June 14, 2023
Baltimore Convention Center
2023 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference
Conference Overview
The 2023 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference will once again be taking place in-person at the Baltimore Convention Center on June 14th, 2023!
This State of Reform conference is focused on bridging the gap between healthcare policy and political reality. Too often, those with good ideas for reforming healthcare don’t have a solid understanding of how the legislative process works. Those who understand politics don’t always comprehend the intricacies of the healthcare system. If you are interested in understanding what occurs at the nexus of healthcare policy and politics, then this is the conference for you!
Join us on June 14th at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore to discuss the most important healthcare activity taking place in Maryland! If you have questions or speaker suggestions, please feel free to drop us a line. We would love to hear from you!
For Conference Attendees: The Conference will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center located at 1 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD, 20201. There is no parking located at the Convention Center, but there are many public parking lots located in the surrounding area. Since we will be holding registration on the Charles Terrace, please note that the easiest way to access the conference is from the Charles Street Lobby. Then from the Charles Street Lobby you can either take the elevator or stairs to the third floor!
Topical Agenda
Here is our 2023 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference Topical Agenda! This represents input from hours of conversations with our Convening Panel and stakeholders across the spectrum of Maryland healthcare over the last number of months.
If you have suggestions for speakers, please feel free to drop us a line. We would love to hear your thoughts on this! If you have not already registered, you can do so here.
Please note that all agenda times are local.
We are honored to release our list of Convening Panel members ahead of the 2023 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference!
If you know Maryland healthcare, then you know this is a “who’s who” of senior healthcare executives and health policy leaders in the state. These folks will help shape our agenda through a process that launches mid December 2022!
Want to be a speaker? Want to join the Convening Panel? Just have questions? If so, drop us a line and let us know you’re interested!
| First name | Last name | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uma | Ahluwalia | Managing Principal | Health Management Associates |
| Vinny | DeMarco | President | Maryland Citizens Health Initiative |
| Kate | Farinholt | Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director | NAMI Maryland |
| Olivia | Farrow | Director of Community Engagement | St. Agnes |
| Marquis | Fourth | Community and Outreach Events Coordinator | NAMI Maryland |
| Jon | Kromm | Managing Principal | Health Management Associates |
| Sam | Malhotra | CEO | The Center for THINK Strategies |
| Alexa | Milanytch | Director of Development | Chase Brexton |
| Chuck | Milligan | Chief Operating Officer | Health Management Associates |
| Ryan | Moran | Chief Executive Officer | Whitman-Walker Health |
| Andrew | Ratner | Chief of Staff | Maryland Health Benefit Exchange |
| Michael | Rhein | President & CEO | Institute for Public Health Innovation |
| Joshua | Sharfstein, MD | Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health |
| Allison | Taylor | Director of Government Relations | Kaiser Permanente |
| Brian | Trees | Chief Operations Officer | NAMI Maryland |
| Cynthia | Woodcock | Executive Director | The Hilltop Institute |
| Reggie | Wallace | Business Development Manager | Carelon Behavioral Health |
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See Sponorship DetailsOur 2023 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference Detailed Agenda is a list of over 40 speakers and experts from across the spectrum of care.
The agenda and speaker list are driven by input from our Convening Panel of leaders in Maryland healthcare which makes it possible to look forward to a great event on June 14th!
For now, let us know if you have any questions about the conference. We look forward to seeing you in-person in Baltimore!
Registration/Networking Breakfast
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.
Opening Keynote
We are honored to be starting today’s conversation with Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association. As former secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, he has extensive knowledge of not only national health issues, but state-based issues as well. Dr. Benjamin will discuss a plethora of health challenges from Medicaid to the delivery level.
Georges Benjamin, MD: Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Jon Kromm: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (Conference Host)
Political Insights into the MD Legislature
The Maryland Legislature passed legislation this year that will have important impacts on stakeholders across the healthcare sector, from behavioral health workforce to public health reforms. This carefully curated panel of experts who know the ins and outs will speak to the key health-related legislation that emerged from the session.
June Chung: Deputy Legislative Officer, Governor’s Legislative Office
Leonard Lucchi, Esq: Principal, O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A.
Vincent DeMarco: President, Maryland Health Care for All Coalition (moderator)
What Lies Ahead for Hospitals in MD?
Revenue challenges, increased demand for care, significant workforce shortages—these are all issues that Maryland’s hospitals continue to face. Although the state’s unique Total Cost of Care Model has helped smooth the path through difficulties, it’s clear that the current system needs financial and structural support. Join this panel to hear from some of the state’s leading hospital experts on what lies ahead.
Marie Grant: Assistant Secretary for Health Policy, Maryland Department of Health
Nicki McCann: VP, Provider and Pay Transformation, Johns Hopkins Health System
Megan Renfrew: Associate Director, External Affairs, Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission
SDOH & Health Equity Partnerships, Financing, & Delivery Models
We see growing consensus in the Maryland healthcare sector that addressing disparities in health outcomes should be a top priority. To achieve these outcomes, leaders in all areas of health policy must come together to effectively fund interventions that improve health equity. This panel will hold an in-depth conversation about the most effective ways to finance efforts to bridge equity gaps.
Natalie Burke: President & Chief Executive Officer, CommonHealth ACTION
Annice Cody: President, Holy Cross Health Network
Angelo Edge: Chief Executive Officer, Aetna Better Health of Maryland
Suzanne Schlattman: Deputy Director, Maryland Healthcare for All Coalition
Madeleine Shea: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)
Legislators Discuss the Future of Healthcare Policy
Interested in hearing from leaders on the frontlines of healthcare policymaking in the Maryland Legislature? This respected group of lawmakers will talk through their work on health policy during this year’s legislative session and provide an overview of the key legislation to emerge from it.
Del. Bonnie Cullison: Vice-Chair, House Health and Government Operations Committee
Del. Nicholaus Kipke: Member, House Health and Government Operations Committee
Del. Robbyn Lewis: Member, House Health and Government Operations Committee
Brian Frazee: Vice President, Government Affairs, Maryland Hospital Association (moderator)
Advancement of Health IT & Data Modernization
Developments in health information technology have the potential to transform healthcare delivery. While there are many IT innovations, challenges remain for Maryland’s healthcare sector as it works to modernize health data sharing. These experts will dive into this important policy area and offer their insight.
Sheena Patel, MD: Senior Director, CRISP Health
Patrick McLaughlin: Executive Director, MD THINK
Jon Kromm: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)
Medicaid Redeterminations & Closing the Coverage Gap
The state is in the middle of implementing Medicaid eligibility redeterminations for Marylanders who maintained coverage under the federal government’s continuous coverage provision during the pandemic. Now that continuous coverage requirements are ending, many Marylanders are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage. As stakeholders work to minimize coverage losses during this process, broader efforts to increase coverage are paramount. This expert panel will discuss redeterminations and how the state can work to close the coverage gap.
Jennifer Briemann: Executive Director, Maryland Managed Care Organization Association
Alyssa Brown: Director, Innovation, Research, and Development, Office of Health Care Financing, Maryland Department of Health
Kathlyn Wee: Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland & DC
Andrea Maresca: Principal, Federal Policy, Health Management Associates (moderator)
Networking Lunch
Multi-Sector Solutions to Workforce Challenges
Every sector of healthcare is facing significant and sustained workforce challenges that arose or worsened during the pandemic. This problem spans from home-based healthcare to hospitals. This timely panel will focus on the most promising solutions to the workforce crisis, including how to support and reduce burnout among the existing workforce as well as how to recruit more healthcare professionals into the workforce to meet demand.
Stacey Garnett: Chief Nursing Officer, Sheppard Pratt
Gene Ransom, III: Chief Executive Officer, MedChi
Erin Dorrien: Vice President, Policy, Maryland Hospital Association (moderator)
The Future of Medicaid: Waivers & Innovations
Maryland has a range of Medicaid programs designed to support the different communities and populations who receive Medicaid benefits. These programs must constantly drive innovation to ensure that supports and services are delivered to meet the varied needs of Medicaid beneficiaries—both in the community and in clinical settings. We are thrilled to welcome top healthcare leaders to discuss not only the future of Medicaid in Maryland, but the waivers and innovations attendees should focus on in the future.
Ryan Moran: Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Health
Cynthia Woodcock: Executive Director, The Hilltop Institute
Robin Preston: Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)
Understanding the Issues & Opportunities in Behavioral Health
Ensuring access to high-quality behavioral health services is a priority in Maryland. As states and counties emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunity to institutionalize flexibilities and innovations, combined with rethinking workforce solutions and the opportunity to engage across public and private partners to re-imagine the behavioral health continuum, make this an exciting session to attend.
Kathryn Dilley: Executive Director, Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc.
Shannon Hall: Executive Director, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland
Erin McMullen: Chief of Staff, Maryland Department of Health
Crista Taylor: President & Chief Executive Officer, Behavioral Health System Baltimore
The Unique Issues Facing Children's Behavioral Health
Nationally, there is a recognition that there is a mental crisis impacting our children, youth, and young adults. The COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of gun violence and the increasing evidence of negative impacts of social media on the wellbeing of children and youth have created a watershed moment to build a different mental health response system for children and youth in Maryland. Join our expert panelists as they discuss the trends and opportunities that are being considered for children’s behavioral health in Maryland.
Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez: Vice President, Center for Systems Innovation, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Linda Henderson-Smith, PhD: Senior Product Director, Carelon Behavioral Health
Angela Lello: Regional Director, Policy, East, UnitedHealthcare Community & State
Uma Ahluwalia: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)
Methods to Lower the Cost of Drugs
The growing cost of prescription drugs is continuing to impede patients’ access to critical medications. With recent federal policy, as well as Maryland-specific efforts such as the state’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board, aiming to make medications more affordable, this group of subject matter experts will lead a robust discussion about the work to lower prescription drug costs for Marylanders.
Mandi Poplawski, PharmD: Vice President of Pharmacy Management, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
Mariana Socal, MD, PhD: Associate Scientist, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Andrew York, PharmD: Executive Director, Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Strengthening & Modernizing State & Local Public Health
The pandemic laid bare significant gaps in public health preparedness at the federal, state, and local levels. Looking to the future, how can Maryland’s public health systems learn from their experiences during COVID and ensure they’re prepared for the next public health crisis? This panel will talk through the best ways to strengthen Maryland’s public health infrastructure.
Nilesh Kalyaranaman: Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Health
Sen. Clarence Lam: Member, Senate Finance Committee
Boris Lushniak, MD: Dean, School of Public Health, University of Maryland
Closing Keynote
We’re very excited to be closing out the conference featuring a conversation with Maryland’s Secretary of Health, Laura Herrera Scott. Grab a seat at the Closing Keynote to hear Herrera’s updates on the state’s work to improve healthcare, as well as her thoughts about future healthcare policy making in the state.
Laura Herrera Scott, MD: Secretary of Health, Maryland Department of Health
Jon Kromm: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (Conference Host)