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CHCF Bolsters Leadership: Health Policy Veteran Jim Wood Joins Board Amid California's Care Crisis

February 3, 2026 at 02:42 PM UTC

CHCF Bolsters Leadership: Health Policy Veteran Jim Wood Joins Board Amid California's Care Crisis

The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) has welcomed Jim Wood, a former state assemblymember and practicing dentist with decades of health policy expertise, to its Board of Directors. This move comes at a pivotal moment as California grapples with soaring health costs and access barriers. Wood's addition signals CHCF's push to influence reforms that could reshape care for millions.[1][3]

Background/Context

CHCF stands as a nonprofit leader in California health improvement, funding research and policy work since 1996. It tackles issues like affordability, equity, and quality in a state where health spending outpaces wages. Recent trends show health costs rising 5-7% annually, squeezing families and providers alike.[2]

Jim Wood brings a unique blend of frontline experience and legislative clout. A Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University, he ran a family dental practice in Cloverdale from 1987 to 2013. Elected to the California Assembly in 2014, he represented rural Northern California counties including Sonoma, Humboldt, and Mendocino.[3]

As Chair of the Assembly Health Committee for eight years and later Speaker pro Tempore, Wood shaped major bills on Medi-Cal expansion, mental health, and cost controls. His appointment to CHCF's board follows his December 2024 selection by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel, marking his post-legislative pivot to influence.[3]

This board addition aligns with California's broader health shakeup. Governor Newsom's 2019 Healthy California for All Commission included Wood as an ex-officio member alongside CHCF's then-CEO Sandra Hernandez, highlighting early ties between Wood and the foundation.[1]

Main Analysis

Wood's track record positions him to drive CHCF's agenda on affordability and access. In 2022, he announced a health package prioritizing behavioral health integration and rural care fixes, addressing gaps where 20% of Californians lack timely services.[4]

A standout effort: Wood spearheaded AB 184 in 2022, creating the Office of Health Care Affordability. This agency sets spending benchmarks, with recent rules capping growth at 3-5% for hospitals and insurers starting 2024. At a board meeting, Wood urged action, stating, “It is not an exaggeration to say that people are deciding whether to get food on the table or get their medicines.”[2]

CHCF, under leaders like past CEO Hernandez, has long backed such data-driven reforms. Wood's dentist background adds practical insight - rural practices like his faced reimbursement shortfalls that mirror statewide woes. His board role could amplify CHCF's push for value-based payments, where hospitals get funds tied to outcomes, not volume.[7]

In hearings like the April 2025 Assembly Health Committee session, Wood's influence lingered through bills streamlining prior authorizations - bureaucratic delays that block 15% of claims, per California Health Benefit Review Program data.[5] Expect Wood to champion similar efficiencies at CHCF.

Real-World Impact

Wood's expertise hits hard in rural and underserved areas he once represented. Northern California's five counties suffer doctor shortages, with Medi-Cal patients waiting months for dental care. His voice could fast-track CHCF grants for telehealth and workforce training, easing burdens on 7 million Medi-Cal enrollees.[1][3]

Statewide, affordability rules he helped birth aim to save $1.3 billion in Medi-Cal by 2026 through smarter hospital payments. Patients win with lower premiums; a family of four might save $500 yearly if benchmarks stick.[2][7] Providers face fines post-2029 for overruns, pushing innovation like wellness coaches for mental health - a new Medi-Cal role funded at $8 million.[7]

For Californians, this means fewer skipped meds or ER visits. Wood's rural lens ensures reforms don't overlook aging populations or immigrants, rejecting cuts to services for those with "unsatisfactory immigration status."[7]

Different Perspectives

Not everyone cheers cost caps. Former Sen. Richard Pan voted against the affordability rules, warning aging demographics demand flexible targets to avoid care cuts.[2] Hospital groups like the California Hospital Association argue 3% limits ignore inflation, risking bed closures in high-need areas.[2]

Doctors via the California Medical Association seek delays, prioritizing access over penalties. Yet Wood counters that unchecked spending erodes trust, as seen in his push for "real life" fixes.[2] CHCF's neutral research role lets Wood bridge these divides with evidence.

Key Takeaways

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