Alani Jackson
Alani Jackson is the Chief of the Medi-Cal Dental Services Division within the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). She has full management responsibility for administering the Medi-Cal Dental Services Program (Denti-Cal and Dental Managed Care), which provides dental services to nearly 14 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
Prior to joining DHCS, Ms. Jackson had over eight years of administrative and managerial experience with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Correctional Health Care Services. She has extensive experience and knowledge working in health care policy planning, development, and implementation, as well as interacting with high-level executives amongst various state departments. She has over 10-years of experience serving Californians as a public servant and additional years of experience working in the legislature and children’s advocacy.
Ms. Jackson has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and two Bachelor’s in Community and Regional Development and Political Science from the University of California, Davis.
Preconference: Open Wide: State Innovations in Oral Health Policy
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
