Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Navigating Medicaid Redeterminations and Market Shifts with CalOptima Health Leadership with Michael Hunn & Yunkyung Kim
Feb 28, 2026
Yunkyung Kim, COO with 25 years in public payer work, and Michael Hunn, CEO with a background leading hospitals and health systems, discuss preparing for Medicaid eligibility changes and a $20M outreach push. They cover coordinating with providers to limit uncompensated care and plans to launch in Covered California in 2027. They also reflect on building community trust and practical leadership lessons.
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Fund Outreach To Prevent Redetermination Losses
- Do invest in large-scale outreach and education to prevent coverage loss.
- CalOptima committed nearly $20 million for outreach, navigation and staff training so members and providers get consistent, factual information.
Share Projections So Providers Can Plan
- Do share projections and operational guidance with provider partners so they can plan budgets and workflows.
- CalOptima is sharing enrollment projections and advising providers on access expansion and office-level business planning.
Coordinate With Hospitals On Enrollment Declines
- Do coordinate proactively with local hospitals and community clinics around anticipated enrollment drops.
- Michael Hunn hosts a quarterly hospital CEO consortium and shares month-by-month re-enrollment data to plan discharge and community resources.