2025 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference

As federal health policy continues to evolve under the Trump Administration, health leaders across California are bracing for potential changes that could reshape healthcare. This panel will examine the implications of key policy shifts—from Medicaid waivers and eligibility changes to prescription drug pricing and regulatory rollbacks—and how they uniquely affect rural providers, patients, and communities. Panelists will also explore the growing influence of the federal courts in shaping health policy, with recent legal battles over the Affordable Care Act, preventive care mandates, and reproductive health access carrying high stakes for rural health systems already operating on the margins.

Jacey Cooper: President, Precision Health Strategies; Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

Donovan Higbee: Director of Government Affairs, CalOptima

Kim Milstien: Chief Operating Officer, Children’s Hospital of Orange County

Moderator: Christina Altmayer: Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates

CalAIM represents a bold reimagining of how California delivers care to its most vulnerable residents. As the initiative matures, questions around long-term sustainability—funding, infrastructure, and workforce—are center stage. This panel will explore which components of CalAIM’s various initiatives, from Enhanced Care Management to justice-involved healthcare, might remain in the long-term following the federal rollback of CalAIM guidance. Panelists will also talk about the state’s upcoming waiver submission to the Trump administration and how that process is likely to affect the CalAIM initiative. 

Isabel Becerra: President & Chief Executive Officer Orange County Coalition of Community Clinics

Graham Charlton: Director of Network Development, Unite Us

Jacey Cooper: President, Precision Health Strategies; Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

Charlie Robinson: Senior Director, Community Health L.A. Care Health Plan

Moderator: Lauren Ohata: Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will bring together experts to discuss coordinated efforts to reduce homelessness and expand access to safe, affordable housing for all Californians. The conversation will delve into innovative strategies for housing development, supportive services, and systems-level collaboration, with an emphasis on equity and sustainability. Panelists will also explore the critical role of housing data—how it’s collected, shared, and translated into policy and funding decisions.  

Lourdes Castro-Ramirez: President & Chief Executive Officer, Housing Authority City of Los Angeles

Tamera Kohler: Chief Executive Officer, Regional Task Force on Homelessness

Kris Kuntz: Program Director, Housing & Homeless Strategy, Anthem Blue Cross

Moderator: Luke Bergmann: Principal, Health Management Associates

California has made bold strides toward expanding health coverage to nearly all residents. Yet, as federal policies shift, costs rise, and workforce and administrative challenges mount, the risk of coverage erosion grows—especially for the most vulnerable. Panelists will discuss how to maintain gains in coverage amidst fiscal uncertainty, ensure equitable access across diverse communities, and prevent backsliding due to policy, economic, or political pressures. 

Aurora Garcia-Barrera: Director of Policy & Government Affairs, Orange County Coalition of Community Clinics

Paul Young: Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Reimbursement, Hospital Association of Southern California

Moderator: Nai Kasick: Principal, Health Management Associates

California is leading efforts to modernize and improve Medicare for its aging and low-income populations through innovative, integrated care models. This panel will explore the state’s expansion of Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), which align Medicare and Medi-Cal services to deliver more coordinated care for dual-eligible individuals. Panelists will also highlight the growth of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which provides comprehensive medical and social support to help older adults remain in their communities. 

Matt Eyles: Executive Vice President of Government & Business Strategy, Alignment Health

Julianne Holloway: Director, Medicare Duals Blue Shield Promise

Michael Navarro, BSN, RN, PHN: Director, Medicare Care Management, Inland Empire Health Plan

Moderator: Don Novo: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

California is harnessing the power of technology and artificial intelligence to drive a more efficient, transparent, and equitable health system. This panel will explore the state’s emerging digital health strategies, with a focus on the potential of AI and advanced analytics to improve effectiveness, privacy/security, and productivity —safeguarding resources while improving care delivery. Panelists will also examine the growing role of Qualified Health Information Organizations (QHIOs) in facilitating secure, real-time data exchange and the progress these critical organizations have made in recent years. 

Briana Duffy: Regional Market President of Accounts, Carelon Behavioral Health

Richard Kwong: Head of Product, Connecting for Better Health

Nick Lockett: Chief Technology Officer, Pear Suite

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

Jennifer Stoll: Chief External Affairs Officer, OCHIN

Moderator: Rula Othman: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

California is home to more than 400,000 youth in subsidized childcare—a population that faces complex social and health-related challenges but remains underconnected to vital services like CalAIM. This panel will explore the intersection of childcare, health equity, and behavioral health in California, focusing on actionable strategies to support the wellbeing of young children and families. Panelists will also highlight the long-term vision and early impacts of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. 

Kim Goll: President & Chief Executive Officer, First 5 Orange County

Jose Ramos, Jr., MSW, MBA: Vice President & Chief Programs Officer, Child Care Resource Center

Angela M. Vázquez, MSW: Director of Mental Health Advocacy, The Children’s Partnership

Moderator: Helen DuPlessis, MD: Principal, Health Management Associates

California is home to more immigrants than any other state—over a quarter of its population—making immigration policy a central force shaping the state’s healthcare landscape. As federal policies continue to shift, and as California expands health coverage to include undocumented residents through Medi-Cal, the intersection of immigration and healthcare remains both a policy challenge and a moral imperative. This panel will explore how immigration status continues to influence access to care, insurance coverage, and health outcomes. 

Joan Chang: Senior Attorney, Health Unit, Community Legal Aid SoCal

Georgina Maldonado: Executive Director, Community Health Initiative of Orange County

Kiran Savage-Sangwan: Executive Director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN)

Moderator: Nayely Chavez: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates

With significant funding committed to behavioral health infrastructure, workforce, and youth behavioral health initiatives, the state is laying the groundwork for a more integrated and responsive system of care. One of the most promising innovations—the PEER (Providing Evidence-Based, Equitable, and Recovery-Oriented) model of reimbursement under Medi-Cal—remains underutilized. This panel will discuss how to better use the PEER model and other initiatives to improve the state’s behavioral health system.

Mackenzie Drazan Cook: Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, MiResource

Tully, PhD: Vice President of Partnerships, Soluna

Anosha Zanjani: Principal Mental Health Consultant, Mindful Insights Consulting

Moderator: Luke Bergmann: Principal, Health Management Associates

Ensuring timely, effective use of care networks is essential to achieving better outcomes and health equity. This panel will explore innovative strategies and systemic reforms aimed at closing these care gaps across California. Topics will include improving patient navigation and care coordination, enhancing health literacy and digital access, addressing provider shortages, and designing systems that support timely, appropriate use of primary and specialty care. 

Alyssa Kavner, MA, BCBA: Vice President of Clinical Training & Quality, Easterseals

Alex Li, MD: Chief Health Equity Officer, L.A. Care Health Plan

Matthew Loper: Chief Executive Officer, Wellth

Cathi Misquitta, PharmD, MBA: Vice President of Quality Management, Health Net

Moderator: Isis Montalvo, MBA, MS, RN, CPHQ: Principal, Health Management Associates

Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in advancing health for all Californians. But strategizing about the allocation of funding is key to maximizing value. Hear from this unique panel of philanthropic leaders about the most promising collaborative strategies for effectively funding initiatives that will have the greatest impact on California’s healthcare system. 

Kara Carter: Senior Vice President for Strategy & Programs, California Health Care Foundation

Taryn Palumbo: Executive Director, Orange County Grant Makers

Moderator: Peter Long, PhD: Long Health Strategies