2023 Colorado State of Reform Health Policy Conference

The networking breakfast will take place before the start of the conference to allow attendees to grab a light refreshment and connect with their fellow colleagues before we kick things off for the day.

We can’t talk about any of the issues on this agenda without also considering their implications for health equity. Achieving equitable health outcomes for all Coloradans is a top goal across the state’s healthcare landscape, and although leaders have been working hard to bridge equity gaps, disparities remain. Karen McNeil Miller, President of the Colorado Health Foundation, and Jim Garcia, CEO and Founder of Tepeyac Community Health Center, will discuss the state’s ongoing work to improve equity in the healthcare system.

Karen McNeil-Miller, EdD: President & CEO, The Colorado Health Foundation

Jim Garcia: CEO & Founder, Tepeyac Community Health Center

Supporting and expanding the healthcare workforce remains one of the highest priorities across the Colorado healthcare landscape. From rural providers to large urban hospitals, from nurses to the direct care workforce, organizations are challenged to recruit and retain enough workers, augmenting a workforce shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and dueling mental health and addiction crises. This group of leaders will discuss the most promising strategies for supporting the healthcare workforce going forward.

Nina Bianchi: Director, Colorado Health Institute

Frank Cornelia, LPC: Deputy Executive Director, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council

Rich Bottner, PA-C: VP, Clinical Excellence, Colorado Hospital Association

Kathy Boyle, RN: Chief Nursing Officer, Denver Health

Colorado has been a leader among states developing and implementing reforms to the behavioral healthcare system in recent years. The state continues to explore ways to innovate behavioral healthcare delivery for Coloradans. How have these efforts impacted providers, health plans, and other stakeholders? Where is there opportunity for collaborative change moving forward? We’ve convened a group of leaders in behavioral health policy to discuss these timely questions.

Michelle Barnes: Interim Commissioner, Colorado Behavioral Health Administration

Cristen Bates: Director, Office of Medicaid and CHP+ Behavioral Initiatives & Coverage, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Brian Hill, MD: Medical Director, Carelon Behavioral Health

K. Ron-Li Liaw, MD, PhD: Mental Health In-Chief, Children’s Hospital Colorado

Mara Baer: Founder & President, AgoHealth (moderator)

The Colorado Option, Colorado’s initiative to establish an affordable public health insurance option, is heading into its second year. While premium rate reductions for 2024 have not been finalized, the feasibility of carriers reaching the required premium reductions in future years remains under discussion. This panel will engage in a constructive conversation about the challenges with implementation so far, how the Option might evolve over the next few years, and the impacts it’s having on overall health insurance coverage.

Kate Harris: Chief Deputy Commissioner, Colorado Division of Insurance

Tim Hebert: Colorado Health Insurance Broker; Legislative Chair/President Elect, Sage Benefit Advisors; NABIP

Saskia Young: Executive Director, Colorado Association of Health Plans

Stephanie Denning: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

State lawmakers are on the frontlines of shaping and advancing healthcare policy changes in Colorado. We’ve convened a panel of some of the highest-ranking health policymakers in the Colorado Legislature to share their insights. Hear these leaders discuss important takeaways from the 2023 session and emerging issues in healthcare and health-adjacent legislation as we head into 2024.

Sen. Rhonda Fields: Chair, Senate Health & Human Services Committee, Colorado Legislature

Sen. Jim Smallwood: Senate Minority Caucus Chair, Colorado Legislature

Rep. Lindsey Daugherty: Chair, House Health & Insurance Committee, Colorado Legislature

Rep. Rose Pugliese: House Assistant Minority Leader, Colorado Legislature

Kathleen Nolan: Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Prescription drug affordability is top of mind for Colorado’s healthcare leaders. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s work is underway, and state leaders and stakeholders are pursuing various other initiatives to help lower the cost of drugs. To explore the effectiveness of these efforts—as well as potential future policy pursuits—on reducing the rising cost of prescription drugs, join this panel of experts for a collaborative discussion on the road ahead.

Lila Cummings: Prescription Drug Affordability Director, Colorado Division of Insurance

Katelin Lucariello: Senior Director, State Policy, PhRMA

Hope Stonner: Policy Manager, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

Gaurav Nagrath, ScD, MPA: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

In recent years, Colorado has put significant effort into building infrastructure and capacity to assist patients with finding and connecting to necessary health and health-related social services. These initiatives also provide patients critical support to effectively navigate their care journey, particularly for patients in communities most impacted by social and economic barriers. Hear perspectives and insights from this panel of speakers as they discuss ongoing work to build a robust care coordination system and its impact on improving the patient experience for accessing services.

Todd Lessley, RN, MPH: Vice President, Clinical Services, Rocky Mountain Health Plans

Krista Newton, LCSW: Director, Care Coordination, Colorado Community Health Alliance

Emily Storozuk Parmely: Director of Customer and Community Success, findhelp

Mark Wallace, MD, MPH: Chief Clinical Officer, Northeast Health Partners

Ashlie Brown: Director, Colorado Health Institute (moderator)

This panel of leaders from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will provide an update on the agency’s current work including prescription drug policy, Medicaid reform, and more. Join this valuable conversation to hear about the key work being pursued at HCPF and the agency’s future efforts to improve health policy.

Cristen Bates: Director, Office of Medicaid & CHP+ Behavioral Health Initiatives & Coverage, Colorado Department of Heath Care Policy and Financing

Ralph Choate: Medicaid Operations Office Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Adela Flores-Brennan: Medicaid Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Peter Walsh, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

A multitude of factors have impacted the state and local economies in recent years—from rising inflation and population growth to pandemic impact and the supply of workers. How is Colorado’s healthcare marketplace faring in the wake of all of this change? What are the most pressing challenges the state faces with access and affordability? Tune into this unique conversation for expert insight into this complicated and important issue.

Kim Bimestefer: Executive Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Michelle Mills: Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Rural Health Center

Jeff Tieman: Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Hospital Association

Gaurav Nagrath, ScD, MPA: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Substance addiction continues to be a leading cause of death in Colorado, and although the state’s health sector has poured notable resources into treating addiction, it’s clear that work remains to be done. Particularly for those preparing to transition out of the carceral setting who struggle with addiction, ensuring the availability of adequate treatment is critical. Join these experts as they tackle this important issue and explore strategies for addiction treatment headed into the future.

MJ Jorgensen: Director of Addiction Response, North Colorado Health Alliance

Lisa Raville: Executive Director, Harm Reduction Action Center

Vincent Atchity: President & Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Colorado (moderator)

From climate-related policy changes to prescription drug policy reform, Colorado’s 2023 legislative session saw ample movement on various key issues. How might these topics continue to be addressed in the 2024 session, and what are some of the key initiatives stakeholders can expect lawmakers to take up next year? Grab a seat to hear these experts provide insight into what to expect for health policy in the 2024 legislature.

Joshua Ewing: Vice President of Government Affairs, Colorado Hospital Association

Jennifer Miles: President, Frontline Public Affairs

Jason Hopfer: Owner, JLH Consulting & Public Affairs

Kathleen Nolan: Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Colorado has set an ambitious goal to link half of all Medicaid payments to a value based arrangement by 2025. With just over a year left to meet this goal, the state will continue to engage providers in moving away from volume-based reimbursement. This session will help all healthcare partners stay on top of the policy and reimbursement changes already underway and plans for the coming year.

Susan Mathieu: Medicaid Policy Director, CU Anschutz Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health Policy Center

Dana Pepper: Vice President, Provider Engagement, Colorado Access

Peter Walsh, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Gaurav Nagrath, ScD, MPA: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

To close the conference, we’re thrilled to welcome Lily Griego, Region 8 Director of the US Department of Health and Human Services, as our Closing Keynote. Join us as Griego discusses how recent federal policy changes will impact Colorado and provides updates on upcoming health policy reform efforts that stakeholders can expect to see from the federal level.

Lily Griego: Region 8 Director, US Department of Health and Human Services