2024 Hawaii State of Reform Health Policy Conference

The Networking Breakfast, sponsored by Berry Dunn, 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.

It’s a privilege to welcome Gov. Josh Green as our Opening Keynote for today’s conference! Grab a seat after our Networking Breakfast to hear an informative update from the governor about his healthcare policy priorities for the state heading into 2024.

Gov. Josh Green: Governor, State of Hawaii

Last year’s devastating fires in Maui have deeply impacted Hawaiians, and supporting the communities affected by the tragedy remains a top priority for state leaders. This panel includes some of the folks most integrally involved in the wildfire recovery efforts for an informative, solution-oriented discussion about continuing to support the region.

Jason Egloff, MD: Physician in Charge, Primary Care and Urgent Care Maui, Kaiser Permanente

Michelle Kauhane: Senior Vice President – Community Grants and Initiatives, Hawaii Community Foundation

Josiah Nishita: Acting Managing Director, County of Maui

The ongoing healthcare workforce shortage persists as an issue that affects every other topic we will talk about today. These experts will explore effective strategies for optimizing the healthcare workforce, including expediting the licensure process, maximizing telehealth capabilities, and fortifying the workforce pipeline.

Mary Hamilton MSN, RN, NE-BC: Vice President, Clinical Workforce Solutions, ProLink

Matthew Koenig: Medical Director of Telemedicine and Neurocritical Care Neurology, Queens Health Systems

Brianne Atwood Kuwabara: Program Coordinator, Hawaii Center for Nursing

Moani Wright-Van Alst: Senior Manager, Telehealth, HMSA

Overdose rates continue to increase in Hawaii and across the country. State leaders are working to design an effective substance use disorder treatment system, but it’s equally important to ensure every Hawaiian who needs these services can access them. In this panel, speakers will discuss how the health sector can work to expand access to critical, effective SUD treatment.

Kimberly Fuke: Clinical Director, Carelon Behavioral Health

Heather Lusk: Executive Director, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center

Hawaii healthcare leaders are continually looking at ways to reform the state’s behavioral health system as it sees rising rates of mental health challenges, suicidal ideation, and addiction. These leaders will discuss what the best path forward might be in the state’s work to create an ideal behavioral health system.

Tia L.R. Hartsock: Director, Office of Wellness and Resilience

Emily Moser: Director of YouthLine Programs, YouthLine

David Shaku: Behavioral Health Director, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center

Jennifer Siatafu: Director, Behavioral Health, The Queen’s Health System

Michael Champion, MD: Senior Advisor for Mental Health & the Justice System, Office of Gov. Green (moderator)

Hawaii’s Med-QUEST Division has spent months gathering stakeholder feedback and developing its 1115 waiver demonstration renewal request, which it plans to submit to CMS early this year. Join this panel to hear from state Medicaid leaders about the changes contained in the updated federal waiver and how they will impact Hawaii’s healthcare safety net program.

Jon Fujii: Health Care Services Branch Administrator, Med-QUEST Division, Department of Human Services

Meredith Nichols: Assistant Administrator, Med-QUEST Division, Department of Human Services

Judy Mohr Peterson, PhD: Administrator, Med-QUEST Division, Department of Human Services

Ranjani Starr, PhD, MPH: Health Analytics & Informatics Administrator, Med-QUEST Division, Department of Human Services

It’s important for those working in Hawaii healthcare to remain up-to-speed on federal health policy issues, and to understand how national policy decisions impact the practice of healthcare at the state level. This panel will provide an overview of recent federal activity and identify the key takeaways for Hawaii healthcare stakeholders.

Aimee Grace, MD: Director, Office of Strategic Health Initiatives, University of Hawaii

Jeffrey Reynoso, PhD: Region 9 Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Nicola Pinson: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

State leaders remain focused on supporting the health of Hawaiian children, who experience increased levels of mood disorders, suicidality, drug use, and other behavioral health challenges. These experts will talk through recent work in the state to improve children and teen health, drawing on recent behavioral health work in Texas.

Mike Robinson: Vice President, Government Relations & Community Affairs, Hawaii Pacific Health

Rep. Della Au Belatti: Chair, House Health & Homelessness Committee

Bart Pillen, PhD: Chief of Behavioral Health, HPH Medical Group

Roshni Koli, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Meadows Institute

Justina Acevedo-Cross: Program Director, Community Grants and Initiatives, Hawai’i Community Foundation

An influential factor in the healthcare workforce shortage is a lack of affordable housing for the number of healthcare workers needed in a given region. With this issue being exacerbated by Hawaii’s unique geography, these experts will evaluate ways to provide adequate housing to meet the state’s demand for healthcare workers.

Hilton Raethel: President & Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Association of Hawaii

Lisa Rantz: President, Hawaii State Rural Health Association; Executive Director, Hilo Medical Center Foundation

Josh Wisch: President & Executive Director, Hololuma Collective

With Hawaii’s 2024 legislative session right around the corner, stakeholders are eager to learn about and contribute to the key health policymaking efforts that lawmakers will pursue this year. These political insiders are well-attuned to healthcare-related conversations at the capitol and will discuss the topics that are likely to be at the forefront of this year’s session.

Jennifer Diesman: President, Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Senior Vice President, HMSA

Beth England, MD: Chair, Hawaii Medical Association Public Policy Committee

Paige Heckathorn Choy: Associate Vice President, Government Affairs, Healthcare Association of Hawaii

The majority of Hawaii is considered to be rural, and many areas areas of the state face exacerbated challenges in accessing health-related services. To discuss what’s needed most in the work to improve care access for patients living in rural areas of the state, we’ve convened this panel of subject matter experts.

Caroline Carney, MD: President & Chief Medical Officer, Magellan Health

Rosie Davis: Executive Director, Maui County Area Health Education Center

Val Janikowski: Program Administrator/Registered Nurse, Lanai Kinaole

Health data is an integral part of the work to address health-related social needs like housing, food insecurity, and income. If leaders don’t have accurate or comprehensive enough data, developing strategies for supporting individuals with HRSNs is a challenge. These experts will explore how to improve the collection of health data and use it to its full potential.

Milton Cortez: Director, AHARO Hawaii

Peter Lewis: Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, Hawai‘i Pacific Health

Trey Sutten: Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Siftwell

We’re looking forward to closing out the day with a keynote featuring Jack Lewin, MD, who is currently leading the efforts of the Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency under Gov. Green. Join us as Lewin provides an update on his team’s work to reform healthcare delivery in the state and increase access to healthcare coverage for all Hawaiians.

Jack Lewin, MD: Administrator, Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency

Please join us following the Closing Keynote for a Networking Reception, sponsored by HMSA. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be included, giving attendees a wonderful opportunity to follow up on the discussions we’ve had throughout the day.