Toby Douglas
Toby Douglas is director of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Home to the state’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, DHCS administers programs to support the vital health care needs of more than 7.5 million Californians annually. DHCS employs 3,000 staff and manages expenditures of more than $42 billion in public funds. Toby had been chief deputy director since 2009 and held leadership positions in the department since 2005.
From 2001 to 2005, Douglas was a senior manager of activities related to health access, policy and planning at the San Mateo County Health Department. Before that, Toby was a research associate at the Urban Institute, a non-partisan, social policy research organization in Washington, D.C., and an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.
Toby graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He also earned master’s degrees in public health and public policy from Cal.
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. 
