2025 Illinois State of Reform Health Policy Conference

As federal health policy continues to evolve under the Trump Administration, stakeholders across Illinois are bracing for potential changes that could reshape healthcare. This panel will examine the implications of key policy shifts—from Medicaid waivers and eligibility changes to prescription drug pricing and regulatory rollbacks—and how they uniquely affect providers, patients, and communities in the state. 

Verlon Johnson: Executive Vice President & Chief Government & Corporate Affairs Officer, Acentra; Chair, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)

Lizzy Whitehorn: Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services

Moderator: Sara Singleton: Principal, Leavitt Partners

Illinois is at the forefront of integrating housing into its healthcare system, recognizing that stable housing is fundamental to health. Through its Medicaid 1115 waiver, the state has expanded coverage to include services such as medical respite care for individuals experiencing homelessness and support for individuals transitioning from incarceration. This panel will explore the current status of Illinois’ efforts to integrate housing into healthcare, discuss the challenges faced, and examine strategies to sustain and expand these initiatives in the face of federal uncertainty. 

Michael Banghart, MA: Former Executive Director, Renaissance Social Services

Richard Ducatenzeiler: Chief Executive Officer, The Boulevard

Christine Haley: Chief Homelessness Officer, State of Illinois

Ed Stellon, MS, MA: Chief External Affairs Officer, Illinois Public Health Institute

Moderator: Leticia Reyes-Nash: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Illinois’ health insurance environment is rapidly shifting, shaped by new insurance products, changes to the healthcare safety net, and evolving state and federal policies. This panel will examine the introduction of new state-regulated health plans, including the phaseout of short-term limited duration insurance and expanded consumer protections. Speakers will explore the current status and future of Illinois’ Medicaid program in light of potential federal funding cuts, and how these changes could affect low-income residents and providers. 

Cristal Gary, MPP, FACHE: Plan President & Chief Executive Officer, Meridian Health Plan of Illinois

Erik Mikaitis, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE: Chief Executive Officer, Cook County Health

David Vinkler: Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy, Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans

Moderator: Jay Shannon, MD: Principal, Health Management Associates

Illinois has embarked on a transformative journey to enhance behavioral health services through several initiatives, including the continued expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) and investments into crisis system response through 988, mobile crisis response grants and crisis center.  This panel will provide an overview of these initiatives and what is to come for them in the future while also highlighting the efforts of organizations doing the work, lessons learned and opportunities for replication and expansion. 

Inger Burnett-Zeigler, PhD: Chief Behavioral Health Officer, State of Illinois

Lori Carnahan: Deputy Director, Behavioral Health, DuPage County Health Department

Mark Ishaug: President & Chief Executive Officer, Thresholds

Thomas Nutter, MD: Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Cook County Health

Moderator: Teresa Garate, PhD: Managing Director, Health Management Associates

Illinois has taken meaningful steps to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly through expanded Medicaid coverage, investments in perinatal support services, and community-based interventions. This panel will highlight recent policy developments and ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing health inequities and improving outcomes for mothers and babies, including the certification of new provider types like community health workers. 

Mekazin Alexander: Co-Founder, Executive Director, BA NIA

Dona Perry, MD: Strategic Medical Director, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois

Laura Phelan, MPA: Administrator, Division of Medical Programs, Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services

Jennifer Vidis, JD: Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health

Moderator: Zipatly V. Mendoza, MPH: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

Illinois is pioneering a transformative approach to healthcare by leveraging its Medicaid program to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) such as housing instability, food insecurity, and violence prevention. In July 2024, the state received federal approval for an 1115 waiver, enabling Medicaid funds to support critical support services. However, the future of this initiative is uncertain under the Trump administration, which has proposed significant Medicaid funding cuts that may compromise the waiver’s future. This panel will discuss the uncertain road ahead and possible paths forward for continuing to address HRSNs. 

Natalie Daniel: Director of Policy, Unite Us

Misty Drake: Executive Director, Wellness West; Vice President, Client Services & Growth, Medical Home Network

Thea Kachoris-Flores: Special Assistant for Health-Related Social Needs, Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services

Carla Nelson: Senior Director, Health Care & Public Policy, Findhelp

Sana Syal, MPH: Senior Director, Greater Chicago Food Depository

Moderator: Kathy Chan: Director of Policy, Cook County Health

In 2023, Illinois took a significant step toward enhancing healthcare access and affordability by enacting legislation to establish its own state-based health insurance exchange, transitioning from the federal platform. This move, set to be fully operational by plan year 2026, aims to provide Illinois residents with a more tailored and responsive marketplace for obtaining health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This panel will explore the multifaceted impacts of this transition. 

Stephani Becker: Deputy Administrator, State-Based Marketplace, Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services

Robin Lavender: Client Access Coordinator, Lead Navigator, & SHIP Counselor, DuPage County Health Department

Morgan Winters, MPP: Director, Get Covered Illinois, State of Illinois

Moderator: Laura Zaremba: Principal, Health Management Associates

Illinois is actively addressing the healthcare workforce shortage through targeted initiatives aimed at expanding and supporting its diverse healthcare workforce. Collaborative strategies, including the launch of a statewide resource pool by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, aim to provide healthcare facilities with flexible staffing solutions. This panel will explore these initiatives, discuss the challenges faced, and examine the collaborative efforts necessary to build a sustainable and diverse healthcare workforce in Illinois. 

Kim Jay, BA: Training Manager, Consultant & Senior Community Health Worker, Sinai Urban Health Institute

Mark Potter, PhD: Provost & Chief Academic Officer, City Colleges of Chicago

Leticia Boughton Price: Co-Executive Director, Illinois Community Health Workers Association

Moderator: Heidi Arthur: Principal, Health Management Associates

Illinois’s fifty community health centers (CHCs) serve approximately 1.5 million people, 61% of whom are insured by Medicaid and 15% of whom are medically uninsured. Many CHCs are already financially challenged by the loss of 340B revenue, worsening payer mix, and escalating workforce costs. Nearly 5.6 million CHC patients nationwide are projected to lose insurance coverage due to recent federal legislation. This panel will discuss the strategies federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are putting in place to address this evolving crisis.

Lee Francis, MD, MPH: President & Chief Executive Officer, Erie Family Health Centers

Cyrus Winnett: Chief Public Affairs Officer, Illinois Primary Health Care Association

Moderator: Art Jones: Physician Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore how the state can maintain key public health improvements made during the pandemic—such as data modernization, workforce expansion, and cross-sector partnerships—even as funding levels decline. Panelists will discuss how to foster deeper collaboration between public health agencies and healthcare providers to address chronic disease, emerging threats, and social determinants of health more effectively. 

Arti Barnes, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Illinois Department of Public Health

Christopher Hoff: Executive Director, Lake County Health Department & Community Health Center

Olusimbo Ige, MD, MS, MPH: Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health

Kiran Joshi, MD, MPH: Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health

Moderator: Teresa Garate, PhD: Managing Director, Health Management Associates

Illinois has implemented significant reforms to streamline the prior authorization (PA) process, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and improve timely access to care. This panel will examine the impact of recent PA reforms on healthcare providers and patients in Illinois. Discussions will focus on the effectiveness of standardized response times, the role of physician involvement in PA decisions, and the implications of recent legislative changes. Panelists will also explore ongoing challenges and opportunities for further improvement in the PA process to enhance healthcare delivery across the state. 

Ryan Croke: First Assistant Deputy Governor, State of Illinois

Lisa Lynn: Senior Director, Patient Financial Services, Illinois Health & Hospital Association

Erin O’Brien: Senior Vice President, State Legislative Affairs, Illinois State Medical Society

Moderator: Jay Reiser, MBA: Principal, Health Management Associates

As the federal government pursues initiatives to tie Medicaid eligibility to work or community engagement requirements, states like Illinois face complex decisions about implementation, enforcement, and equity. This panel will explore the potential impacts of federally mandated Medicaid work requirements on Illinois’s healthcare infrastructure, vulnerable populations, and administrative systems. 

Stephanie Altman: Of Counsel, Healthcare Justice, Shriver Poverty Law Center

Dana Kelly: Chief of Staff, Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services

Dan Lustig, PsyD, CAADC, CODPII: President & Chief Executive Officer, Haymarket Center

Abner Mason: Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, GroundGame.Health

Moderator: Matt Powers: Managing Director, Health Management Associates

We’re closing the day with a moderated discussion featuring House Assistant Majority Leader & Floor Whip Rep. Bob Morgan. Rep. Morgan will talk about his work on healthcare-related policymaking in the legislature including AI regulation, workforce, and more.

Rep. Bob Morgan: Assistant Majority Leader & Floor Whip, Illinois House of Representatives

Moderator: Laura Zaremba: Principal, Health Management Associates