2024 Washington 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.

We’re starting the day with a conversation about improving healthcare access and delivery for all individuals in the state. Grab a seat to hear about how different organizations in the health sector can partner and collaborate to improve the health of Washingtonians.

Leanne Berge: CEO, Community Health Plan of Washington

Though much healthcare policymaking occurs at the state level, federal policy direction can substantially affect healthcare at the state level. These panelists will attempt to predict the federal health policy direction in 2024 and provide an overview of recent federal health policy reform efforts relevant to the state’s agenda and markets.

Priya Helweg: Deputy Regional Director and Executive Officer, HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Region 10

Kathleen Nolan: Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates

Liz Arjun: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

There is a lot of concern about Washington’s current and future healthcare workforce. To discuss the various key areas of workforce development and retention efforts, we’ve convened this group of experts for a collaborative conversation about how to support and maintain the state’s healthcare workforce into 2024 and beyond.

Bruce Gray: Chief Executive Officer, Northwest Regional Primary Care Association

Michelle McDaniel: Chief Executive Officer, Crisis Connections

Sue Skillman: Senior Deputy Director, Center for Health Workforce Studies, University of Washington

Justin Gill: President, Washington State Nurses Association (moderator)

The way we think about public health was forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, federal, state, and local governments have been focusing intently on reforming and strengthening their public health infrastructure and response strategy, which must include social media components. This panel will explore where Washington’s public health strategy stands today and identify solutions for addressing the prevalence of public health-related disinformation, as well as the role that social media plays.

Maranatha Hay: Communications Director, Washington State Department of Health

Jevin West: Co-Founder & Professor, University of Washington Center for an Informed Public

Nari Heshmati, MD: President, Washington State Medical Association (moderator)

Certified community behavioral health clinics provide crucial services for individuals struggling with behavioral health challenges—the rate of which is only increasing amidst rising rates of substance use and suicidality. These experts will discuss the significant potential CCBHCs have for improving Washington’s behavioral healthcare delivery and how the health sector can support and integrate with these critical facilities.

Katrina Egner: Chief Executive Officer, Sound Health; Member, Fourfront Contributor

Joan Miller: Chief Executive Officer, Washington Council for Behavioral Health

Tom Sebastian: Chief Executive Officer, Compass Health; Member, Fourfront Contributor

Kathleen Nolan: Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Washington’s 2023 legislative session saw the passage of several bills to help Washington’s younger residents. House Bill 1188 ensures that children with disabilities in foster care have equitable access to the developmental disability services, and HB 1580 requires the governor to maintain a children and youth multisystem care coordinator to serve as a state lead on addressing children in crisis. Panelists will discuss these and other initiatives aiming to support children and adolescent needs.

Hugh Ewart: Senior Director, State and Federal Government Relations, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Ross Hunter: Secretary, Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Sarah Rafton: Executive Director, WA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Rep. Tana Senn: Chair, House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee

Megan Beers: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates (moderator)

We’ve convened high-ranking policymakers in the state legislature for a preview of the upcoming legislative session. Grab a seat in this panel to hear from influential legislative leaders about their goals for health policy in 2024 and what they anticipate being the most prominent conversations in the Washington Legislature this year.

Sen. Annette Cleveland: Chair, Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee

Sen. Ron Muzzall: Assistant Ranking Member, Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee

Rep. Nicole Macri: Vice-Chair, House Appropriations Committee

Healthcare facilities often face challenges in discharging patients with complex care needs from hospitals to home-based or community environments. This panel of experts will identify some of the primary barriers in these transitions and offer recommendations on how to make the process smoother.

Laurie McCraney, RN: Director of Healthcare Services, Molina Healthcare of Washington

Zosia Stanley: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Washington State Hospital Association

Betsy Jones: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Washington reproductive care facilities have been operating under significant stress since the US Supreme Court eliminated the federal right to an abortion in 2021. In this new landscape, they must care for residents, as well as plenty of visitors from neighboring states who no longer have sufficient access to a range of reproductive services. This has also led to a greater need for maternity services. This panel will identify challenges and solutions to providing maternal and reproductive care across the state.

Demetria Malloy: Chief Medical Officer/Chief Health Officer, Community Health Plan of Washington

Lee Che Leong: Senior Policy Advocate, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Jazmin Williams: Founding Member, Doulas 4 All Coalition

Molly Firth: Clinical Instructor, Health Systems & Population Health, University of Washington (moderator)

Several initiatives have been launched recently to help improve behavioral health outcomes for Washington’s tribal communities, including the Native and Strong Lifeline. The new feature added to the state’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline went live in November last year with the intent to prevent deaths caused by mental illness. Panelists will discuss a range of programs designed to improve tribal health in the state and their applicability in other communities.

Summer Hammons: Legislative Policy Analyst, Tulalip Tribe

Aren Sparck: Office of Tribal Affairs Administrator, Washington State Health Care Authority

Kelly Waibel: Crisis Counselor, Tulalip Mental Health

Hossam Mahmoud, MD, MPH: Regional Chief Medical Officer, Carelon Behavioral Health (moderator)

Washington’s 2023 legislative session saw significant movement on a variety of topics including prescription drug price mitigation and dental service expansion. There’s a lot on deck for lawmakers in the state’s upcoming session. We’ve brought together this group of experts to parse through some of the notable healthcare policymaking efforts expected to take place in the legislature this year, and how they might impact stakeholders from across the healthcare landscape.

Brad Banks: Principal, Banks Consulting Group

Sybill Hyppolite: Legislative Director, Washington State Labor Council

Kristin Peterson: Chief of Policy, Washington State Department of Health

Unfortunately, Washington healthcare workers increasingly face violence in their already-demanding work environments. This is harmful for workers and significantly impacts the quality of care by driving burnout and safety concerns. Join this panel for an important conversation about what can be done to sufficiently protect healthcare workers from violence in their workplace.

Darcy Jaffe: Senior Vice President of Safety and Quality, Washington State Hospital Association

Angie Naylor: Chief Executive Officer, Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital

Justin Gill: President, Washington State Nurses Association (moderator)

Officials are exploring many ways to make healthcare more affordable in Washington, including efforts to establish a universal healthcare system and the emergence of the Health Care Cost Transparency Board. Many factors contribute to the cost of care, and a recent Washington Health Alliance report found that where people live in the state has a direct impact on the care they receive. This panel will identify pathways to establishing more affordable healthcare for all Washingtonians.

Jane Beyer: Senior Health Policy Advisor, Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Bill Kramer: Senior Advisor for Health Policy, Purchaser Business Group on Health

Kristin Meadows: President, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington

Hiroshi Nakano, MBA: Vice President, Value Based Initiatives, University of Washington Medicine Valley Medical Center

Gov. Jay Inslee has continuously emphasized the importance of action around climate change. Climate change impacts health in a myriad of ways, which can include death and illness from extreme weather events. See how health leaders are using policy tools to address climate change and extreme weather during this important panel.

Chris Chen: Medical Director, Medicaid, Washington State Health Care Authority

Rad Cunningham: Senior Epidemiologist, Washington State Department of Health

Bradley Kramer: Program Manager, Climate + Equity Initiative, Public Health, Seattle and King County

Ginny Weir: Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Health Care Quality (moderator)

Apple Health & Homes is a multi-agency effort that pairs healthcare services with housing resources for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. It is one of several key programs aiming to address dire housing needs across the state, as Gov. Jay Inslee has identified the need to reduce street homelessness and bolster housing inventory as a top budget priority for 2024. Hear about how Apple Health and other housing initiatives are tackling housing challenges during this panel.

Torri Canda: Health Promotion Manager, Wellpoint Washington

Rhonda Hauff: Chief Executive Officer, Yakima Neighborhood Health Services

Melodie Pazolt: Managing Director, Apple Health and Homes, Washington State Department of Commerce

Scott Tankersley: Foundation Community Supports Program Administrator, Washington State Health Care Authority

Carter Kimble: Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

The Washington State Health Care Authority continues to play a vital role in the state’s health landscape. It oversees several groundbreaking programs, including the Universal Health Care Commission, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board, and the new Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Get an update on how these programs and others aim to help lower costs and improve access to care during this informative panel.

Dave Iseminger: PEBB and SEBB Program Director, Washington State Health Care Authority

Teesha Kirschbaum: DBHR Deputy Director , Washington State Health Care Authority

Taylor Linke: Director of IT Innovation and Customer Experience, Washington State Health Care Authority

Mich’l Needham: Chief Policy Officer, Washington State Health Care Authority (moderator)

It’s critical that Washington’s health sector continues to recognize the disproportionate challenges the state’s rural communities face. From severe workforce shortages to obstacles in transportation to healthcare services, rural patients and providers need ongoing support to help navigate these unique challenges. Join these experts for a robust discussion about how we can continue supporting and strengthening healthcare in rural Washington.

Mike Glenn: Chief Executive Officer, Jefferson Healthcare

Julie Jesmer: WRASAP Program Coordinator, Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program

Gretchen Maliska: Director of Career & Technical Education, Shelton School District

Melissa Strong: Chief Nursing Officer, Mason Health

Various states across the country are pursuing first-in-the-nation changes to their Medicaid programs, which include incorporating justice-involved health services into the healthcare system and covering climate change-related health needs. With Washington being one of these states focusing on innovating its Medicaid program, this panel will analyze how Washington can learn from other states’ recent efforts to improve Medicaid.

Lori Coyner: President, Coyner Health Solutions, LLC

Kelsey Potter: Vice President, Medicaid, Coordinated Care

Liz Arjun: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Behavioral health reform is among the top priorities for the Washington healthcare system. The state has poured major resources into efforts to strengthen its behavioral health system to increase access to needed care, and to ensure the healthcare system treats behavioral health as equally important as physical health. This panel will discuss current behavioral health reform efforts and where the state might go from here.

Jane Beyer: Senior Health Policy Advisor, Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Anna Nepomuceno: Director of Public Policy, National Alliance on Mental Illness Washington

Rami Rafeh: Vice President of Provider Strategy, Premera Blue Cross

Kathleen Nolan: Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates (moderator)

Ensuring older Washingtonians have access to necessary support services is a critical priority. What is the status of programs like LTSS and dual-eligible coverage for this vulnerable population, and how can the state work to improve these programs to better serve aging patients? These experts will take a deep dive into this important topic.

Kara Jovag: Outreach Coordinator, PNW PACE Partners/Multicare

Cathleen MacCaul: Advocacy Director, American Association of Retired Persons Washington State

Jonnie Matson: Housing Assistance Unit Manager, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

Benjamin Veghte, Ph.D.: Director, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

To wrap up the conference, it’s an honor to welcome Attorney General Bob Ferguson for a unique keynote conversation about his outlook on Washington State healthcare policy heading into 2024. Don’t miss this informative session in which Ferguson will discuss some of the key challenges in Washington healthcare and his perspective on how to address them.

Bob Ferguson: Attorney General, Washington State

Please join us following the Closing Keynote for a Networking Reception, sponsored by Molina Healthcare. 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.