welcome reception
Monday, October 5
2:00 – 4:00
Registration Open
4:30 – 7:00
Welcome Reception
Kick off the conference with a warm welcome at one of New Orleans’ iconic establishments. This relaxed evening gathering is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow attendees and build new relationships. Enjoy the city’s signature hospitality, local flavors, and vibrant atmosphere as we come together to network and celebrate the start of an inspiring event.
Conference • day one
Tuesday, October 6
7:00 – 8:00
Registration and Networking Breakfast
8:15 – 8:30
Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:30 – 9:30
Keynote Address and Conversation
When Federal Incentives Change, State Leadership Matters
Healthcare has entered a period where federal signals are dramatically changing coverage. State leaders face increasing pressure to quickly pivot strategies with decreasing federal resources, and providers and community organizations will face very different revenue and funding scenarios. This conversation will explore how state leaders are interpreting the federal guidance, making tradeoffs, and advancing new programs to maintain and improve health outcomes for their constituents. Health policy leaders from red and blue states will discuss common goals, differing approaches, and what it takes to lead in these times.
9:30 – 10:30
Plenary Session
Medicaid Matters: The Ripple Effects Across Healthcare
Medicaid programs are facing significant changes, driven by redeterminations, community engagement requirements, waiver and finance changes, and ongoing budget pressures. States and community providers are focused on stabilizing Medicaid coverage and care in the near term while building resilience and sustainability for the future. The panelist will explore the impact on health systems, behavioral healthcare, and community programs, and examine strategies to manage enrollment fluctuations, strengthen provider networks, improve care coordination, and address access challenges. The discussion will also highlight how data, policy levers and cross-sector collaboration can support consistent outcomes.
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 12:15
Expert-Led Workshops
Coverage churn across Medicaid, the ACA Marketplace, and employer‑sponsored insurance and affordability pressures are driving people to move between programs or lose coverage altogether. These patterns of coverage transitions have real consequences for providers and risk‑bearing organizations, including changes in risk pools, plan participation, provider financial exposure, and an increase in uninsured patients. This session examines what we are seeing today, how organizations are planning for continued volatility, and how health care leaders can best prepare for these shifts in coverage and risk.
Value-based care has focused on Medicare transformation with mixed results, but opportunities remain to apply these strategies at the state level. This session takes a closer look at where state and commercial value-based models are showing promise and where there is opportunity for innovation in Medicaid. Through a candid discussion, panelists will examine real-world implementation across payers and providers, highlighting successes in improving outcomes and managing cost, while also addressing persistent challenges such as alignment of incentives, data sharing, and operational complexity.
As healthcare costs rise and behavioral health funding faces uncertainty, unmet behavioral health needs are creating growing challenges across systems of care. This panel will explore how healthcare, community, and public-sector partners can better identify and manage behavioral health risk while improving outcomes for high-need populations. This panel will explore how healthcare, community, and public-sector partners can better identify and manage behavioral health risk while improving outcomes for individuals with complex behavioral health needs. Panelists will highlight practical strategies for navigating risk in a changing landscape and strengthening coordination across the continuum of care.
12:15 – 1:15
Networking Lunch
1:30 – 2:45
Expert-Led Workshops
Although Medicare escaped major funding cuts in the 2025 budget bill, changes to Medicare payment rules and Medicare Advantage rates are creating real pressure on cost containment. This panel will explore trends that impact sustainability in the Medicare program, including innovation in how we cover dual eligibles, hospital payment rates, and Medicare Advantage strategies, as well as high profile efforts to curb Fraud, Waste, and Abuse and promote value based care. Panelists will explore whether this current CMS vision is making the program more sustainable, and what strategies are actually working to bend the cost curve.
Program integrity has emerged as one of the most prominent issues shaping public healthcare and health-adjacent programs. As federal policymakers increase their focus on accountability, eligibility verification, payment accuracy, oversight, and stewardship of public funds, states face growing pressure to identify vulnerabilities, reduce risk, and improve program performance—while maintaining access to care and essential services. The conversation will also explore whether program integrity is moving from a compliance function to a foundational element of program design—informing how states develop policies, structure benefits, manage contractors, leverage technology, and measure success.
AI-enabled technologies, remote monitoring, and digital health tools are rapidly expanding, promising better engagement, coordination, outcomes, and efficiency — while chronic disease and behavioral health remain major drivers of cost, utilization, and workforce strain. This session will explore how these tools can support population health, care management, value-based care, and shared decision-making across clinical and administrative workflows. Panelists will discuss what it takes to evaluate, adopt, and scale technology responsibly, including ROI, data sharing, vendor partnerships, payment alignment, and integration with HIEs and provider networks. The conversation will also address where caution is needed, including risks of clinician deskilling, overreliance on automation, inequitable access, and technology that adds burden without improving care.
Cell and gene therapies represent a major frontier in biomedical innovation, with the potential to transform care for patients with serious and rare diseases. High upfront costs reflect the complexities of the science and development risks, but this also creates real challenges for payers, providers, Medicaid programs, and patients. This session will explore lessons learned as cell and gene therapies move from approval into practice. Panelists will discuss multi payer approaches to coverage & affordability, provider readiness, patient support needs, and manufacturer challenges. The discussion will focus on emerging solutions to sustain innovation while ensuring transformative therapies are accessible to the patients who need them.
2:45 – 3:15
Networking Break
3:15 – 4:15
Plenary Session
Health ROI: The Impact of Spending More on Prevention and Wellness
Healthcare spending always faces a simple but challenging question: are we investing in the right places to improve health? Federal priorities and public pressures are challenging systems to shift resources upstream, focusing more on prevention, chronic disease management, and the social factors that shape health outcomes. This session explores how healthcare organizations are responding to these changing pressures and whether efforts to drive behavior change are delivering real quality outcomes. Panelists will examine where investments in wellness, primary care, women’s health, chronic condition management, and social determinants are showing measurable impact, and where gaps remain.
4:15 – 4:45
Day 1 Closing Comments: What We Heard That Matters Most
5:00 – 6:30
Sponsor Appreciation Reception
conference • day two
Wednesday, October 6
7:00
Registration and Breakfast
7:45 – 9:00
Coffee Conversations and Collaborations
Coffee Conversations will offer a fresh, intimate alternative to traditional breakout sessions—designed for deeper learning, richer dialogue, and meaningful connections. Led by experts from HMA and beyond, these sessions will spotlight practical tools and resources while inviting attendees into dynamic, peer-driven discussions. Whether you’re diving into a specific program, exploring operational challenges, or sharing best practices, grab breakfast and select a session to:
- Take a deeper look at targeted topics, solutions, and innovations
- Engage in candid conversations to get questions answered and ideas exchanged
- Build relationships and collaborate with peers in a relaxed, interactive setting
Join us for an interactive discussion about how emerging AI solutions are reshaping the competitive procurement process. Explore real-world applications, operational challenges, and best practices for use of AI across the procurement lifecycle. Engage in candid discussions around fairness, transparency, and the future of AI-driven procurement—sharing insights and learning from peers navigating similar terrain.
Conversation Leaders
Christine Rein, Managing Director, Local and Regional Managed Care Plans, HMA Marcia Stein, Principal, HMA
Join Kelly O’Reilly, CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans, and HMA experts for an engaging discussion on how Medicaid managed care organizations and community-based organizations can collaborate to deliver sustainable, scalable non-traditional services. Drawing on lessons from Ohio’s collaborative approach, this session will go deep on strategies for operationalizing non-traditional benefits, navigating governance and contracting and strengthening partnerships to improve outcomes for at-risk populations.
Conversation Leaders
Loren Anthes, Prinicpal, HMA
Kelly O’Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Ohio Association of Health Plans
In a shifting federal landscape, agencies need smart tools to plan for funding changes. This session introduces two customizable models that help estimate financial impacts from HR1 and Medicaid eligibility shifts. Learn how to assess risk, project program-level effects, and build contingency strategies using scenario-based inputs and dropdowns. Gain practical guidance on identifying priorities, tracking policy timelines, and exploring alternative funding paths.
Conversation Leader
Angie Bergefurd, MPA, Managing Principal, Ohio, HMA
Shannon Breitzman, Managing Principal, Colorado, HMA
Medicaid is entering another period of unprecedented change. HR1 and evolving federal–state dynamics are reshaping eligibility, enrollment, and delivery—with distinct impacts across states and territories. Join Nikita Singareddy, CEO of Fortuna Health, and HMA experts to explore how states and plans are responding through operational strategies and tech-enabled community engagement. Attendees will gain actionable insights to navigate policy change while enhancing member experience and program performance.
Conversation Leaders
R.J. Briscione, Principal, HMA
Nikita Singareddy, Chief Executive Officer, Fortuna Health
Food Is Medicine initiatives are gaining traction as a strategy to improve health outcomes and address social drivers of health. This conversation invites both seasoned and emerging stakeholders to discuss how measuring impact can support sustainability and scale. Share ideas on overcoming implementation challenges and explore ways to strengthen the evidence base for broader adoption.
Conversation Leaders
Jean Glossa, MD, MBA, FACP, Vice President, Client Solutions, HMA
Molly Prendergast, Government Affairs Manager, Instacart
Tara Searles, MHA, CCM, Director of Business Development, Mom’s Meals
Join HMA experts for a focused discussion on how payers approach coverage for costly technologies with long-term value. Drawing on examples like Aduhelm, GLP-1s, and cell and gene therapies, the discussion will explore decision-making across Medicare, commercial plans, and Medicaid—and how providers weigh these challenges in practice.
Conversation Leaders
Amy Bassano, Managing Director, Medicare, HMA
Zach Gaumer, Managing Principal, Washington, DC, HMA
Rachel Kramer, Managing Director, Medicare, HMA
9:15 – 10:30
Plenary Session
How One-Time Funds Can Catalyze Care Delivery Partnerships
Communities in all states and territories have access to several types of one-time funds that are directed towards fixing systemic problems, but the funding must supplement – not supplant – ongoing programs. Opioid settlement funds can reshape resources for addiction recovery and integrated healthcare. Rural health transformation funds can reshape and realign services to ensure all communities have better access to care. This session focuses on examples of collaboration among states, providers, community organizations, and private partners to navigate risk, align funding and strategy, and build models that can be sustained over time. The discussion will highlight practical approaches to partnership, early lessons from implementation, and what it takes to move from short-term solutions to long-term impact.
10:30 – 10:45
Networking Break
10:45 – 12:00
Plenary Session
Thriving in the Health Tech Ecosystem – From Hype to Impact
CMS has made big advances in the aggregation of consumer health data to support a thriving health tech ecosystem that can start to deliver on its promise of lowering administrative waste and improving the quality of decisions made at the point of care. This panel will explore how and where these advances are impacting care and costs.
12:00 – 1:15
closing Plenary
Controlling the Narrative – Political Communication in Changing Times
This closing plenary will examine how healthcare advocacy and communication changes with election dynamics. With one month before pivotal midterm elections, we will examine signals being sent from congressional and gubernatorial campaigns, where policy leadership may shift, and how stakeholders should adapt their communication strategies.