Healthcare Executives Group

THURSDAY, November 12, 2020

Opening Discussion Topic:

Medi-Cal Then & Now: A Case Study in Innovation

Ever since LBJ signed the “Social Security Amendments of 1965” into law, creating Medicare and Medicaid, Medi-Cal has been among California’s foundational social benefit programs. In 1966, benefits were provided to 4 million Medicaid beneficiaries (and cost less than $1 billion), nationally. Fast forward to 2020 – with multiple program expansions, medical inflation, and the current COVID-induced economic crisis, Medi-Cal enrollment is expected to reach 14 million – over a third of California’s population, at a pre-COVID cost estimated to exceed $107 billion – primarily paid to the State’s managed care payers, and through them to healthcare providers, pharma, and device suppliers.

Our Featured Guest Member Presenter, Greg Buchert, MD, established GSB Health Management Solutions, in March, as a boutique consulting firm to leverage his decades of experience as the CEO, COO, or CMO of managed Medi-Cal health plans throughout California. His leadership of CalOptima, Centene’s California Health & Wellness and Health Net plans, and most recently, Blue Shield Promise Health Plan, have placed him at the forefront of the growth trajectory of California’s managed Medi-Cal coverage.

Especially in light of The Election, during our Members Discussion, we’ll look to hear how you have been involved with Medi-Cal in the past, and how you anticipate it will change in the next 4 years, potentially changing the direction of your healthcare business.

RSVP today to learn more about Medi-Cal: yesterday, today, and – maybe – tomorrow!

Greg Buchert, MD, began his healthcare leadership career as the Chief Resident of Children’s Hospital of Oakland, later becoming the Medical Director of CHO’s Off-site unit, then Associate Director of their ED. He then moved to The OC, becoming the Med Director of CHOC’s Ambulatory Services. In 1995, he joined the founding executive team of CalOptima, OC’s County Organized Health System, as Med Director and COO.  Subsequently, with Centene, he was CEO of California Health and Wellness, then CMO of Health Net, and later, CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan.

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