2024 Arizona 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.

Join us for an Opening Keynote with Carmen Heredia, Cabinet Executive Officer of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Heredia will discuss her agency’s recent work, her perspective on some of the top issues in state healthcare, and her goals for the state’s health agency moving forward.

Carmen Heredia: Cabinet Executive Officer, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Supporting the health of Arizona mothers requires intervention at all stages of maternity —from prenatal services to pregnancy support, to postpartum assistance . This panel will discuss the state’s work to strengthen the maternal healthcare continuum. Panelists will discuss the work of the Maternal Mortality Review Program, strategies to increase maternity care in rural areas, and more.

Rachel Salley, MPH: Maternal Child Health/EPSDT Manager, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Sandra Stein, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Banner Health Plans

Shadie Tofigh, MIPH: Director – Maternal & Infant Health Initiatives, March of Dimes

Nancy Jaeckels Kamp: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Arizona has put significant effort into strengthening behavioral health services for residents. What does the data tell us about recently implemented innovations, and how can the state build off what it’s done so far? This group of experts will evaluate some of the recent work done in the state and explore what more needs to be done.

Jenn Barrett: Vice President, Behavioral Health Transformation, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers

Blythe Fitzharris: Chief Clinical Officer, Mercy Care

Daniel Haley: Chief Executive Officer, Hope Inc.

CJ Loiselle: Deputy Assistant Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Robin Trush: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Health insurance coverage rates have fluctuated in recent years amid Medicaid eligibility redeterminations and rising private insurance costs. Where are there major gaps in coverage? How can the health sector work to ensure employer-sponsored and ACA coverage are affordable? This panel will provide an overview of the coverage landscape and discuss how to maximize coverage accessibility and affordability for all Arizonans.

Patty Dennis: Assistant Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Jim Hammond: Publisher & Chief Executive Officer, The Hertel Report

More speakers to be added soon!

This panel will focus on the overall health of children in Arizona including behavioral health, school-based health services, and addressing gaps in the child welfare system. Join these experts as they talk through how to ensure children in the state have the necessary support across the spectrum of health and human services.

Caroline Carney, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Magellan

Chy Porter: Children’s System of Care Program Administrator, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Linda Scott: Vice President, Child & Family Solutions, Jewish Family and Children’s Service

Karrie Steving: Children’s System of Care Administrator, Mercy Care

Robin Trush: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Addressing the high number of Arizonans who are homeless or housing–insecure is a top priority for leaders in the state. This panel of experts will discuss recent homelessness prevention strategies that have yielded success. They will also discuss how to continue addressing rising housing costs and developing affordable housing.

Liz De Costa: Housing Administrator, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Services

Vicki Phillips: Chief Clinical & Development Officer, Community Bridges, Inc.

Cheryl Schmidt, PhD, RN: Clinical Professor, ASU Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation

Steven Sheets: Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Behavioral & Health Services

Jesse Eller: Principal Consultant, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Rural hospitals in the state are struggling to stay afloat, hindering access for individuals living in these areas who already have limited access to services. Healthcare leaders are focused on maintaining access in these rural regions with a particular focus on hospital funding. Join this panel for a conversation about the best strategies for improving rural and border healthcare access.

Sarah Darragh: Medicaid Executive Director, Arizona Complete Health

Jeff Kazmierczak: Chief Executive Officer, Mentally Ill Kids in Distress (M.I.K.I.D.)

Jonathan Melk, MD, FAAP: Chief Executive Officer, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.

Kathleen Cahill: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Focusing on population health is a promising way to address inequitable health outcomes. More and more providers are using screening tools to help identify non-medical needs of patients. Join panelists as they discuss upstream solutions to addressing health equity and population health.

Cameron Adams: Program Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Seth Dubry, MD: Senior Market Medical Director, Equality Health

Melissa Kotrys: Chief Executive Officer, Contexture

Erik Meek: Vice President of Business Development, Season Health

Jessica Yanow: President & Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers

Arizona leaders continue to focus on addressing high rates of substance use in the state and across the country. How will the state utilize national opioid settlement money? What is being done to address the fentanyl crisis? And how impactful have initiatives like the naloxone leave-behind program been? These experienced leaders will discuss the road ahead for opioid and substance use services.

Jeremy Bloom: Chief Executive Officer, North Sight Recovery

Haley Coles: Co-Founder, Sonoran Prevention Works

José Luis Madera, MSC, LPC: Senior Manager, Integrated Behavioral Health Program, Valleywise Health

Alisa Randall: Assistant Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Sheila Sjolander: Deputy Director, Public Health Services, Arizona Department of Health Services

The state has directed significant resources to growing its healthcare workforce in recent years. However,  concerning levels of shortages in critical areas like acute care remain. Various initiatives like school-based workforce pipeline programs are promising, as is recent legislation aimed at supporting the workforce. This panel will measure where we’ve seen success and where we go from here.

Kimberly Craig: Chief Executive Officer, Center for Health & Recovery

Ronda Doolen: Chief Academic Officer, East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT)

Bill Kennard: Administrator, Healthcare Workforce Development, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Zaida Dedolph Piecoro: Health Policy Advisor, Office of Gov. Katie Hobbs

Ruth Danielzuk: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Panel to be announced soon!

Join this unique panel for an informative update from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). The state health agency’s top leaders will provide an overview of their main priorities to improve health policy this year, and what they have planned for the future.

Kristen Challacombe: Deputy Director, Business Operations, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Carmen Heredia: Cabinet Executive Officer, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Marcus Johnson: Deputy Director, Community Engagement & Regulatory Affairs, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Sara Salek, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

We’re thrilled to be closing the conference with a unique plenary of prominent health plan leaders. Join Mercy Care President and CEO Lorry Bottrill, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona CEO Jean Kalbacher, Arizona Complete Health Medicaid CEO James Stover, and Banner Health Plans Vice President and CEO Jim Stringham for a discussion about some of the central topics in Arizona health policy that were taken up throughout the day’s breakout sessions.

Lorry Bottrill: President & Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Care

Jean Kalbacher: Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona

James Stover: Arizona Medicaid Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Complete Health

Jim Stringham: Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, Banner Health Plans

Nancy Jaeckels Kamp: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)