Health Care in California, October 3, 2024
Capitol Weekly presented HEALTH CARE IN CALIFORNIA on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
Over a dozen experts and elected officials joined us for our annual look at Health Care in the Golden State. In 2024, California has moved closer to the goal of universal coverage: as of January 1, all Californians, regardless of immigration status, can enroll in Medi-Cal if their income qualifies. But, even as the legislature and Governor move to expand coverage, the state’s budget deficit will force cuts to other programs. Will the spending targets from California’s new Office of Health Care Affordability limit spending growth as hoped? And, what impact will AI have in improving patient care?
Three panels of experts discussed these issues and much more.
Keynote: Asm. Jim Wood in conversation with Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly
9:30AM – Panel 1: AI in HEALTH CARE
Artificial intelligence (AI) has huge potential to innovate and reshape health care. AI has the potential to benefit both providers and patients, with improved diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, robot-enhanced precision medicine and much more. Proponents of AI believe it will significantly improve the quality of care for patients – but how can we use these new tools responsibly?
Panelists: Kara Carter, California Health Care Foundation; Sam Chung, California Life Sciences; Matthew D. Solomon, MD, Kaiser Permanente; Chris Waugh, Sutter Health
Moderated by Samantha Young, KFF Health News
10:45AM – Panel 2: OFFICE OF HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY: TARGETS
The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) was established in 2022 to move California health care toward a lower cost, high value system. In April 2024, the OHCA board approved a statewide health care spending target of 3 percent, to be phased in over the next five years. Beginning in 2026, the OHCA will be authorized to take enforcement action against health care entities that exceed the target. Can OHCA remake the state’s health care system by encouraging providers to focus on providing quality care at a reasonable cost?
Panelists: Ben Johnson, California Hospital Association; Lynne Kinst, Hemophilia Council of California; Elizabeth Mitchell, Purchaser Business Group on Health; Dr. Richard Pan, California Health Care Affordability Board.
Moderated by Sigrid Bathen, Capitol Weekly
Noon – Luncheon Keynote: Asm. Jim Wood in conversation with Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly
1:00PM – Panel 3: IMPACT OF BUDGET SHORTFALL
After a decade of surplus and an expansion of health care options in California, 2024 found the state facing a $45 billion deficit. To balance the budget, Governor Newsom proposed billions in spending cuts: some of those proposed cuts were walked back in negotiations with the legislature, but some programs will see significant reductions, impacting the health care of many Californians. And, a minimum wage hike set to affect more than 400,000 health workers has been delayed until October at the earliest.
Panelists: Jess Bartholow, SEIU California; Michelle Cabrera, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California; Beth Capell, Health Access California; Scott Graves, California Budget and Policy Center
Moderated by Kristen Hwang, Calmatters
Thanks to our sponsors:
CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS
