CALIFORNIA IN CRISIS: COVID-19
An Online Conference Hosted by Capitol Weekly
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Our annual look at health care in the Golden State focused on this year’s unprecedented public health emergency: COVID-19. Exactly six months and one day after the first Shelter-in-Place order, we examined the response to the crisis and looked at what comes next. This event was hosted on ZOOM.
A digital version of the program for the event, with speakers’ bios and other details, is posted here.
Panel 1, 9-10AM: Infrastructure
As Californians lost their health insurance, Medi-Cal was expected to see a surge in enrollments – in fact Medi-Cal enrollment has hardly budged. Why? Hospitals and clinics are struggling to serve COVID patients, but are experiencing revenue shortfalls – how close are they to the breaking point? How are doctors and other healthcare workers coping with the pandemic? What is the patient experience?
Moderated by: Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters. Panelists: Carmela Coyle, California Hospital Association; Surani Hayre-Kwan, California Association for Nurse Practitioners; Anthony Wright, Health Access California
Panel 2, 10:10-11AM: Health Equity
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored stark disparities in the Health system; the chance of getting – and surviving – the virus is heavily dependent on race, class and income. What can be done to achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups?
Moderated by Sigrid Bathen, Capitol Weekly. Panelists: Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry; Sonya Young Aadam, California Black Women’s Health Project; Jeffrey Reynoso, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; Kiran Savage-Sangwan, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
KEYNOTE, 11:10-11:40AM: Mark Ghaly, Secretary, California Health and Human Services, interviewed by John Howard of Capitol Weekly
Panel 3, 12:10-1PM: Telehealth
Telehealth was rarely used in California before the pandemic: Now patients have virtual visits with health care providers through a phone or video chat, remote patient monitoring and online support for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. What are the advantages and drawbacks of this new treatment technology?
Moderated by: Sammy Caiola, Capital Public Radio; Panelists: Dr. Richard Florio, Kaiser Permanente; David Ford, California Medical Association; Todd May, Health Net; Dr. Javeed Siddiqui, TeleMed2U; David Stockwell, Veterans Affairs NorCal Health Care System
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Kaiser Permanente, The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The California Building Industry Association, Lucas Public Affairs, California Professional Firefighters, Associated Builders and Contractors of Northern California and Pandora
