California Commission on Aging Legislative Director Leza Coleman Explains CCOA and Its Initiatives

Michael's history with health plans and advocacy played a key role in his recruitment to lead C4A, an organization established to advocate and collaborate on behalf of California's "Triple As." Michael shares how his organization supports older adults throughout the state and what their focus is in 2024 and ahead.

Under the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, Elizabeth shares how the newly created Officer of Healthcare Affordability is helping the most populous state to manage healthcare costs through growth targets and other efforts for 40M Californians.

Over 15M Californians are Medi-Cal beneficiaries, yet there are so many misceptions about Medi-Cal and very few Californians truly understand Medi-Cal eligibility. Lisa shares how she went from an entry level Medi-Cal worker to an expert, where she now leads a team that helps families navigate Medi-Cal, including asset and income limits, or lack thereof.

Beau shares how an initial stint as a temporary worker landed him a role with California's In-Home Supportive Sevices that became a springboard into his career as he ultimately become well versed in California's long term supports (LTSS) and services as well as home and community based services (HCBS). That foundation has helpd Beau become one of Anthem and California's leaders for the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM).

L.A. CARE is one of the largest health plans in CA, serving millions in L.A. County, primarily Medi-Cal beneficiaries. L.A. CARE CMO Dr. Sameer Amin joins host Gavin Ward to share some of the highlights of his first year and what we can expect in 2024 with the state's largest Medi-Cal managed care organization.

Charles joins the show and shares about the latest CAHP initiatives and what to expect at the annual 2023 conference where over 1,000 leaders from DHCS, Health Plans, and providers gather in the desert.

WellSpace Health has been serving the Greater Sacramento area for many decades, and the CalAIM initiative is only going to increase its impact. Wellspace leaders Christie Gonzales and Cordia Losh join the show to share about the impact WellSpace has had in the community and what's to come through the CalAIM initaitive, enhanced care management, and more.

Susan Phillip joins the show to discuss the process and results of DHCS' procurement and results for the 2024 managed care plan contracts. Susan, who serves as DHCS' Deputy Director, Health Care Delivery Systems, shares how she came into the role and what we can expect heading into 2024 and beyond.

Leza joined the show and shares how her passion for older adults has led to her work wtih CCOAin the Golden State. CCOA's latest initiatives include efforts to ensure the aging population has access to legislative meetings as well as a recognized voice and influence into lawmaking.

Health Net's VP of Communications and Marketing joined the show to share how the end of the pandemic and Public Health Emergency (PHE) is making the annual Medi-Cal redetermination of eligibility unlike recent years before as Californians were automatically renewed during the PHE. The state, Health Net, and other Medi-Cal plans are making significant outreach attempts to ensure Medi-Cal beneficiaries know how to renew their eligibility, but 2-3 million Californians are still expected to lose eligibility.