be simply talk.

Justin Wu, MD: Medical Director, Health Informatics, Blue Shield of California

David Wetherelt: Business Development & Solutions, 3M

Michael Keyes: VP, Health Plan Business Development, Collective Medical Technologies

Sen. Richard Pan, MD, is the Chair of the Senate Health Committee.  He has been a leader in California on vaccination, public health and MediCal reform. In this keynote, Senator Pan will outline the work his committee may take up in the 2020 legislative session, as well as the lessons learned from a raucous 2019 session.

Sen. Richard Pan, MD: Chair, Senate Health Committee

These capitol insiders will offer their take on the health policy discussions likely teed up for Sacramento in the next year. From developing the next 1115 waiver to Gov. Newsom's plan for a "single payer," this group of experts will discuss what is to come in California health policy.

Asm. Marie Waldron: Member, Assembly Committee on Health

David Panush: CEO, California Health Policy Strategies

Bridget Gramme, JD: Administrative Director, Center for Public Interest Law, USD School of Law

San Diego County has made preparing for and addressing California's aging population a paramount issue. This session includes some of the region's most influential voices on the topic, and will discuss the planning and changes underway to prepare for an aging populace.  Bring your questions for an intriguing conversation.

Kelly Ko, PhD: Director, Clinical Research, West Health Institute

Robin Gomez: CEO, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center

Kimberly Gallo: Director, Aging & Adult Services, San Diego County

While the focus of the last decade has been coverage, the topic of cost is rapidly becoming a central point of discussion. So, this group of experts will discuss cost, but particularly the total cost of care, and what we might make of the policy and market responses to an increasingly acute issue.

Josh Axene: Partner & Consulting Actuary, Axene Health Partners

Jib Martens: Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Lumeris

The nature and use of data is about to rapidly change as a result of federal initiatives.  From rule making in the 21st Centurey Cures Act to innovation coming from "Blue Button," the federal government is driving a series of changes meant to empower consumers. Come learn from this group of professionals who are doing the work of developing the next round of tools.

Dan Chavez: Executive Director, San Diego Health Connect

Bettina Experton, MD: Chief Executive Officer, Humetrix

Steve Rimar: Chief Executive Officer, Analytica Consulting

As health care continues to play a prominent role in the 2020 elections, it's useful to understand the changing political dynamics of the issue. From "Medicare for All" to a "public option," this session will review the health policy platforms in play in 2020 and what it might mean for the future of the sector in the years to come.

Gary Rotto: Lecturer, School of Public Health, San Diego State University

Mohit Ghose: Vice President, Government Relations, Beacon Health Options

The health care system, particularly Medi-Cal plans, county agencies, and emergency rooms, have become particularly focused on strategies to address chronic homelessness and housing insecurity. It's a multi-faceted challenge with few easy strategies to employ. This session will take up the topic, and explore what a multi-silo approach to a solution might look like.

Kevin Kandalaft: CEO, United Healthcare Community Plan of CA

David Estrella: Director, Housing & Community Development Services, County of San Diego

Sue Reynolds: Executive Director, Community HousingWorks

The challenges facing mental health care are acute in Southern California, from too few beds to too little integration with physical health.  However, new strategies are unfolding that offer significant promise at the system level of care. This session will discuss the nuances and the implications of some of these new approaches. 

Christopher Daher: VP, Network Strategy, Beacon Health Options

David Folsom, MD: Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego Health

George McGregor: Area President, McGregor & Associates, A Gallager Company

Asm. Marie Waldron is one of the most influential Republican legislators in Sacramento.  She serves as the Republican Leader in the California Assembly.  Asm. Waldron represents the 75th legislative district, which runs from Temecula to Escondido along the I-15 corridor. She also serves on the Assembly Health Committee.

Asm. Marie Waldron: Republican Leader, California Assembly