2026 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference

More details to be announced soon.

Rural communities across California face persistent challenges in access to care, workforce shortages, behavioral health needs, and health inequities—but they also present powerful opportunities for innovation and collaboration. This panel will explore practical strategies for improving rural health outcomes through targeted investment, workforce mobilization, and cross-sector coordination. Panelists will discuss how to attract and retain providers in underserved areas, leverage public and private funding to strengthen local care infrastructure, expand telehealth and integrated care models, and ensure investments deliver measurable, community-centered impact.

Peter Morrison: Senior Vice President, Strategy & Head of Growth, PairTeam

Tory Starr, MSN, PHN, RN: Chief Executive Officer, Open Door Health Clinics

Chris Thompson: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sober Sidekick

Moderator: Steve Soto: Regional Director, Health Management Associates

California’s transition to the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) marks a significant shift in how counties plan, fund, and deliver behavioral health services across the state. This panel will explore how counties are managing the transition, balancing new mandates with local priorities, and leading change in real time. Panelists will also examine how to ensure prevention and early intervention services remain a central focus amid shifting funding structures and increasing demand for acute services, highlighting strategies to preserve community-based supports, advance equity, and build a more sustainable behavioral health system for California’s future.

Wendy Alt: Director of Behavioral Health, Calaveras County

Luke Bergmann, PhD, MSW: Principal, Health Management Associates

Marlies Perez: Division Chief & Behavioral Health Transformation Project Executive, California Department of Health Care Services

Moderator: Brittney Dobson-Ellis: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates

California has made recent investments to improve maternal and infant health outcomes through recognizing new providers and adding new services for Medi-Cal members.  Significant and persistent disparities continue to exist especially for black birthing individuals.This panel will explore the current state of maternal and infant health in California and examine strategies to prevent severe maternal morbidity, improve health equity, and support healthier outcomes for mothers and children. Panelists will discuss how health plans, healthcare providers, community organizations, and family-serving agencies are working together to strengthen care across the maternal health journey, improve coordination between healthcare and community supports, and build a more connected continuum of care for California’s families.

Nicole Evans, MSW, MBA: Director, Medi-Cal Maternal, Infant & Child Health Equity, BCBS Promise

Caitlyn B. Gumaer, PhD, BCBA: Director, Behavioral Health Services, Easterseals Southern California

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

This panel will explore key policy developments affecting dual-eligible populations in California, with a focus on lessons learned from health plans that successfully launched Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) in 2026. Panelists will discuss how these plans navigated regulatory requirements, built cross-program alignment, and implemented care models designed to better support high-need members through improved care coordination, enhanced benefits, and stronger partnerships across Medicare and Medi-Cal systems. The discussion will also highlight early innovations emerging from these efforts and how they are contributing to more seamless, person-centered care for dual-eligible populations.

Marina Owen: Chief Executive Officer, CenCal Health

Moderator: Don Novo: Regional Director, Health Management Associates

California has made unprecedented investments in children and youth behavioral health, yet significant questions remain about how children and youth across the state are faring post-COVID. This panel will explore the current state of children and youth behavioral health in California and examine the early impact of the state’s multi-billion-dollar Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). Panelists will discuss how schools, healthcare providers, counties, community organizations, and state leaders are working together to expand access, strengthen prevention and early intervention, improve coordination across systems, and build a more equitable and youth-centered continuum of care.

Kevin Denmark: SVP, Market Head of Behavioral Health, Bamboo Health

Anya Griffin, PhD, BC-DMT: Director of Psychology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Terri Iler: Director of Community Clinical Outreach, Rady Children’s Health in Orange County

Mikah Owen, MD, MPH, MBA: Senior Director of Clinical & Academic Programs, Health Equity, UCAAN

Moderator: Mary Zavala, LCSW, MPP, MA: Principal, Health Management Associates

State health policy experts are closely watching what the 2026–2027 budget means for the future of healthcare funding and policy. This panel will provide a timely overview of California’s budget and political outlook, including key healthcare investments, funding constraints, and policy priorities emerging from the state budget process. Attendees will gain insight into what to expect in the months ahead, where risks and opportunities may emerge, and how healthcare stakeholders can prepare for an evolving policy and fiscal landscape in California.

Diana Camacho: Senior Program Officer, Improving Access, California Health Care Foundation

Dorothy Seleski: President of Medi-Cal, Health Net

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

Moderator: Adriana Ramos-Yamamoto: Senior Policy Fellow & Health Policy Lead, California Budget & Policy Center

This panel will examine the state’s efforts to grow, diversify, and support the healthcare workforce, with a particular focus on the expanding role of nonclinical providers—such as community health workers, peer support specialists, and care navigators—in improving access, engagement, and outcomes for Medi-Cal members. Panelists will also discuss the challenges and lessons learned from workforce development and support initiatives to date, including recruitment and retention barriers, training and certification pathways, funding sustainability, and integration of nontraditional roles into care teams.

Rayshell Chambers: Executive Director, Painted Brain

Kim Goll: Chief Executive Officer, First 5 Orange County

Amrita Rai, LCSW: Director, Community Behavioral Health, Inland Empire Health Plan

Colby Takeda: Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Pear Suite

Moderator: Laura Collins: Senior Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore what California’s Population Health Management requirements mean in practice for plans, counties, and public health leaders; how managed care plans are operationalizing new expectations around population health, quality, and community engagement; and how cross-sector collaboration can support more coordinated, equitable, and outcomes-driven care. Panelists will share lessons learned, implementation challenges, and emerging opportunities to align local and statewide efforts in pursuit of healthier communities across California.

Chris Esguerra, MD, MBA: Chief Quality & Medical Officer, California Department of Health Care Services

Edward Sheen, MD, MPH, MBA: Chief Quality & Population Health Executive, LA Care

Ali Shefi Zadeh: Chief Medical Officer, LANES

Moderator: Jonathan Freedman: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

Medi-Cal is at a pivotal moment as California continues to advance healthcare transformation efforts while navigating budget pressures, workforce challenges, and growing behavioral health needs. This closing plenary will bring together leaders from managed care, primary care, and behavioral health to discuss what’s next for the state’s Medicaid program and the millions of Californians it serves. Panelists will explore opportunities to strengthen access, improve care integration, and support providers across the healthcare ecosystem. They will also examine the impact of evolving policy priorities and the role of collaboration in shaping the future of care delivery. Join us for a forward-looking discussion on the challenges, opportunities, and innovations that will define the next chapter of Medi-Cal.

Ruben Imperial: Director of Behavioral Health, Stanislaus County

Francisco J. Silva, Esq., MBA: President & Chief Executive Officer, California Primary Care Association

Les Ybarra: President, California Medicaid Health Plan, Anthem Blue Cross

Moderator: Don Novo: Regional Director, Health Management Associates