I am excited to share our first Chapman Connect of 2025 with you, which will highlight some of the exciting projects we have been working on, give a California legislative spotlight, and kick-off 2025 in style. I’m also very excited to share that the Chapman team is growing with the addition of Gretchen Schroeder, and a plan to add to our team in the coming months. If you know of anyone that would make a great addition to our team, please see below!

As we dive into 2025, we are faced with a shifting healthcare landscape with many unknowns. The administrative changes in Washington, DC will undoubtedly impact how we prioritize healthcare, particularly for the under and uninsured. With millions of individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities across the country who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Exchanges for their healthcare needs, we know it is essential to stay apprised of changes and strengthen the systems in place to support continued access to these essential programs. The Chapman team is here to help navigate the policy changes and other market impacts and to be a resource for our clients and partners. 

In addition to the changes across the country we also must acknowledge the unprecedented damage in Los Angeles from January’s wildfires. Our team has both friends and colleagues impacted and the devastation is deep and multifaceted. From a healthcare perspective the fires disrupted access as clinics and hospitals face evacuations, damage, and operational challenges, leaving many without critical care. Mental health services are also undoubtedly in higher demand, as communities cope with the trauma and stress of displacement and loss. Our hearts are with all of those impacted by the fires, and we are heartened to see the way the community has come together to support the rebuilding of Los Angeles’ vibrant community.

I look forward to connecting with you this year, and as always, send gratitude and thanks for the years of partnership and connections.

- Athena Chapman

Founder and President

Welcome to the team, Gretchen!

Chapman Consulting is delighted to welcome our longtime friend and subcontractor Gretchen Schroeder to the team effective February 1. Gretchen joins Chapman’s team as a Senior Director and will help lead a variety of our projects. Gretchen brings over two decades of experience as a community health strategist with background in public health policy, program implementation and management, and systems change. Gretchen’s expertise includes supporting community-based organizations, counties, and health systems to create healthier communities through public health and Medi-Cal financing technical assistance.

We are thrilled to have Gretchen join us, and we look forward to seeing her shine in this role. Please join us in welcoming Gretchen to the team! 

The Chapman team had the opportunity to be part of so many interesting and unique events last year. We wanted to spotlight some of our favorite, less visible moments from our travel and projects! 

1. California Health Care Foundation Global Learning Partners – February 2024

Samantha and Elizabeth were invited by the California Health Care Foundation to participate in a training program facilitated by Global Learning Partners. The Intentional Design training taught our team how to craft and execute events that are centered in adult learning principles. We are deeply appreciative of this opportunity and are implementing these lessons to design learning-centered events that we facilitate on behalf of our clients and partners.

2.  Justice in Aging Celebration – April 2024

Last April, we had the opportunity to support and honor the amazing work of our friends at Justice in Aging at their annual celebration and fundraiser! We are in awe of the amazing work they lead to help aging adults live with dignity and have access to the services that they need, while using the power of law to strengthen the social safety net. We look forward to celebrating their progress again this April as we know they have leapt into action already this year to safeguard the programs that are essential to supporting older adults and reducing senior poverty.

3.  Justice-Involved Training for Lead Care Managers – October 2024

In October, the Chapman team had the honor to be a part of a training in San Jose put together by our friends at HC2 Strategies to support serving justice-involved individuals who are returning to their communities. The training included a powerful simulation that illustrated the complexities facing the JI community with their reentry process, as well as an impactful panel of formerly incarcerated individuals. This training was a partnership between Anthem, the Transitions Clinic Network, Santa Clara Reentry Resource Center, and Valley Homeless Healthcare.

4.  Institute on Aging Hosts Screening of Taking Care: Seth Rogen’s Movie about Alzheimer's – November 2024

We loved going to San Francisco to see a screening of actor Seth Rogen’s documentary following his family’s experience navigating Alzheimer’s. Thank you to our friends at Institute on Aging for the opportunity!

This month's client kudos goes out to the Local Health Plans of California (LHPC) Institute. In December 2024, the LHPC Institute hosted its second in-person Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) Collaborative Workgroup meeting in Rancho Cucamonga. It was a great opportunity for workgroup members to network and share best practices as managed care plans prepare for the D-SNP go-live in 2026. The meeting concluded with an open forum where members shared local plan policy and advocacy priorities and identified workgroup areas of focus for 2025. Feedback from the workgroup following the meeting has been overwhelmingly positive with most participants indicating that the workgroup had significantly enhanced their plan’s readiness for D-SNP implementation and deepened their understanding of D-SNP policies, requirements, and expectations.