2023 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Regional health leaders will share their perspectives on the direction of health reform initiatives, the pace of change, and the hope for improvement. As we seek to explore the levers, opportunities, and challenges for locally driven reforms, this discussion will set the stage for the conference.

Sameer Amin, MD: Chief Medical Officer, L.A. Care Health Plan

Karen Spiegel: District 2 Supervisor, Riverside County

Lisa Wong, Psy.D: Director, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Kathleen Nolan: Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)

The CalAIM initiative has engaged community-based organizations in healthcare in a brand new way, as health plans and clinical providers come together with CBOs to better serve the Medi-Cal population with integrated health and social supports. What do CBOs need to successfully contract with healthcare entities in ways that benefit consumers, payers, and CBOs alike?

Kimberly Lewis: Managing Attorney, Los Angeles, National Health Law Program

Jessica Rosenbaum: Director of Operations, Full Circle Health Network

Laura Collins: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Earlier this year, California became the first state to provide Medicaid coverage to incarcerated individuals up to 90 days prior to release. As several other states follow suit to partner in covering services for this population, what will implementation look like in California, and what will be its impact on the state’s healthcare system? Join these experts for a robust discussion on a very timely topic.

Autumn Boylan: Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships, California Department of Health Care Services

Anders Corey: Health Deputy, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Yvette Willock: Chief of Social Services, Los Angeles County Justice Care and Opportunities Department

Linda Henderson-Smith, PhD: Senior Product Management Director, Carelon Behavioral Health

Lauren Ohata: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

The financial conditions of many healthcare providers are in significant turmoil. COVID relief funds have dwindled and unspent funds are drying up. Workforce costs continue to rise and instability is the prevailing mood. As we continue down the post-pandemic path, our panelists will discuss the implications of these factors on healthcare entities.

Sameer Amin, MD: Chief Medical Officer, L.A. Care Health Plan

George Greene: President & Chief Executive Officer, Hospital Association of Southern California

Toni Johnson-Chavis, MD: Chief Executive Officer, De Novo Healthcare Community

Louise McCarthy: President & Chief Executive Officer, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County

Integration efforts, holistic care, social determinants, and other aspects of healthcare reform rely on the timely exchange and usability of data at every level—provider, patient, payer, and policymaker. This requirement is well-recognized, but hard to achieve. We’ll discuss the status of the exchange environment and where we go from here to achieve the goals of integrated care.

Skylar Fordahl: Director, Medi-Cal Performance and Optimization, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

Mimi Hall: Vice President, Public Health & Innovation, Manifest Medex

Ali Modaressi: Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services (LANES)

Integration efforts, holistic care, social determinants, and other aspects of healthcare reform rely on the timely exchange and usability of data at every level—provider, patient, payer, and policymaker. This requirement is well-recognized, but hard to achieve. We’ll discuss the status of the exchange environment and where we go from here to achieve the goals of integrated care.

Skylar Fordahl: Director, Medi-Cal Performance and Optimization, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

Mimi Hall: Vice President, Public Health & Innovation, Manifest Medex

Ali Modaressi: Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services (LANES)

Timely and reliable access to behavioral health services is an undeniable challenge, but an essential part of California’s health reform agenda. From crisis to services to recovery, local residents face many barriers, and our healthcare systems consistently must care for people in less than ideal settings, including ERs, acute hospitals, or jails. While there is much progress, a long road remains ahead. Our panelists will discuss what factors are most positive in our progress to date and what remains a barrier to improvement.

Debbie Manners: President & Chief Executive Officer, Sycamores

Lucy Marrero: Director, Behavioral Health & Social Programs, Gold Coast Health Plan

Alison Klurfeld: Owner, Klurfeld Consulting (moderator)

Today, most of us talk about the pandemic in the past tense. But it’s still a prominent topic on health leaders’ minds. With public health working to implement the lessons learned from COVID and strengthening its preparedness for the next public health emergency, these panelists will assess the changes being adopted and discuss what public health looks like in Southern California post-pandemic.

Muntu Davis, MD: County Health Officer, County of Los Angeles Public Health

Kim Saruwatari: Public Health Director, Riverside Department of Public Health

Michael Sequeira, MD: County Health Officer, San Bernardino County

Jonathan Freedman: Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)

CalAIM’s programs for children are moving ahead. The case management systems in place for other populations must be adapted for children’s unique needs and circumstances. We must also engage many new providers and community organizations to successfully implement case management for children. Our panelists will explore the implementation pathway and potential pitfalls and opportunities for a successful implementation.

Minsun Meeker: Assistant Executive Director, Los Angeles County, Office of Child Protection

Takashi Wada, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Inland Empire Health Plan

Nancy Wongvipat Kalev, MPH: Senior Director of Systems of Care, Health Net

Christina Altmayer: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Supporting Southern California’s unhoused population is a critical priority for the region’s healthcare sector, as housing is being increasingly acknowledged as an essential part of healthcare. This group of subject matter experts will review some of the state’s recent initiatives to provide permanent housing and explore strategies it can pursue going forward.

Kelly Bruno-Nelson: Executive Director, Medi-Cal/CalAIM, CalOptima

Kristopher Kuntz: Program Director, Anthem

Nicholas Weinmeister: Project Specialist, USC Homelessness Policy Research Institute

We’re closing out the conference with a forum of leaders who will speak about the progress made so far under CalAIM, the dynamic nature of the initiative, and how the health sector is navigating its rapidly moving timeline. This can’t-miss conversation will contextualize the various panel discussions that took place throughout the day.

Bihu Sandhir, MD: Chief Quality Officer, AltaMed Health Services

Les Ybarra: President, California Medicaid Health Plan, Anthem

Louise McCarthy: President & Chief Executive Officer, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (moderator)