2024 Florida State of Reform Health Policy Conference

To start the day, join us for a keynote featuring Sen. Colleen Burton, chair of the Senate Committee on Health Policy. Burton will discuss her health policymaking work in the legislature this year and how the legislation passed this year will impact Florida’s health sector.

Sen. Colleen Burton: Chair, Senate Committee on Health Policy, Florida Legislature

With rate increases within the Medicare Advantage becoming a growing trend, stakeholders of the MA program are interested in learning how potential changes to rates might impact them. Join this panel as leaders discuss trends in MA member benefit offerings, pressures on revenue and benchmark rates, and more.

Jigar Desai: Chief Executive Officer, Maven Strategy Partners

Greg Gierer: Principal, Health Management Associates

Dennis Mihale, MD, MBA, FABQAURP: Chief Executive Officer, Chelsea Management Group

Tim Courtney: Principal, Wakely (moderator)

Supporting the healthcare workforce remains one of the highest priorities for Florida health leaders. The Florida Legislature recently passed the Live Healthy package which contains significant provisions and funding for growing and retaining the healthcare workforce. This panel will explore how this legislation will impact workforce development and retention efforts in Florida, along with other initiatives needed to continue building on the successful outcomes provided through this legislation.

Steven Bennett: Director, Workforce Programs, Florida Association of Community Health Centers

Willa Fuller, BSN, RN: Executive Director, Florida Nurses Association

Mary Mayhew: President & Chief Executive Officer, Florida Hospital Association

Kelli Stannard: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Florida’s health sector has placed increased focus on strengthening child behavioral health services in recent years. As leaders continue work to fill gaps in the continuum through services like telehealth and school-based care, what do stakeholders in youth behavioral health need to know? These experts will discuss how the healthcare system can support the implementation of comprehensive youth behavioral health services.

Erica Floyd Thomas: Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse & Mental Health, Florida Department of Children & Families

Patrick Glynn: Regional Vice President, Account Management, Carelon Behavioral Health

Roxanne Kennedy: Principal, Health Management Associates

Derek McCarron, LMHC: Chief Pediatric Officer, Gracepoint Wellness

Lisa Spector: Developmental Medicine Provider, Nemours Children’s Health

Managing the behavioral health crisis has emerged as a hot topic across the United States. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was implemented nationally in 2022. However, true crisis support requires a full continuum of support which includes mobile crisis, crisis stabilization facilities and post crisis supports. Hear from expert panelists about the work in Florida to address the full continuum of crisis prevention, intervention and post-crisis care that is available now and being built to support Floridians

Melanie Brown-Woofter: President & Chief Executive Officer, Florida Behavioral Health Association

Amanda Regis: Senior Strategic Initiatives Advisor, Florida Department of Children & Families

Clara A. Reynolds, LCSW, MBA: President & Chief Executive Officer, The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

Allie Franklin, MSW, LCSW: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

This panel will focus on the emerging role of artificial intelligence and new technologies in Florida healthcare. Panelists will discuss how the state’s health sector can benefit from these emerging technologies while also balancing the potential negative implications. Panelists will share practical AI uses and best practices for developing policies and procedures governing an entity’s use of these technologies. Grab a seat for an insightful discussion about this trending topic.

Zac Imel: Chief Science Officer, Lyssn

Alexis Jackson: Administrator, Mayo Clinic

Trey Sutten: Chief Executive Officer, Siftwell

Laura Zaremba: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Florida continues to seek innovative approaches to improve maternal and infant health, including recent legislation expanding maternal health pilot programs. Hear from some of the state’s leading experts about the work being done in local communities and how stakeholders can contribute.

Loreen Chant: President & Chief Executive Officer, Health Foundation of South Florida

Kristyn Greifer, MD: Senior Vice President, Enterprise Care Management & Utilization; Senior Vice President, CMO Health Plans, Sentara Health

Monica Figueroa King: Chief Executive Officer, Broward Healthy Start Coalition

Rose McKelvie, MBA, MSN, BSN, RN: Associate Vice President, Broward Health

Kelli Stannard: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Value-based care aims to improve quality of care and lower healthcare costs. As Florida looks to remain on the forefront of innovation, health care professionals are working to expand value-based care throughout Florida. Hear about the successful outcomes that are attracting providers to the model in this engaging panel.

Andrew Chang: Market President, Aledade

Karen van Caulil, PhD: President & Chief Executive Officer, Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value

Michael Manocchio: Chief Strategy Officer, Pediatric Associates

Mike Stubee: Vice President of Payor Strategy, Orlando Health

Matthew Thompson: Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Telescope Health

Florida’s recently approved 2024-2025 budget provides new resources for hospitals. Included in those resources is an increase in Medicaid rates for labor and delivery services and the establishment of the Innovation Revolving Loan Fund. In a state with a growing population, these critical facilities continually face financial and workforce challenges. Panel experts will discuss these challenges and how hospitals can be best positioned to meet the healthcare needs of a growing and aging population.

Mary Mayhew: President & Chief Executive Officer, Florida Hospital Association

Steve Harris, MBA, MHA, CHFP: Senior Vice President of Payor & Government Affairs, Tampa General Hospital

Justin Senior: Chief Executive Officer, Safety Net Alliance of Florida

Brian Meyer: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Homelessness and food insecurity continues to be a challenge across the nation. Come hear how Florida has implemented initiatives aimed at combating these challenges, such as the Governor’s Pathways to Prosperity program, and emerging national ideas, and how they are designed to meet the unique challenges faced by a state with a growing population.

Savannah Cleveland Queen: Customer & Community Success Manager, findhelp

Jake Rothstein: Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Upside

Janisse Schoepp, PhD, MPH: Chief Strategy Officer, Health Foundation of South Florida

Jennifer Sweet: Vice President, Aetna Better Health of Florida

Monica Bonds: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

The 2024 legislative session included the passage of bills that address oral health in Florida, including initiatives in the Live Healthy package, such as expanding loan repayment programs and rate increases in the Medicaid program. Hear from state oral health leaders about these recent developments and other initiatives underway, such as efforts to expand access in underserved areas, to improve oral health in Florida.

Frank Catalanotto, DMD: Founder & President, Floridians For Dental Access

Betty A. Kabel, RDH, BS, FADHA: Past President, Florida Dental Hygienists Association & American Dental Hygienists Association

Tamara Kay-Tibby, DMD, MPH, CPH: Dental Director, Liberty Dental Plan of Florida

Astha Singhal, BDS, MPH, PhD: Associate Professor, University of Florida College of Dentistry; Board Member, Oral Health Florida

Beth Kidder: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Florida lawmakers have implemented measures to improve drug affordability over the past couple years, foremost among them passing legislation to authorize drug importation from Canada and regulating business practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the state. These experts will discuss the implications of these efforts and others to reduce drug costs for all Floridians.

Daniel E. Buffington, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA: President & Chief Executive Officer, Clinical Pharmacology Services, Inc.; Associate Professor, University of South Florida School of Pharmacy

Kevin Duane, PharmD: Owner, Panama Pharmacy; Member, Florida Pharmacy Association

Greg Gierer: Principal, Health Management Associates

Constance Payne, PharmD: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

The Live Healthy package moved swiftly through the legislature this year, with support from both sides of the aisle. The package provides hundreds of millions of dollars to support the healthcare workforce and increase innovation in Florida. This panel of legislative insiders will provide insight into how Live Healthy and other bills that passed (and didn’t pass) will impact the healthcare sector this year.

Carol Gormley: Vice President, Government Affairs, Independent Living Systems

Kelly Mallette: Senior Director of Government Affairs, Ronald L. Book, P.A.

Toby Philpot: Partner, Floridian Partners

Crystal Stickle: President, Magnolia Advocacy

Jennifer Ungru: Director of Government Affairs, Jones Walker

We’re excited to welcome Jason Weida, secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, as our Closing Keynote speaker! Grab a seat to hear Weida update the audience on the state health agency’s recent activity and talk through state health leadership’s goals for Florida healthcare headed into the future.

Jason Weida: Secretary, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration