Detailed Agenda

This opening session will kick off the day with comments framing the conference agenda and the role State of Reform hopes to play in a new era of policy and politics.

Vern Smith: Host, State of Reform

To open our conference, we will host two one-on-one conversations with some of the biggest names in Michigan health care about their plans for the future of health care in the state. Be sure to grab a seat for this multi-silo leadership panel.

Brad Lerner: Director, Public Policy, Beacon Health Options

Sanjoy Musunuri: Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, CareSource

On-the-ground advocates are an incredible source of health policy intelligence. So, we’ve convened a group of some of the most prominent Lansing insiders to talk about what they witnessed in the legislature this year. Attend this conversation to hear lobbyists’ insights on the most recent health policy developments in Michigan and their predictions for future policy.

Monique Stanton: President & Chief Executive Officer, Michigan League for Public Policy 

Marianne Huff: President & Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Association in Michigan

Elizabeth Kutter: Senior Director, Government & Political Affairs, Michigan Health and Hospital Association 

Karla Ruest: Lobbyist & Association Manager, The Frederick Group

Despite recent declining maternal mortality rates, the data is clear that maternal and infant health outcomes vary widely based on race and ethnicity. This group of thought leaders will discuss the work to measure and address these variations, and will talk through the implications of this work for the broader health care system.

Renée Branch Canady, Ph.D: Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Public Health Institute 

Amy Zaagman: Executive Director, Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health

Dawn M. Shanafelt: Director, Division of Maternal & Infant Health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Alternative payment models are rapidly growing in popularity in Michigan due to their ability to address the social determinants of health. This panel will dive into what those APMs are, how they lower the cost of care, and how they expand access to services. 

Phillip Bergquist: Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Primary Care Assocation

Sean Kendall: Plan President, Chief Executive Officer, Meridian

Shaun Raleigh: Vice President of Population Health Management, Trinity Health Michigan 

Kate deLisle: Senior Manager, Payment & Delivery Transformation Strategy, Leavitt Partners

During the pandemic we saw increases in substance use, anxiety, and depression. So, how is Michigan’s health care system dealing with this increase in behavioral health needs? Where is the state finding success, and where is it falling short? This panel will explore how the pandemic has affected behavioral health care and discuss solutions that work toward improving the system.

Scott Monteith, M.D.: Regional Medical Director, Beacon Health Options

Robert Sheehan: Executive Director, Community Mental Health Association of Michigan

Mindie Smith: Executive Director of Behavioral Medicine Services, Kalamazoo Family Health Center

Al Jansen: Senior Deputy Director of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Administration, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

This panel will include some of the most influential Republican legislators in Michigan health policy. They will gather to share their thoughts on the health and fiscal policy moving through the legislature and how the pandemic continues to impact their thinking. Bring your questions to what is always a highly attended and dynamic session.

Rep. John Roth: Member, House Health Policy Committee

From access to health care services to vaccine distribution, there continues to be variation in health outcomes based on race. These leaders will talk through how we can do better as a society, as a sector, and as professionals to address these stark variations.

Eric Doeh: President & Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network

Debbie Edokpolo: Director of Health Equity & Social Justice, Michigan Primary Care Association

Jan Delatorre: Program Officer, Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles, Michigan Health Edowment Fund

New ideas to expand access to care for the underserved in Michigan are front and center in the health care space. This session will address Michigan Medicaid’s plans to improve access and handle the upcoming redetermination process at the end of the public health emergency for members.  

Jackie Prokop: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

Monica Trevino: Director of Center for Social Enterprise, Michigan Public Health Institute

Paul Loffreda: Market President, Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan

From mobile health apps to remote patient monitoring, it’s clear that technology will continue to disrupt health care, and with luck, leave the sector much improved. Join us for a conversation on the possibilities, challenges, and road ahead for digital health in Michigan’s health care system.

Glenda Williams: Chief Information Officer, Cherry Health

Kyla King: Director, Marketing for Individual Markets, Priority Health

Marie Lee: Manager, Access Care Technology, Henry Ford Health System

In this keynote presentation, Chief Deputy for Health Farah Hanley from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will bring attendees up to speed on some of the initiatives underway at the agency. She'll discuss the recent restructuring of MDHHS, her top priorities, and the road ahead for the agency. This dynamic discussion will offer insights into their thinking about the future of Michigan Health care in 2022.

Farah Hanley: Chief Deputy for Health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Health care reform remains a top issue for both Democratic voters and Democrats in the legislature. Join this panel for an update on this year’s policy pursuits from some of the most health policy-attuned Democratic lawmakers in the state.

Rep. Laurie Pohutsky: Member, House Health Policy Committee

Rep. Felicia Brabec: Minority Vice Chair, House Appropriations Committee, Health & Human Services Subcommittee

Rep. Rachel Hood: Member, House Appropriations Committee, Health & Human Services Subcommittee

Rep. Amos O'Neal: Member, House Appropriations Committee, Health & Human Services Subcommittee

Misinformation and mixed public health messaging is impacting health outcomes like never before. This panel will explore how misinformation around health guidance is affecting health care in all silos and how we can combat misinformation in the future. 

Linda Vail: Health Officer, Ingham County Health Department

May Yassine, Ph.D.: Chief Program Officer, Michigan Public Health Institute

Anjana Susarla, Ph.D.: Professor, Michigan State University

As hospital utilization spiked during the pandemic, many people did not seek preventative care due to fear of catching COVID in health care settings. In this panel, representatives of health plans, FQHCs, and hospitals will discuss how COVID has impacted everyone’s health due to deferred preventative care.

Nina Abubakari: President & Chief Executive Officer, Advantage Health Centers

Darryl Elmouchi: President, BHSH/Spectrum Health West Michigan

Christine Surdock: Plan President, Molina Healthcare of Michigan

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health care workforce in monumental ways. From provider burnout to workforce shortages to mental struggles, this panel of experts will talk through the challenges facing Michigan's health care workforce and the strategies underway to help support it.

Melanie Brim: President & Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Health Council

Julie Novak: Chief Executive Officer, Michigan State Medical Society

Duke Anderson: President Emeritus, Hillsdale Hospital

Larissa Miller, Ph.D.: Associate Executive Director of Nursing & Government Affairs, Michigan Nurses Association

The impact of the social determinants of health is well known, but finding ways to employ that knowledge in a meaningful and sustainable way is a challenge. In this breakout session, subject matter experts will discuss lessons learned from both the successes and failures in moving the needle on the social determinants of health.

Karin VanZant: Vice President National SDOH Strategy, CareSource

Melissa Riba: Director of Research & Evaluation, Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan

Becky Cienki: Director, Behavioral Health, Michigan Health Endowment Fund 

The legislature is tackling behavioral health reform this session with a package to create specialty integrated health plans through private Medicaid plans. In this panel, these experts will discuss what this controversial package entails and what it means for Michiganders if it passes.

Dave Schneider: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Dominick Pallone: Executive Director, Michigan Association of Health Plans

Laura Appel: Executive Vice President, Government Relations & Public Policy, Michigan Health and Hospital Association

Schools are playing an increasingly important role in providing health care to children and families across the state. From offering preventative care to being a key entry point for mental health care access, this session will discuss the evolving role that schools play in our communities’ health status.

Rachel VanDenBrink: President, Michigan Association of School Nurses

Renee Topolski: Deputy Director, School Community Health Alliance of Michigan

Alycia Meriweather: Deputy Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District

To wrap up our conference, four of Michigan’s most prominent legislative leaders will discuss the most pressing health policy issues facing the state and what the rest of the legislative session will look like. Be sure to stick around to hear this bipartisan leadership conversation.

Sen. Curt VanderWall: Chair, Senate Health Policy & Human Services Committee

Sen. Winnie Brinks: Minority Vice-Chair, Senate Health Policy & Human Services Committee

Rep. Mary Whiteford: Chair, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health & Human Services

Rep. Angela Witwer: Minority Vice-Chair, House Health Policy Committee