Understanding Upcoming Changes to Medi-Cal State Directed Payments Webinar
Register now
February 26, 2026
1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Pacific Time
An LHPC members-only program
Overview
Medi-Cal state directed payments (SDPs) enable the California 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.
State and federal policy actions, including H.R. 1, are poised to reshape the structure and delivery of directed payments. In follow-up to our Introduction to Medi-Cal State Directed Payments webinar, this session will dive deeper into H.R. 1 implications for and impacts to state directed payments. Join us for the webinar and hear from expert faculty who will share the current state of play, plan and provider insights and response strategies, and what may lay ahead.
Who should attend:
Health plan staff whose work is involved in or impacted by, or who are interested in better understanding how changes resulting from H.R. 1 will affect directed payments and ultimately impact health plan finances, provider payments, network adequacy and reporting.
Agenda
Overview & Refresher — State Directed Payments
- The what and the why of state directed payments
- Types of directed payment programs
- Role of and impacts to the plan and provider
- Utilizing SDPs to support value-based strategies
H.R. 1 Implementation Impacts & Implications for Directed Payments
- Provider tax financing changes and the implications for California’s SDPs and the State Budget
- Changes to SDPs and what they mean for plans and providers
- What remains unknown at the state and federal levels
Panel Discussion: Plan/Provider Response Strategies & Next Steps
Hear panelists’ insights and perspectives as they discuss how local plans and providers may potentially respond to H.R. 1 changes, as well as anticipated next steps.
On the Horizon: A Teaser on the Transition to Risk-Based Directed Payments
- What risk-based directed payments are and how they are different from current SDP programs
- Role of value-based strategies as part of risk-based SDPs
- How the role of the local plan may change in administering these payment programs
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 Feb. 24 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.