Detailed Agenda

DJ Wilson, Host of State of Reform, will kick off the day with comments framing the conference agenda, and the role of State of Reform hopes to play in this challenging era of health policy and politics. He will orient us to the conference, including a run down of how best to utilize the unique tools of the virtual platform.

DJ Wilson: Host, State of Reform

The Morning Keynote will include one on one conversations with some of Oregon’s most thoughtful leaders at the intersection of health care and health policy. These dynamic conversations allow for a deeper, more focused discussion on Oregon health care and health policy, and will incorporate your questions in these sessions. 

Jeff Heatherington: President, The Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care, Inc.

Sen. Jeff Merkley: Member, United States Senate

This panel includes some of the most important Republican legislators in Oregon health policy. They will gather to discuss their observations on health and fiscal policy since the previous legislative session ended, and how the pandemic in 2020 will impact the work of the legislature in 2021. Bring your questions to what will be a dynamic session.

Rep. Cedric Hayden: Vice Chair, House Interim Committee on Health Care 

Rep. Raquel Moore-Green: Member, House Interim Committee on Health Care

Rep. Gary Leif: Member, House Interim Committee on Human Services 

Rep. Ron Noble: Member, House Interim Committee on Health Care 

It is increasingly understood that one cannot get well and maintain either their physical or mental health if they don’t have a roof over their head. Getting folks into housing is a prerequisite to getting them healthy and controlling the related health care cost trend. So, what does this realization mean for policy makers - either in Medicaid or those regulating the commercial sector? This session will explore the topic and take your questions.

Jonathan Weedman: Vice President, Population Health, CareOregon

Marc Jolin: Director, Joint Office of Homelessness Services

The levels of trust and tension between plans and providers are constantly in flux. However, there are perhaps no more important relationships in health care than these. They point us towards issues of quality and access facing the system today. They also highlight future challenges that may arise as a result of payment models. This session will discuss reimbursement, payment and plan-provider relations in the context of both short and medium term issues. 

Eric Hunter: Chief Executive Officer, CareOregon

Eric Schulz: Vice President, DataDx Consulting

Courtney Stevenson: Payor Contracting Specialist, DataDx Consulting

Our understanding of COVID and its impacts on both individuals and our society continues to evolve. From cloth masks to full morgues; from unpaid mortgages to record unemployment, the impacts of this pandemic are profound. This session will review what we have learned from both public health and personal health during this time, and what we might expect in the autumn ahead.

Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward:  Member, Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response

Mary Giswold, MD: Co-Incident Commander, COVID-19 Response, Kaiser Permanente

Peter Graven, PhD: Health Systems Economist, Oregon Health & Science University

While the pending election has put some efforts on hold, a number of federal initiatives remain in discussion and ready to recommence once November is finalized. From CMS rule-making to a continuing resolution outlining future spending, there are a number of nuanced vehicles teed up that could impact health care well into the next term. This session will talk through what some of those items are and what we might see as the calendar moves into the next year. 

Paul Dioguardi: Senior Vice President, Forbes Tate

Colm O'Comartun: Co-Founder, 50 State

Elizabeth Jurinka: Chief Health Policy Advisor, Senate Finance Committee, Office of Senator Ron Wyden, Ranking Member 

Elvia Montoya: Policy Advisor, Office of Sen. Merkley

Some see universal coverage in Oregon as a meaningful and important next-step in state health policy. Others continue to see it as a step too far. But, the political winds do seem to be putting new momentum in the discussion. From legislative energy in Salem to significant efforts in neighboring states like California, it’s clear that some movement is taking place. How much, and to what end are questions this panel of experts will review as they look ahead to 2021.

Rep. Marty Wilde: Member, Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care

Melissa Unger: Executive Director, SEIU 503

Bruce Goldberg: Professor, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health

It is clear that the structure of the economy - and the meaning of work - is shifting during this economic moment. From work from home to mass layoffs, things will change in meaningful ways in our economy for some years. But what will that mean for Oregon, for the nature of work here, and for the state of the economy? This panel will explore the topic and bring their best thinking to the questions that lie ahead.

Sen. Peter Courtney: Senate President, Oregon State Legislature 

Becky Hultberg: Chief Executive Officer, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

Matthew Sinnott: Senior Director of Government Affairs and Contract Management, Willamette Dental Group

COVID has re-asserted the importance of public health in a way a generation of advocacy could not. With it clear that our public health system needs more investment and attention, what fundamental reforms should policy makers and advocates be considering in order to modernize a system that needs it? This panel will discuss what reform of our public health system could look like and what we might need to better prepare for the next pandemic.

Dean Sidelinger, MD: State Health Officer, Oregon Health Authority

Philip Mason- Joyner: Public Health Director, Clackamas County

Tameka Brazile: Principal Investigator, Multnomah County Health Department 

Charlene McGee: Program Manager, Multnomah County Health Department 

While 2020 looks like it could be a big year for Democrats nationally, it’s not yet clear how that will impact the party’s already strong position in Oregon. With strong majorities in both chambers, the ability to drive the state-level conversation on health policy could bring meaningful discussions in next year’s session. Bring your questions to what is always a thoughtful conversation on the future of health policy in Oregon. 

Rep. Andrea Salinas: Chair, House Interim Committee on Health Care 

Rep. Rachel Prusak: Vice Chair, House Interim Committee on Health Care

Rep. Rob Nossee: Member, House Interim Committee on Health Care

In what is always a well attended session, leaders from the Oregon Health Authority will bring attendees up to speed on some of the initiatives and work underway at the agency. The session will feature leaders from an array of initiatives and divisions, and bring you up to speed on the work of Oregon’s largest and most impactful health care agency.

Pat Allen: Director, Oregon Health Authority 

Jeremy Vandehey: Director of Public Health Policy and Analytics, Oregon Health Authority 

While COVID temporarily disrupted demand for health care services, it didn’t diminish the challenge of managing the total cost of care. In fact, it likely will have exacerbated it once Oregon emerges from this pandemic. This session will discuss the strategies in place, in both the market and policy circles, to try to get our hands around the total cost of care before it becomes an even greater challenge to manage.

Ashlen Strong: Senior Consultant, HMA

Jack Friedman: Chair, Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Implementation Committee

Mae Pfeil: Director, Clinical Integration, Columbia Pacific CCO

Kraig Anderson: Senior Vice President & Chief Actuary, Moda Health

Structural racism, violence in our streets, and the murder of Black men and women by police may seem like topics removed from the day to day of health care. But, the health care sector doesn't exist in a vacuum. From the boardroom to the exam room, from the finance department to the community health worker, race and racism are present in health care in meaningful ways that aren’t always fully understood. This panel will discuss what racism looks like in Oregon health care, and how race continues to be a factor in the experience our community has when they engage the institutions meant to keep them well.

Sen. James Manning: Member, Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care

Mandrill Taylor, MD: Physician in Charge, Mental Health, Kaiser Permanente

Linda Roman: Health Policy Advisor, Office of Gov. Kate Brown

In what is always a popular session, these government relations professionals will discuss state health policy, the upcoming 2021 session and the impact of the interim on reform. Bring your questions, as well as your own insights, to a session that is particularly interactive and forward thinking.

Courtni Dresser: Director, Government Relations, Oregon Medical Association

Rick Blackwell: Director, Oregon Government Affairs, PacificSource Health Plans

Fawn Barrie: Partner, Legislative Advocates Government Affairs

This pandemic is weighing down even the most optimistic of outlooks. Now, according to a recent survey, one in three Oregonians report an inability to manage signs of anxiety more than half the days of the week. Over half of Oregonians show signs of depression, and of those, more than half are likely to develop a problem with alcohol or substance use through this pandemic. These are terribly trying times. This session will review the data as we know it, the policy options before us, and the market strategies trying to meet the needs of our community. 

Sen. Arnie Roblan: Chair, Senate Interim Committee on Mental Health

Sherry Copeland: AVP, Account Partnerships, Beacon Health Options

Paul Giger, MD: Senior Medical Director, Behavioral Health, Providence Medical Group

Telehealth is one of the more important stories of the COVID pandemic. The utilization of telehealth tools has been catalyzed in a way no other effort has been able to since the advent of the model more than 20 years ago. So, what have we learned from the growth of telehealth, and what is likely to stick with us after COVID recedes? This panel will explore the question and highlight what we know - and what we think - about the future to come.

Tom Holt: Principal Consultant, The Holt Company

Jennifer Stoll: Executive Vice President, OCHIN

Mike Franz, MD: Medical Director, Behavioral Health, PacificSource

With the recession broadening across America, and the pandemic providing an asymmetric impact to the Oregon economy, what will that mean for the safety net in the state? While the Oregon economy continues to recover, the future is uncertain as federal benefits dry up. So, what does the future hold for a Medicaid system likely to face significant pressure from new enrollments in the months ahead? This panel will discuss these questions and take yours.

Nora Leibowitz: Principal, Health Management Associates

Carlos Olivares: Chief Executive Officer, Yakima Valley Farmworkers

Russell Massine, MD: Chief Physician Officer, Summit Medical Group Oregon

On the other side of a general election, it will be time to renew the effort to reform America’s health care system. And, a conversation is brewing about how best to bring the lessons from Oregon’s health transformation project to the national conversation. This session will hear from two of Oregon’s senior statesmen, both national figures in health reform, about what the intersection of Oregon’s experience and the political opportunity of 2021 look like. 

Hon. John Kitzhaber: Former Governor, State of Oregon

Rep. Earl Blumenauer: Member, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health

To close out State of Reform, our event will conduct a one-on-one conversation with Senator Wyden, a top democrat on the senate finance committee. Bring your questions to what will be a thoughtful discussion.

Sen. Ron Wyden: Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee