I'm Ali Kato, founder of Kato Advisory. For more than 20 years, I've worked inside both public and private health systems, with deep expertise in complex physical and behavioral health populations. As a county leader managing public dollars and accountability, and as a national health care director managing private-sector growth and performance, I've learned what each side is measured on and where its constraints sit. I now bring that rare vantage point to clients on both sides of the bridge, translating how the other side thinks, what it needs, and what it will take to make the partnership work.

At my core, I'm guided by a simple but powerful belief: when systems work better, people's lives do too. Public and private health systems aren't serving separate populations — they're serving the same person, often at the same time, and that's why they must work better together. I work closely with a small number of clients at a time, starting with their challenges and goals, then identifying the gaps and opportunities and turning them into practical recommendations and implementation plans. The result: a clearer understanding of where the two sides differ, and the bridges between them that better serve the person they share.

Public Sector Experience

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Head of Managed Care: Health Plan Operations and Patients' Rights +Acting Division Chief, Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Services

I built a new health plan operations unit from the ground up to manage contract requirements, deliver account management services, and coordinate care across all LA County Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, as well as Medicare and commercial insurance. I secured Board of Supervisors approval, hired and led the team, and negotiated multi-year contracts that reshaped financial responsibility structures under state requirements. I managed a $69 million annual budget and oversaw authorizations for specialty mental health services, including eating disorder treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. I also oversaw the Mental Health Plan's Patients' Rights Office, ensuring beneficiary advocacy and timely resolution of grievances and appeals across the system of care.

Concurrently, I served as Acting Division Chief, overseeing inpatient psychiatric hospital contracts and operations with a $162 million budget. In this role, I led rate development and needs analyses for some of the highest-acuity mental health populations in Los Angeles County, then translated those findings into outcome-focused operational and financial strategies. These efforts strengthened the Mental Health Plan's clinical capacity and expanded access to higher-level-of-care services for individuals requiring the most intensive support.

LA County Alliance for Health Integration Government Affairs Director

I coordinated policy across the Departments of Mental Health, Public Health, and Health Services, served as the Alliance for Health Integration's Board Liaison to the LA County Board of Supervisors, and developed and facilitated monthly Board Deputy briefings on Medi-Cal reform under CalAIM. I presented regularly at the Board of Supervisors' public Health Cluster meetings and served as project manager for joint Board Directive Report Backs across the three Health Departments.

Private Sector Experience

DaVita, Inc. — more than a decade in progressive management roles Director of Integrated Kidney Care Director of Market Development

As Director of Integrated Kidney Care, I built and scaled a nationwide patient experience program for Medicare Advantage members, raising the national Net Promoter Score from 50 to 70 in a single year and cutting voluntary disenrollment by 50% — generating multi-million-dollar annual revenue gains. I also led California legislative affairs, representing the organization before state and federal policymakers.

As Director of Market Development, I helped launch DaVita's Medicare Demonstration pilot and convert it into Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans across Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties, driving 21% annual membership growth.

Earlier Career

I began my career in public service and politics, working for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, EMILY's List, and the James Hahn for Los Angeles Mayor campaign. I supported constituent services, developed policy positions, prepared candidates for media and community engagements, and wrote speeches and briefing materials.

Education & Certifications

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, UC Davis

MBA, University of Southern California

Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt