2023 Northern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference

State of Reform is honored to welcome Melissa Stafford Jones, Director of the CalHHS California Children and Youth Behavioral Initiative, to kick-off our conference! With a career grounded in a deep dedication to improving health, she will share the work she and CalHHS have been doing to reimagine California’s children and youth behavioral health system into an innovative, upstream-focused ecosystem where all children and youth are routinely screened, supported, and served for emerging and existing behavioral health needs.

Melissa Stafford Jones: Director, California Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative

Margaret Tatar, JD: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (Conference Host)

The California Legislature has passed some of the most progressive health policy initiatives in the country in recent years, and is continuing to make strides to reform the state’s healthcare system during this year’s session. With key policy issues like homelessness, the fentanyl crisis, and more on the table, what is being prioritized this year? Hear from this unique panel made up of both legislators and community advocates about the most top-of-mind issues in the legislature.

Ted Lempert: President, Children Now

Nick Louizos: VP of Legislative Affairs, California Association of Health Plans

Asm. Marie Waldron: Vice-Chair, California Assembly Health Committee

Asm. Jim Wood: Chair, California Assembly Health Committee

Anthony Wright: Executive Director, Health Access California 

The California Legislature passed the CARE Court initiative last year, which provides court-ordered treatment programs for underserved individuals struggling with mental health and/or substance use disorder. Implementing the program across all of California’s counties is a significant undertaking, and stakeholders from all sides of the healthcare system are wondering how they will be impacted. This group of experts will discuss the implications CARE Court has for California healthcare.

Le Ondra Clark Harvey, PhD: Chief Executive Officer, California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies

Michelle Doty Cabrera: Executive Director, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California

Stephanie Welch: Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, California Health & Human Services Agency

From school-based efforts addressing increasing rates of youth behavioral health issues, to initiatives that aim to grow the behavioral health workforce, behavioral health has emerged as a central issue for California health policy stakeholders. How can the state ensure its residents have access to high-quality behavioral healthcare when they need it? This panel will provide an overview of the work underway in the behavioral health space and offer insight about future interventions.

Jenny Bayardo: Executive Officer, California Behavioral Health Planning Council

Karen Larsen, LMFT: Chief Executive Officer, Steinberg Institute

Sandrine Pirard, MD, PhD: West Regional Chief Medical Officer, Carelon Behavioral Health

Jonathan Porteus, PhD: Chief Executive Officer, WellSpace Health

The state recently appointed the membership of California’s Office of Health Care Affordability, a state entity whose purpose is to establish cost growth targets to rein in the state’s ever-growing healthcare expenditures. What are the best strategies for curbing this cost growth, and what role will the OHCA play in addressing this? We’ve brought together a group of subject matter experts to talk through the implications of the board and overall cost-reduction strategies in the state.

Margareta Brandt: Assistant Deputy Director, Health System Performance, Office of Health Care Affordability

Mohit Ghose: Government Relations Director, Anthem Blue Cross

Andrew Kiefer: VP State Policy & Advocacy, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

New, updated Medi-Cal managed care contracts will take effect at the beginning of next year. Through these contracts, DHCS implemented numerous changes and additional responsibilities for health plans participating in the Medi-Cal program—how will California’s healthcare sector be affected? Join some of the region’s leading experts on Medi-Cal managed care for a valuable conversation about how to prepare for the implementation of these contracts.

Rebecca Sullivan: Government Affairs Director, Local Health Plans of California

Susan Philip: Deputy Director, Health Care Delivery Systems, California Department of Health Care Services

Jason Silva: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (Moderator)

California has been hyperfocused on bridging gaps in health equity. Reducing barriers to care based on race, income, gender, and other factors requires “in-the-weeds” conversations about what’s working and what isn’t. This panel will include some of the state’s most prominent health equity leaders to discuss how to continue working toward more equitable health outcomes.

Seciah Aquino: Executive Director, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California 

Pooja Mittal, DO: Chief Health Equity Officer, Health Net

Julie Rabinovitz: Principal, Health Management Associates (Moderator)

California recently began its 14-month process of redetermining Medi-Cal eligibility for around 15 million Californians, following the end of the federal Public Health Emergency’s continuous Medicaid coverage requirement. How can stakeholders from various sectors collaborate to reduce coverage gaps both within and outside of the redetermination process? These experts will break down California’s plan for redeterminations and expanding insurance coverage overall.

Beau Hennemann: RVP, Local Engagement and Plan Performance, Anthem Blue Cross

Darrel Ng: Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Health Net

Cathy Senderling-McDonald: Executive Director, County Welfare Directors Association of California

Over the past year, health plans have been implementing innovative CalAIM programs including Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports. As California’s health sector works to refine care delivery for the Medi-Cal population through CalAIM, what has stakeholders’ experience been like in rolling out the program? Join these experts for a valuable conversation about CalAIM’s progress and where we go from here.

Katherine Barresi, RN: Senior Director, Health Services, Partnership HealthPlan of California

Cordia Losh: Chief Strategy Officer, WellSpace Health

Jennifer Miyamoto Echeverria: Director, Social Programs and Services, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

The healthcare workforce shortage continues to have detrimental effects on every aspect of the healthcare system. Hospitals, behavioral health facilities, community health centers, and many other providers and stakeholders are working tirelessly to find solutions to retain and support current workers while building up the next generation. This multi-perspective panel will discuss the work being done to support and grow the workforce and offer insight about what further efforts are needed.

Alex Briscoe: Principal, California Children’s Trust

Hovik Khosrovian: Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Health Workforce Developement, California Department of Health Care Access and Information

Amy Turnipseed: Chief Strategy & Government Affairs Officer, Partnership HealthPlan of California

Judy Martin-Holland: Principal, Health Management Associates (Moderator)

Easing access to patient data and ensuring interoperability between systems continues to be a top issue for California healthcare leaders. A stronger health data sharing infrastructure can immensely improve providers’ ability to care for patients, but patient privacy must also continue to be protected. This session will discuss methods to improve access to data for patients and providers and what interoperability can look like in the state.

Bill Barcellona: Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, America’s Physician Groups

Daniel J. Chavez: Executive Director, Serving Communities Health Information Organization

Mimi Hall: Vice President, Public Policy & Partnerships, Manifest Medex

Jennifer Inden: Senior Program Manager, Health Information Technology, Aliados Health

Timi Leslie: President, BluePath Health (Moderator)

Hospitals are still recovering from losses in revenue caused by the pandemic. Lower revenues along with workforce shortages, operational shortcomings, and increased demand for care are still being felt today. This panel will discuss how these issues are affecting hospitals today and what can be done to get them back on track.

Peggy Broussard-Wheeler: Vice President, Policy, California Hospital Association, Sacramento

Ann-Louise Kuhns: President and Chief Executive Officer, California Children’s Hospital Association

Cathy Martin: Chief Executive Officer, Association of California Healthcare Districts

Anne McLeod: President & Chief Executive Officer, Private Essential Access Community Hospitals

To close out the program, we have Commander Matthew C. Johns, Regional Health Administrator for the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in Region 9. In this session, CDR. Johns will talk about how recent federal health policy is affecting Californians and how emerging policy will continue to improve healthcare for the state.

CDR. Matthew C. Johns: Regional Health Administrator, U.S. HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

Margaret Tatar, JD: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (Conference Host)

Please join us following the Closing Keynote session for a networking reception sponsored by BluePath Health and Transform Health. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be included, giving attendees a wonderful opportunity to follow up on the discussions we’ve had throughout the day.