Over 250 healthcare advocates from across California came together in Sacramento on September 6th to learn about the current healthcare landscape and best practices for outreach and enrollment. They also received timely updates to ensure their communities have access to and can fully utilize healthcare, given the great uncertainties and messaging coming from the Federal government. Conference attendees represented over 25 counties in the State of California and a variety of sectors, such as community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, health plans, hospitals, consulting firms, and government agencies at the state, county, and city level. The conference entailed three plenary sessions and five workshops, led by partners across the state.
Plenary sessions offered participants an opportunity to hear about the many changes to the healthcare landscape at the federal, state, and local level. The closing plenary provided a robust discussion on building trust with immigrant communities, even more relevant as the current administration called for the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on September 5th, 2017.
Attendees were able to share information learned at the conference with their colleagues and organizations, just in time for the 2018 open-enrollment period. Furthermore, workshops provided timely updates to ensure communities have access to and utilization of healthcare and best practices for outreach and enrollment. Workshop topics spanned the Medi-Cal program, changes and challenges in health care delivery systems, working with health plan partners, navigating healthcare and working with legal advocates. Healthcare advocates left the conference empowered to remain resilient during a time in which basic human rights, such as access to care, are being threatened.
This event was made possible by the help of our sponsors and partners across the state. Community Health Councils is glad to serve as the fiscal agent and partner with the California Coverage and Health Initiative as the Lead Agent to ensure another successful event. For more information regarding the conference, please visit http://www.capartnershiphealthcareadvocates.org/
Stay tuned for information regarding the next conference in 2019!