welcome reception
Monday, October 5
2:00 – 4:00
Preconference sessions
The 2026 midterm elections will be a pivotal point for the healthcare sector, with significant implications for organizations whose operations, reimbursement, growth strategies, and compliance obligations are shaped by government policy and funding. Changes in governors, agency leadership, and congressional control can quickly alter regulatory priorities, payment models, funding streams, oversight activities, and the broader environment affecting healthcare and human services organizations. For healthcare leaders, understanding these shifts is essential for anticipating risk, identifying opportunities, and making informed business decisions. This session will explore key election scenarios and examine how potential outcomes could impact healthcare sectors – with breakout discussion groups focused on plans and providers. Attendees will gain actionable insights into how to prepare for policy changes that could emerge in 2027 and beyond. The session will be led by Leavitt Partners, HMA’s federal policy and government affairs team, which helps healthcare and human services organizations navigate and impact the political, stakeholder, and regulatory forces shaping the future of healthcare.
Josh Trent, CEO, Leavitt Partners
Elizabeth Wroe, Principal, Leavitt Partners
AI is moving quickly from pilot to procurement, but most organizations discover too late that the constraint isn’t the technology; it’s whether the enterprise underneath it can absorb the change. This workshop gives leaders a structured way to assess readiness across four domains: data systems and quality, workforce skills, leadership commitment, and operational process. Grounded in practical use cases such as reducing administrative burden, expanding access, and strengthening population health, the session translates AI concepts into the decisions leaders are actually facing. Presenters will examine the barriers that most often stall adoption, including inconsistent data, limited training capacity, funding constraints, privacy and regulatory requirements, and change management in organizations running on legacy workflows. Through interactive discussion and a readiness self-assessment model, attendees will identify organizational strengths and gaps, and leave with a clear sequence of steps to prepare for AI adoption responsibly.
FACILITATOR
Jim McEvoy, Senior Principal, Policy and Strategy, Health Management Associates
Arun Natarajan, Principal, Health Management Associates
3:00 – 5:00
Registration Opens
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.
Reception Venue: Broussard’s
819 Conti Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
Complimentary shuttle service will be provided between theSheraton New Orleans Hoteland Broussard’s. Two shuttles will loop continuously beginning at 4:15 p.m., departing from the Sheraton hotel lobby.
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.
moderator
Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Co-Founder, Leavitt Partners
Speaker
Bruce D. Greenstein, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health
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.
Speaker
Caprice Knapp, PhD., Principal Deputy Director, Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services
Ann Jensen, Administrator, Nevada Medicaid Nevada Health Authority
Cheryl J. Roberts, JD, Senior Advisor; Former Medicaid Director, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
Ryan Schwarz, MD, MBA, Medicaid Director & Assistant Secretary for MassHealth, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services
moderator
Robin A. Preston, Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates
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.
Speakers
Michael Bagel, Esq., Vice President, Public Policy, Alliance of Community Health Plans
Heather Foster, Vice President, Marketplace Policy Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP)
Paul N. Samuels, Director & President, Legal Action Center
Dekker Dirksen, Director, Public Policy, Community Health Plan of Washington
moderator
Warren J. Brodine, Managing Director, Finance and Operations, Health Management Associates
After years of implementation in Medicare, there is interest across states and providers to embrace alternative payment models, such as value based care, to manage costs and improve quality. This session takes a closer look at where 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.
Speakers
Brooke Lattimore, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Stigler Health & Wellness Center
Ashish D. Parikh, MD, Chief Population Health Officer, Summit Health – VillageMD
Rebekah Gee, MD, MPH, MS, FACOG, Chief Executive Officer, Nest Health
As Medicaid managed care faces tighter margins, rising quality expectations, and increased scrutiny, demonstrating value has never been more important. This session will examine how managed care models can and should evolve to improve member access, strengthen care coordination, and deliver measurable health outcomes. Panelists will share perspectives on the challenges providers and members face in working with managed care and strategies states and plans are using to reduce barriers to care, strengthen provider networks, and use data to show meaningful impact for Medicaid members.
Speakers
Justin M. Senior, Chief Executive Officer, Florida Safety Net Hospital Association
Craig A. Kennedy, MPH, President & Chief Executive Officer, Medicaid Health Plans of America
Stacie Weeks, MPH, JD, Director, Nevada Health Authority
moderator
Beth Kidder, MPP, Regional Director, Health Management Associates
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.
Speakers
Stacey Cook, MSW, LCSW, CPNLP, President & Chief Executive Officer, SalusCare
moderator
Allie Franklin, MHA, MSW, LICSW, Managing Director, Health Management Associates
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 and behavioral health needs, impact of federal changes to hospital payment rates as well as the focus on reducing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. Panelists will explore whether this current CMS vision is making the program more sustainable, and what strategies are actually working in both value based care and in Medicare Advantage to bend the cost curve.
Speakers
Eric Cragun, Executive Director of Government Programs; Interim Executive Director for Commercial Products Intermountain Health
Anna Bonelli, Director of Health Policy, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
Catherine Thurston, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer, Service Programs for Older People
moderator
Rachel Kramer, Senior Principal, Health Management Associates
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.
Speakers
Vanessa Templeman, CPC, Inspector General, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Office of the Inspector General
Jennifer Dupee, Deputy Director, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Program Integrity
moderator
Clint Eisenhower, Regional Director, Health Management Associates
AI-enabled technologies, remote monitoring, and digital health tools are rapidly expanding, promising better engagement, coordination, outcomes, and efficiency for chronic disease and behavioral health management. This session will explore how these tools and concepts are being used in behavioral health and larger provider systems. 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 provider abrasion, overreliance on automation, inequitable access, and technology that adds burden without improving care.
Speakers
Pamela Mattel, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer, Coordinated Behavioral Care
Scott Monteith, MD, DLFAPA, Chief Medical Officer, Lakeshore Regional Entity
Michael Roaldi, President, Cityblock Health
Navesh Kandiyil, MD, MBA, FACHE, Transformation Executive, NTT Data
moderator
Jim McEvoy, Senior Principal, Policy and Strategy, Health Management Associates
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.
Speakers
Will Shrank, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Aradigm Health
moderator
Ben Shand, Vice President, Client Partnerships, Health Management Associates
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.
Speakers
Charlie Zei, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Strategy & Government Programs, WellRight
Chethan Bachireddy, MD, MSc, FACP, AAHIVS, Clinical Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Lucienne Ide, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Health Recovery Solutions
moderator
Nancy Jaeckels Kamp, Managing Director, Health Management Associates
4:15 – 4:45
Closing Fireside Chat: Community Care for Veterans – NextGen VA
As the nation’s largest integrated health system serving Veterans, the VA is committed to partnering with health plans, providers, health systems, technology firms, and other innovators to bring the best ideas, capabilities, and solutions from across the healthcare marketplace to those who have served our nation. Nearly 42 percent of Veteran healthcare appointments are delivered in the community today—and that share is expected to grow. Assistant Secretary Topping will talk about the VA’s vision for the future of Community Care and the critical role industry partners will play and how the VA aims to learn from industry leaders, adopt proven best practices, leverage emerging technologies, and foster innovation that improves access, quality, and outcomes for Veterans.
Speakers
The Honorable Richard F. Topping, Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Veterans’ Administration
moderator
Jean Glossa, MD, MBA, FACP, Vice President of Client Solutions, Health Management Associates
4:45 – 4:55
Day 1 Closing Comments: What We Heard That Matters Most
5:00 – 6:30
Sponsor Appreciation Reception
conference • day two
Wednesday, October 7
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
Conversation topics
Conversation Leaders
Monica Johnson, MA, LPC, Managing Director Health Management Associates
Angela Bergefurd, MPA, Senior Principal, Health Management Associates
Conversation Leaders
Christina Altmayer, MPA, Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates
Jennifer Tracey, MHA, Senior Director of Growth & Sustainability, HealthySteps, a program of ZERO TO THREE
Conversation Leader
Teresa Garate, Managing Director, Health Management Associates
Zach Zobel, President of Healthcare Solutions, Sober Sidekick
Chris Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Sober Sidekick
9:15 – 10:30
Plenary Session
Creative Solutions to Sustain Access to Care
Disruptions across markets in eligibility and affordability of coverage are creating critical uncertainty for providers who are faced with sustainability risks. This will require providers to be strategic, creative, and highly efficient in order to sustain critical services and remain solvent. Strategic partnerships, programmatic shifts, and operational changes are part of the solution. Public programs like Rural Health Transformation as well as philanthropic initiatives may also offer opportunity for technology solutions, programmatic growth, and reimbursement and value based opportunities. This panel will discuss different approaches, funding sources, and outside the box thinking that will be required to sustain a care delivery system that serves the needs of the people.
moderator
Gina Lasky, PhD, MAPL, Senior Vice President, Health Management Associates
10:30 – 10:45
Networking Break
10:45 – 12:00
Plenary Session
TEFCA and the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem – Moving from Hype to Impact
CMS is advancing a more connected health technology ecosystem designed to make trusted health information more accessible, actionable, and useful across the healthcare system. At the same time, TEFCA is creating a nationwide framework for interoperable health information exchange—helping connect the data, organizations, and technologies needed to turn interoperability into meaningful impact.
For government programs, the opportunity is significant: better-connected data can reduce administrative burden, strengthen care coordination, support more informed decisions at the point of care, and improve outcomes while managing costs. This plenary will move beyond the hype to examine how the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem and TEFCA are coming together in practice—and where state Medicaid programs, health plans, providers, and technology partners are already seeing impact. Panelists will explore what is working, what remains challenging, and what it will take to translate a more connected health data ecosystem into better experiences and better outcomes.
Speakers
Dave Dirks, Vice President, Strategy Intermountain Health
Thomas Keane, MD, MBA, National Coordinator for Health IT, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Mike Baillie, Senior Vice President of Clinical Data Strategy & Innovation, UnitedHealth Group
moderator
Ryan Howells, Principal, Leavitt Partners
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.
Speakers
Chip Kahn, Principal; Visiting Senior Fellow, Kahn Consulting; American Enterprise Institute
moderator
Vlad Cartwright, Chief Executive Officer, 720 Strategies
1:15 – 1:30
closing Comments
Rebecca Nielsen, Managing Director, Strategy & Transformation, Health Management Associates