Scaling Palliative Care for Medicaid Enrollees: Lessons Learned from California

A growing number of states are exploring ways to expand palliative care access for Medicaid enrollees through legislative action or regulatory waivers. These policies aim to create benefits and/or mandates that encourage more timely and effective palliative care delivery for a population that has historically been underserved. However, deliberate action and planning are critical to ensure these policies are effective.

California was the first state to pass legislation mandating access to palliative care for adult Medicaid enrollees. Lessons learned from California’s efforts to implement this mandate can help other states avoid pitfalls and build on promising practices.

In this webinar, Anne Kinderman, MD, Kathleen Kerr, and Loren Pogir, MPA will share key lessons learned from delivering palliative care under California’s Medicaid program. These insights can inform how other states prepare for and roll out similar programs. The discussion will cover topics to consider before implementing a mandate or benefit and offer recommendations to support effective implementation.