Register now
March 17, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Pacific Time
CalOptima Health | Orange, CA
An LHPC members-only program

Overview

California’s local health plans work tirelessly to improve quality of care for their members. Given the State’s evolving quality oversight framework, as well as the realities of and considerations around key current issues, such as vaccine hesitancy and immigration policy, local plans employ an array of practices, strategies and tools to achieve improvements in health outcomes and quality performance. 

Join us in Orange County for a unique opportunity to learn from and collaborate with your local plan peers and hear insights into plan practices and experiences for improving quality, especially in light of an increasingly complex political, regulatory and operational environment. The daylong seminar will feature:

• Hot topics in quality improvement, notably vaccine hesitancy and engaging members in an environment of changing immigration policy
• Presentations by local plan leaders who will highlight potential approaches for improving CAHPS performance, as well as practices and key learnings for enhancing performance on priority children’s and behavioral health measures
• Small group discussions designed to foster creative and innovative ideas for quality improvement

Who should attend:
Local health plan chief medical officers, quality directors, managers and other staff whose work is impacted by or supports the plan’s quality improvement efforts and initiatives.

Agenda

*May be subject to change

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Today’s Quality Landscape
Katie Andrew, Director of Government Affairs, Quality and Behavioral Health, Local Health Plans of California

LHPC’s Katie Andrew will share insights into the current quality landscape, what questions are emerging in light of federal and state actions and what may lay ahead. Plans will be invited to think through ways to leverage policy pressures into opportunities to demonstrate leadership and successfully navigate current challenges. 

Hot Topics: What’s Top of Mind in Quality Improvement
Linda Lee, Executive Director, Quality Improvement, CalOptima Health and Michael Weiss, MD, Vice President, Population Health, Rady Children’s Health

In this session, hear from CalOptima and Rady Children’s Health who will discuss how they are addressing vaccine hesitancy in patients and providers. Additionally, local plan quality leaders will share approaches for engaging members in an environment of changing immigration policy and to mitigate impact.

Roundtable Discussions — Vaccine Hesitancy & Engaging Members in Light of Changing Immigration Policy

Attendees will engage in small group discussions to exchange helpful strategies and learnings, as well as share ideas for mitigating impact.

12:00 – 12:45 p.m. | Hosted Luncheon

12:45 – 3:30 p.m.

CAPHS: Local Plan Approaches for Improving Performance
Brad Gilbert, MD, MPP, Consultant and former CEO of Inland Empire Health Plan and Tara Tokijkla, Director, Quality Improvement, Inland Empire Health Plan

Local health plans diligently work to improve not only the care members receive, but also their experiences in accessing and receiving care. This session will provide an overview of local plan CAPHS performance, as well as experiences and insights from IEHP and others who will share their plans for improvement. Attendees will also participate in a facilitated discussion for additional insights and peer sharing.

Plan Practices & Experiences in Children’s & Behavioral Health
Lucy Marrero, MA, LMFT, CPHQ, Director, Behavioral Health and Social Programs, Gold Coast Health Plan

Plan leaders will outline strategies, tools and interventions for tackling children’s and behavioral health measures and highlight successes, challenges and lessons learned.

Roundtable Discussions — Children’s & Behavioral Health

Attendees will identify and discuss strategies and action steps that can be applied to their local communities.

Faculty

Katie Andrew
Director of Government Affairs, Quality & Behavioral Health
Local Health Plans of California

Bradley P. Gilbert, MD, MPP
Consultant and former CEO of Inland Empire Health Plan

Linda Lee, MPH
Executive Director, Quality Improvement
CalOptima Health

Lucy Marrero, MA, LMFT, CPHQ
Director, Behavioral Health and Social Programs
Gold Coast Health Plan

Tara Tokijkla
Director, Quality Improvement
Inland Empire Health Plan

Michael Weiss, MD
Vice President, Population Health
Rady Children’s Hospital

Site

CalOptima Health
500 City Parkway West
Orange, CA 92868
Driving directions 

Registration

NOTE: Health plan staff interested in participating should adhere to their respective plan’s process for LHPC Institute event registration where applicable.

Registration Fees: $50 per registrant

Registration Details: The seminar will accommodate up to 100 attendees. Each invited plan may elect to send six (6) participants. If more than six individuals from a plan are interested in attending, they are encouraged to sign up for the waitlist. Waitlisted individuals will be admitted should space become available.

Register for the seminar

Registration Deadline: Registration closes March 11 at 5:00 p.m. or once capacity is reached.

Registration Confirmation: Registrants will receive an email notification confirming their registration.

Presentation Materials: Presentation materials will be made available electronically only via the program resources web page that will be provided to confirmed registrants. Attendees are encouraged to download the materials in advance to their mobile device or print a copy to bring to the event. 

Special Accommodations: Please contact the LHPC Institute at institute@lhpc.org should you require special accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notification must be submitted in writing to institute@lhpc.org seven or more days prior to the event date. Refunds will not be given after that date. Substitutions are encouraged. Payment will be due for registered individuals that do not attend or participate in the event, and for which a cancellation notice is not received. 

Photo Release: The LHPC Institute will photograph this event. The images may be used in print and/or digital publications, including, but not limited to, our website, social media platforms and printed publications. If you prefer not to be photographed or to request that we not publish images in which you appear, please email the LHPC Institute at institute@lhpc.org.