October 17, 2024
The Spokane Convention Center
2024 Inland Northwest State of Reform Health Policy Conference
RegisterConference Overview
The 2024 Inland Northwest State of Reform Health Policy Conference will once again be taking place in-person at the Spokane Convention Center on October 17th, 2024!
The State of Reform conference is focused on bridging the gap between health 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 health policy and politics, then this is the conference for you!
Join us at the Spokane Convention Center on October 17th to discuss the most important healthcare activities taking place in Eastern Washington. If you have any questions or speaker suggestions, please feel free to drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!
Topical Agenda
Here is our 2024 Inland Northwest State of Reform Health Policy Conference Topical Agenda! This represents input from hours of conversations with our Advisory Panel and stakeholders across the spectrum of eastern Washington 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.
Registration & Networking Breakfast
Opening Keynote
Alicia Thompson, DrPH, LMSW: Administrative Officer, Spokane Regional Health District
Washington State’s Path Towards Universal Coverage
Strengthening Rural Access to Maternal Care
Training, Attracting & Retaining the Rural Healthcare Workforce
Providing Reentry Services to the Incarcerated Population
Expanding Access to Primary Care
The Impact of Medical Respite Care
Networking Lunch
Schools as a Center of Care
Loneliness, Relationships & Mental Health: Strategies for Improving Relational Health
Increasing Access to Pharmacies in Eastern Washington
Examining the Evolving Behavioral Health Landscape
Washington’s Complex Discharge Pilot
Closing Plenary
Rep. Marcus Riccelli: Chair, Health Care & Wellness Committee, Washington State House of Representatives
Charissa Fotinos, MD, MSc: State Medicaid & Behavioral Health Medical Director, Washington State Health Care Authority
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See Sponorship DetailsRegistration & Networking Breakfast
The Networking Breakfast will take place before the start of the conference to allow attendees to grab light refreshments and connect with their fellow colleagues before we kick things off for the day.
Opening Keynote
Join us as we start the day by hearing from Alicia Thompson, DrPH, LMSW, the Administrative Officer of Spokane Regional Health District, about her organization’s work to improve behavioral healthcare in the region. Thompson will discuss public health’s role in behavioral health policy, the key behavioral health challenges being seen including access barriers and disparate impacts among marginalized communities, and programs that are being offered to help ameliorate some of these challenges.
Alicia Thompson, DrPH, LMSW: Administrative Officer, Spokane Regional Health District
Washington State’s Path Towards Universal Coverage
Washington State continues to be a leader in expanding access to public and private health insurance. In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers allocated $28.4 million of the state budget towards continuing to expand coverage for immigrants. Join this panel of experts as they discuss the impact of Medicaid expansion in Eastern Washington and what they see as upcoming opportunities and barriers to universal coverage.
Mary Megliola Franzen, MPH: Coverage Strategies Manager, Washington State Health Care Authority
Jennyfer Mesa: Executive Director, Latinos En Spokane
Andre Stackhouse: Executive Director, Whole Washington
Moderator: Liz Arjun, MPH, MSW: Principal, Health Management Associates
Strengthening Rural Access to Maternal Care
Rural Washington is experiencing a decline in access to maternal healthcare services. Join this panel for a discussion about the impact that recent birth center closures, system consolidation, and changes to the federal landscape have on maternal health in the region. Panelists will also discuss work being done to maintain access to maternal/infant care, promising developments in tribal pregnancy risk assessments, the expansion of coverage to doulas and at–home services for new moms.
Jessica Houseman-Whitehawk, MPH: Executive Director & Co-Founder, Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center
Merry-Ann Keane: Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics
Moderator: Katharine Weiss, MPA: Program Director, State of Reform
Training, Attracting & Retaining the Rural Healthcare Workforce
Join this panel discussion on opportunities and barriers facing the rural healthcare workforce. Experts will discuss the challenges that exist in the current workforce landscape through various lenses. The panel will also talk through the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce and the new innovations that have emerged from the pandemic for supporting rural healthcare workers.
Jacob Garcia, MBA, MSN, RN, PCCN: Staff Nurse; Assistant Professor; Political Action Committee Chair, Astria Sunnyside Hospital; Heritage University-Nursing; Washington State Nurses Association
Priya Helweg, MA: Acting Regional Director & Executive Officer, US Department of Health & Human Services, Region 10
Geoff Jones, MD: Clinical Associate Professor, Family Medicine; Assistant Clinical Dean, Spokane & Eastern Washington, University of Washington School of Medicine
Marguerite Ro, DrPH: Washington State Director, AARP
Moderator: Clint Hagen: Chief Operations Officer, NEW Health
Providing Reentry Services to the Incarcerated Population
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is currently implementing its Reentry Demonstration Initiative, which provides Medicaid benefits to incarcerated individuals up to 60 days prior to release. Join HCA and other leaders as they discuss the work being done to provide prerelease services for individuals leaving the carceral setting. Panelists will discuss lessons learned and ideas on long term sustainability of the program.
Maureen Correia, RN, BSN: Manager, Healthcare Services, Molina Healthcare of Washington
James Jensen: Senior Project Manager, Carelon Behavioral Health
Jason T. McGill, JD: Director, Medicaid Programs Division; Assistant Director, Washington State Health Care Authority
Layne Pavey, LICSW, CPC: Executive Director, Revive Spokane
Moderator: Megan Beers, PhD: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates
Expanding Access to Primary Care
Join this panel for a dynamic discussion about primary care reform efforts in Eastern Washington. Washington was selected as one of eight states that will implement the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’ Making Care Primary Model for Medicaid beneficiaries. These panelists will discuss how Washington’s provision of the model and other initiatives could improve primary care access for rural Washingtonians and the changes stakeholders can expect to see in the coming years.
Nicole St. Clair, MD: Executive Medical Director, Cambia Health Solutions
Brandi Tilch-Bryant, DNP: Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, CHAS Health
Mia Wise, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Kinwell Medical Group
Judy Zerzan-Thul, MD, MPH: Chief Medical Officer, Washington State Health Care Authority
Moderator: Katharine Weiss, MPA: Program Director, State of Reform
The Impact of Medical Respite Care
Medical respite care (MRC) offers acute and post-acute medical care for people experiencing homelessness. Join this panel of experts as they discuss how MRC is being used in Eastern Washington. Learn about the struggles and opportunities of new MRC programs.
Tarryn Bieloh, MPH: Medical Respite Manager, National Institute for Medical Respite Care
Dena Carr, MATL: Director, House of Charity, Catholic Charities Eastern Washington
Charissa Fotinos, MD, MSc: State Medicaid & Behavioral Health Medical Director, Washington State Health Care Authority
Fawn Schott: President & Chief Executive Officer, Volunteers of America Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
Moderator: Daniel Smith, MSW: Senior Regional Manager, Regional Systems Integration-K12/Housing, Community Health Plan of Washington
Networking Lunch
Schools as a Center of Care
Schools are a critical point of intervention in the healthcare system. Join this panel of experts as they discuss recommendations for optimizing the role of school-based health centers in the state. This panel will discuss how the state is considering leveraging Medicaid dollars to support student health and what other interventions are recommended to support students and families. You will also hear about the movement towards financial stability for school-based health centers.
Glen Chambers: Senior Vice President, External Relations, findhelp
Rep. Lisa Callan: Co-chair, Children & Youth Behavioral Health Work Group, Washington State House of Representatives
Becky Droter, MSN, RN, NCSN: School District Nurse, Member; Colville School District, School Nurse Organization of Washington
Erin Dury: Executive Director, Washington School-Based Health Alliance
Moderator: Hugh Ewart: Founder & Managing Partner, Adduna Health Partners
Loneliness, Relationships & Mental Health: Strategies for Improving Relational Health
Experts continue to be concerned about the decline in relational health among rural Washingtonians struggling with loneliness and isolation. Join this panel of experts as they discuss the role that community involvement plays on whole person health. They will also discuss a recent study on relational health by the Office of the Surgeon General and new programs in the region that are helping solve the issue.
John Ficker: Executive Director, Adult Family Home Council
Luke Wall: Executive Director, Only7Seconds
Moderator: Steve Corker: Volunteer, AARP
Increasing Access to Pharmacies in Eastern Washington
Access to prescription drugs is top of mind for rural healthcare leaders in a region where pharmacy deserts are all too common. Join this panel for a conversation about how each player in the pharmaceutical pipeline can improve access for rural communities. Hear about new regulations and what leaders expect the impact to be on communities.
Julie Akers, PharmD, FWSPA: Executive Assistant Dean, Associate Professor, Pharmacotherapy; Washington State University College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Jenny Arnold, PharmD: Chief Executive Officer, Washington State Pharmacy Association
Teresa Harberg, PharmD: Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Pharmacy Services, MultiCare
Moderator: Dara Smith, MBA: Principal, Health Management Associates
Examining the Evolving Behavioral Health Landscape
Join this panel for a discussion about recent legislation aimed at improving behavioral health outcomes for Eastern Washingtonians and Tribal communities. Panelists will take a particular focus on the expansion of telemedicine’s role in addressing behavioral health workforce concerns in rural areas. The panel will also discuss recent work to address substance use disorder (SUD) and the impact of national opioid settlement funds.
Stephan Blanford, EdD: Executive Director, Children’s Alliance
Nikki Jones: Behavioral Health Clinical Director, UnitedHealthcare
Niki Lewis: Addictions Administrator, Behavioral Health Program Manager, Wellpoint Washington
Rep. Tina Orwall, MSW: Member, Health Care & Wellness Committee, Washington State House of Representatives
Moderator: David Condon: Vice President, Eastern Washington, Premera
Washington’s Complex Discharge Pilot
Healthcare facilities often face challenges in discharging patients with complex care needs from hospitals to post-acute, community, or home-based or community environments. Washington State has implemented a two-year task force and five-site pilot to identify the primary barriers in these transitions and offer recommendations to improve the system for patients and providers. Hear from pilot participants about lessons learned from the launch.
Madeline Grant: Chief Administrative Officer, Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine
Bianca Caballero, MSW, LICSW: Program Operations Specialist for Bed Readiness/State Pilot Programs, Harborview Medical Center
Leona Parker: Senior Director of Clinical Operations, Coordinated Care
Moderator: Zosia Stanley: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Washington State Hospital Association
Closing Plenary
Don’t miss this unique plenary featuring two of Washington State’s most influential healthcare leaders, HCA Medicaid Director and Behavioral Health Medical Director Dr. Charissa Fotinos and outgoing House Health Care & Wellness Committee Chair Rep. Marcus Riccelli. These two leaders will provide their perspectives on several of the key health policy challenges in Washington that were discussed throughout the day.
Charissa Fotinos, MD, LICSW: State Medicaid & Behavioral Health Medical Director, Washington State Health Care Authority
Rep. Marcus Riccelli: Chair, Health Care & Wellness Committee, Washington State House of Representatives
Moderator: Katharine Weiss, MPA: Program Director, State of Reform