This content is restricted to members.
November 3 & 4, 2025 | Newport Beach
Join CHA and California hospital finance experts for an in-person program examining the fiscal impact of state and federal regulations and policies. This event will delve into critical topics such as Medicare and Medi-Cal financing, financial regulations, state-directed Payments, the Office of Health Care Affordability, and strategies for navigating the evolving health care landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insights, practical financial strategies, and opportunities to network while contributing to CHA’s advocacy efforts.
Target Audience:
CHA Member Hospital Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Compliance Officers, Reimbursement Directors, Government Relations Directors, and/or Revenue Cycle Managers
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Check-in, Lunch, and Exhibitor Viewing
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. | General Session | Federal and State Updates and Risks Following OBBBA Passage
Jesse Delis, Vice President, Financial Policy, Adam Dorsey, Group Vice President, Financial Policy, Ben McGowan, Vice President, Policy and Legal Counsel, Michelle Millerick Vice President, Federal Policy, California Hospital Association, Malavika Narayan, MBA, Senior Director of Finance Policy, California Association of Public Hospitals & Health Systems, and Ryan Witz, Executive Director, District Hospital Leadership Forum
During this session, speakers will address a wide range of issues impacted by the passage of H.R. 1—the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—that will cut billions of dollars from Medicaid, with especially devastating effects on California. Attendees will gain insights spanning the federal to state landscape: from Medicaid policy to the implications for state-directed payments, provider taxes, and what these changes mean for private, public, and district hospitals.
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. | General Session | California State Bills and Budget
Adam Dorsey, Group Vice President, Financial Policy and Mark Farouk, Vice President, Advocacy, California Hospital Association
Stay informed on the 2025 legislative session with a briefing on key state laws, policy changes, and state budget decisions shaping hospital operations. This session will highlight significant bills that have advanced through the legislative process as well as an overview of steps the state is taking to address budget shortfalls and analyze their potential impact on California’s health care system.
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. | Break & Exhibitor Viewing
3:45 – 4:30 p.m. | General Session | Office of Health Care Affordability Updates
Ben Johnson, Group Vice President, Financial Policy, California Hospital Association
This session will take an in-depth look at the latest developments from California’s Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA). Ben Johnson will provide a high-level overview of OHCA’s mission and responsibilities, highlight recent actions taken by the OHCA Board, and share what key updates mean for your hospital. An expert from Hooper, Lundy, & Bookman will join Ben to provide further timely updates.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. | General Session | Office of Health Care Affordability Panel Discussion
Panelists – Matt Morgan, Senior Vice President & CFO, Cottage Health and Barry Arbuckle, President & Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Care; Moderator – Ben Johnson, Group Vice President, Financial Policy, California Hospital Association
Gain practical insights from CHA member leaders as they share their firsthand experiences navigating the Office of Health Care Affordability and its new rules and regulations. Learn directly from your peers about the challenges they’ve faced, the strategies they have employed, and the lessons learned along the way.
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Reception
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast and Exhibitor Viewing
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | General Session | Medicare Updates
Megan Howard, Vice President, Federal Policy and Michelle Millerick Vice President, Federal Policy, California Hospital Association
Medicare remains a cornerstone of health care financing, but recent updates and future proposals could significantly affect hospital operations, reimbursement, and patient care. This session will provide a comprehensive look at the latest program changes, including the Inpatient and Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems, explore upcoming policy shifts, and highlight how these developments uniquely impact California hospitals. Gain a clearer understanding of what’s new, what’s next, and how to prepare their organizations for evolving Medicare changes.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | General Session | State of the Union for Federal Hospital Finance
Chad Mulvany, FHFMA, Director of Healthcare Consulting and Joe Watt, Partner, Forvis Mazars
Health care delivery in the United States is evolving rapidly under the pressures of federal policies, reimbursement models, and shifting economic conditions. This session will offer a high-level look at how hospitals nationwide are preparing for uncertainty, highlight best practices from organizations achieving success, and explore strategies to ensure your hospital is well positioned to sustain profitability.
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Break & Exhibitor Viewing
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | General Session | How OHCA Will Measure Hospital Spending
Victoria Valencia, Vice President, Data Analytics, California Hospital Association
Beginning in 2026, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) will begin to enforce statewide spending targets for California hospitals and evaluate hospitals’ performance against those limits. In this session, Victoria Valencia will explain how OHCA defines and measures hospital spending, how “high-cost” hospitals are identified, and what we know so far about the assessment process. The session will also highlight concerns with data accuracy and integrity. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable insight into the requirements ahead, helping hospital leaders anticipate expectations, adjust strategies, and prepare for this new regulatory environment.
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Hosted Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | 340B Program Updates
Jenny Nguyen, Vice President, Financial Policy, California Hospital Association and Bharath Krishnamurthy, Director, Health Analytics and Policy, American Hospital Association
The 340B program continues to play a vital role in helping hospitals stretch scarce resources and support care for vulnerable patients. Yet, the program is facing more challenges than ever before, amid a rapidly evolving drug pricing landscape. This session will provide a timely overview of the current state of the 340B program at the federal and state levels. Topics will include updates on the upcoming 340B rebate model, looming Medicare payment cuts, and legislative developments pushing back on contract pharmacy restrictions.
Presenters will be added as they are finalized.
Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D.
President and CEO
MemorialCare
Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D. is President and CEO of MemorialCare. Under his leadership, MemorialCare has experienced unprecedented growth and financial performance with multiple regional and national business magazines noting MemorialCare’s leadership in clinical information, evidence-based medicine, financial and management systems, and advancing health care reform. Under Dr. Arbuckle’s leadership, MemorialCare secured an innovative, exclusive direct contract with The Boeing Company for the delivery of health care services to its employees in Southern California and excels in multiple Accountable Care Organization contracts. Dr. Arbuckle is active in many state and national associations and nonprofits.
Jesse Delis
Vice President, Policy
California Hospital Association
Jesse Delis currently serves as Vice President, Financial Policy at the California Hospital Association and is lead over the hospital fee program. Jesse has over seven years of experience in Medi-Cal managed care financing in his previous role at Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In his role at DHCS, he oversaw the development of the Managed Care Organization Tax along with various other provider-based financing programs.
Adam Dorsey
Group Vice President, Financial Policy
California Hospital Association
Adam Dorsey is the Group Vice President for Financial Policy at the California Hospital Association. Mr. Dorsey held a number of roles at the California Department of Finance between 2008 and 2023. He most recently served as Program Budget Manager where he was responsible for health and human services fiscal policy on behalf of the Administration.
Mark Farouk
Vice President, State Advocacy
California Hospital Association
Mark Farouk is the Vice President of State Advocacy at the California Hospital Association (CHA). Prior to joining CHA, Mark served as the chief of staff at the Office of the Assembly Majority Leader. He has over twenty years of experience in government affairs and statewide policy making on important California issues.
Megan Howard
Vice President, Federal Policy
California Hospital Association
As Vice President, Federal Policy for CHA, Megan Howard is responsible for providing leadership on federal regulatory issues related to health care finance, quality and patient safety, and hospital and post-acute provider related issues. Based in CHA’s Washington D.C. Office, Megan collaborates with CHA’s federal and state advocacy colleagues and national hospital associations on analysis and policy development for advocacy purposes.
Ben Johnson
Group Vice President, Financial Policy
California Hospital Association
Ben Johnson is CHA’s Group Vice President, Financial Policy, covering finance and affordability issues, including the Office of Health Care Affordability. Ben has been working in health care policy for a decade, previously having advised the state legislature from his role at the Legislative Analyst’s Office, where he was lead on issues like drug pricing, the Medi-Cal budget, single-payer financing, and health care-related taxes.
Bharath Krishnamurthy, MPH
Director of Health Policy & Analytics
American Hospital Association
Bharath Krishnamurthy is the Director of Health Policy & Analytics at the American Hospital Association (AHA) and is based in Washington, D.C. He specializes in all areas related to drug pricing policy, including the 340B drug pricing program. He is also an expert on hospital finances and data analytics. Prior to the AHA, Bharath worked at another hospital trade organization and has also worked as a health care consultant and as a researcher at George Washington University.
Ben McGowan
Vice President, Policy and Legal Counsel
California Hospital Association
Ben McGowan is Vice President and Legal Counsel for the California Hospital Association. Ben previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel and Assistant Deputy Director at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and served as a Staff Counsel for Special Projects and Assistant Chief Counsel for Health Care Financing and Rates at DHCS. In his most recent DHCS position, Ben oversaw over ninety attorneys with respect to all legal matters pertaining to the administration of Medi-Cal and other health programs.
Michelle Millerick, MPH
Vice President, Federal Policy
California Hospital Association
Michelle Millerick is responsible for providing leadership on federal hospital reimbursement and finance issues. Based in CHA’s Washington, D.C. Office, Michelle collaborates with CHA’s federal and state advocacy colleagues and national hospital associations on analysis and policy development. Michelle previously led policy work related to Medicare Advantage and managed care issues at the American Hospital Association, held positions in both state and federal government focused on Medicaid payment policy, and led state government relations at a freestanding cancer hospital in Massachusetts.
Matt Morgan, MBA, FHFMA, FACHE
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Cottage Health
Matthew (Matt) Morgan, MBA, FHFMA, FACHE, serves at Cottage Health’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Matt oversees all aspects of Cottage Health’s financial operations, including budgeting, financial planning, revenue cycle, supply chain, investments, treasury, and accounting. He serves as a key advisor to Cottage’s executive team and Board of Directors, helping guide decisions that support the organization’s strategic goals and financial sustainability. Matt has more than two decades of health care financial leadership and a proven ability to drive performance through strategic alignment and data-driven decision-making. Prior to Matt’s role at Cottage Health, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Montage Health in Monterey, CA.
Chad Mulvany, FHFMA
Director, Health Care Consulting
Forvis Mazars
Chad is a director in Forvis Mazars’ Healthcare Consulting practice. He has 24 years of experience providing hospital and health system executives with insight into federal regulatory and legislative changes. He focuses on how changes in public policy impact revenue cycle and reimbursement, as well as how value-based care models will affect health system strategies, finances, and operations. He has led development of federal finance regulatory policy for both national and state health associations. Chad is a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and has won multiple awards for his articles and podcasts.
Jenny Nguyen
Vice President, Financial Policy
California Hospital Association
Jenny Nguyen is Vice President of Financial Policy at the California Hospital Association (CHA). Jenny covers finance and affordability issues, including the Office of Health Care Affordability. Prior to joining CHA, Jenny served as the Director of Budget and Fiscal Policy at the County Welfare Directors Association where she led fiscal and budget analysis, implementation, and advocacy across a variety of health and human services programs.
Victoria Valencia, MPH
Vice President, Data Analytics
California Hospital Association
Victoria Valencia, MPH, is Vice President of Data Analytics at the California Hospital Association. She leads analyses of hospital financial performance and quality outcomes across California, translating complex data into insights that guide advocacy and leadership decisions. With more than a decade of experience in academic medicine and health care value initiatives, she brings expertise in hospital finance, operations, quality measurement, and data-driven strategy.
Joe Watt, CPA
Partner
Forvis Mazars
Joe has served the health care industry since 1991. He is a member of the Healthcare Practice and is the regional healthcare industry leader. Joe is also the engagement executive for many hospital, physician, and long-term care facility clients. He provides financial statement audit services, Medicare and Medicaid strategic consulting services, and corporate integrity services and assists health care organizations with strategic positioning. He manages many client engagements, which includes supervising engagement teams, presenting recommendations for improving operations and positioning, and communicating results to senior management and boards of directors. He also has experience providing strategic consulting related to market position and effective operations as well as affiliations, mergers, and acquisitions.
Ryan Witz
Executive Director, DHLF
Senior Manager, SCA Consulting
Ryan Witz is a Senior Manager with SCA and the Executive Director for the District Hospital Leadership Forum (DHLF). In his capacity with DHLF, he is responsible for the development of federal and state financial/reimbursement policy on behalf of California’s District hospitals. This includes overseeing DHLF’s advocacy functions and working directly with state regulators in the design and implementation of health care policies that impact District hospitals, as well as the other health care stakeholders that participate with the districts in this process.
Members Only: $399
Members are CHA member hospitals, CHA associate members, and government agencies.
Education programs and publications are a membership benefit and are not available to eligible nonmember California hospitals.
Presentations will be available online only: You will receive an email before the event with instructions on how to download the presentations to your laptop/tablet for viewing on-site or to print and bring with you. Be sure to download the materials in advance; WiFi access on-site may be limited.
Cancellation Policy/Late Payment: A $75 non-refundable processing fee will be retained for each cancellation. Cancellations must be made in writing seven or more days prior to the scheduled session and emailed to education@calhospital.org. No refunds will be made after these dates for in-person or livestream events. Substitutions are encouraged.
Please note: payment is due on or before the program. Payments not received by the conference date may be subject to a 10% late fee. In the unlikely event the program is cancelled, CHA will fully refund paid participants within 30 days.
Special Accommodations or Questions: If you require special accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, or have other questions, please call (916) 552-7637.
Quality Assurance/Grievance: We welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns or dissatisfaction with the quality of a CHA education program please contact Robyn Thomason, Vice President, Education at (916) 552-7514 or email rthomason@calhospital.org. The CHA education quality assurance/grievance policy is available upon request by emailing rthomason@calhospital.org.
Photo and/or Livestream Video Release: CHA may photograph and/or livestream this event. If you prefer not to be photographed or visible during the livestream, please email CHA at education@calhospital.org.
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
1107 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 729-1234
The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach has rooms available at a discounted rate of $239. For reservations, call (949) 729-1234 and mention the “CHA Hospital Finance and Reimbursement Seminar” or book online. Don’t delay to receive the discounted rate.
Full attendance at the educational session is a prerequisite for receiving professional continuing education (CE) credit. Attendees must sign in at the conference, complete post-event survey and, when required, include state bar or professional license number. CE certificates will be emailed approximately three weeks after the conference. Lunch and breaks are not included for continuing education credit. (Amount of CE offered subject to change.)
Compliance — The Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® has approved this event for up to 9.0 live CCB CEUs. Continuing Education Units are awarded based on individual attendance records. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by CCB of this event content or of the event sponsor.
Healthcare Executives — CHA is authorized to award 7.50 hours of pre-approved ACHE Qualified Education credit for this program toward advancement, or recertification, in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Participants in this program who wish to have the continuing education hours applied toward ACHE Qualified Education credit must self-report their participation. To self-report, participants must log into their MyACHE account and select ACHE Qualified Education Credit.
Legal — CHA is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This participatory activity has been approved for 7.50 hours of MCLE credit. Provider #1980.
If you would like to sponsor the Hospital Finance and Reimbursement Conference, contact Lisa Hartzell at lhartzell@calhospital.org.