Introduction to Medi-Cal State Directed Payments Webinar
Register now
November 18, 2025
1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Pacific Time
An LHPC members-only program
Overview
Medi-Cal state directed payments enable the Department of Health Care Services to make specific payments to selected providers via Medi-Cal managed care plans based on predetermined criteria. These payments are critical to help ensure access, address gaps in Medi-Cal reimbursement, reform the delivery system, enhance quality and promote better health outcomes.
With state and federal policy actions, including H.R. 1, poised to reshape the structure and delivery of directed payments, it’s important that plans enhance their understanding of how state directed payments work, their impact on plan finances and operations, and the implications of upcoming changes to state directed payment programs.
Join us for the webinar where expert faculty will walk through:
- What are directed payments?
- How do directed payments work?
- How directed payments are administered
- Plan and hospital perspectives and insights
Who should attend:
Health plan staff whose work is involved in or impacted by, or who are interested in better understanding, the fundamentals, mechanics and delivery of state directed payments and their impact on health plan finances, provider payments, network adequacy and reporting.
Agenda
What are Directed Payments?
- What they are and are not
- Federal and state authority — what is allowed and required
- What directed payments are intended to do
How Do Directed Payments Work?
- How funds flow from the State to plans to providers
- CMS pre-prints and the approval process
- Common structures — uniform dollar increases, minimum/maximum fee schedules, etc.
How Directed Payments are Administered — A Walkthrough
- Hospital Directed Payments
- Utilization-Based programs — Designated Public Hospital Enhanced Payment Program, District and Municipal Public Hospital Directed Payment, Private Hospital Directed Payment
- Quality metric-based programs — Designated Public Hospital Quality Incentive Pool (QIP), District and Municipal Public Hospital QIP
- Fee Schedule-Based Programs
- Major Organ Transplants, Long-Term Care Fee-for-Service Equivalent, Targeted Rate Increases, etc.
Plan and Hospital Perspectives & Insights
- The significance of hospital and other directed payments for plans and hospitals
- The role plans play in administering directed payments
- Current considerations and future risks for directed payments for plans, including implications of H.R. 1
Faculty
Beau Bouchard
Director of Health Plan Financing
Local Health Plans of California
Jennifer Lopez
Chief Financial Officer
Partnership HealthPlan of California
Ryan Witz
Executive Director
District Hospital Leadership Forum
Registration
This is an LHPC members-only program.
Fees (per connection)
Members $70
Plan Registration^ $170
^ The plan registration option is available only for plans who wish to invite staff to view the webinar together in the same location (i.e., conference or other meeting room). This option is not available for groups who wish to view the webinar from different locations as individuals will be unable to join from multiple devices.
Registration closes Nov. 14 at 5:00 p.m.
Registration Confirmation: Registrants will receive two emails — a registration confirmation email and a separate email that contains access information for the webinar.
Participating in the Webinar: You will only need a computer with an updated web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Safari are recommended). Participants may opt to listen to the webinar via telephone or device.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notification must be submitted in writing to institute@lhpc.org seven or more days prior to the course date. Refunds will not be given after that date. Substitutions are encouraged. Payment will be due for registered individuals that do not attend the event and for which a cancellation notice is not received.