2025 Arizona State of Reform Health Policy Conference

To start the day, we’re hosting a discussion with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Director Carmen Heredia. Hear Heredia’s perspective on various healthcare issues affecting the state and get an update on the work AHCCCS is doing to improve healthcare policy.

Carmen Heredia: Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Arizona received approval last year for its 1115 waiver enabling the state to provide critical healthcare services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society. Hear from leaders about the work being done to address the health disparities faced by the reentry population, a group often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems. 

Shelley Curran: Director of Crisis, Cultural, Prevention, & Court Services, Mercy Care

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

Kevin Wright: Director, Center for Correctional Solutions – Arizona State University

Moderator: Tim Mechlinski, PhD, MHA: Managing Director, Crestline Advisors

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Arizona play a critical role in providing accessible healthcare to underserved populations. As the demand for behavioral health services grows, FQHCs are increasingly positioned at the intersection of physical and mental health. This panel will examine the evolving role of FQHCs in addressing behavioral health needs, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities in integrating mental health services into primary care settings. 

Wendy Armendariz: Chief Executive Officer, NOAH Administration

Jared Hatchard, PharmD: Chief Pharmacy & Market Strategy Officer, Desert Senita Community Health Center

Bill Rosenfield: Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Adelante Healthcare

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

Moderator: Warren Brodine: Managing Director, Delivery Systems, Health Management Associates

As the federal government considers significant changes to Medicare Advantage, Arizona’s healthcare sector stands at a crossroads. This panel will explore the potential impact of proposed federal reforms on the state’s Medicare Advantage landscape. Experts will delve into how these changes could affect Arizona’s aging population, the role of private insurers, and the accessibility of care across rural and urban communities. 

Greg Gierer, MPP: Principal, Health Management Associates

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

Moderator: Denise Valder: Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore the intersection of healthcare and housing in Arizona, focusing on the H20 Initiative, an innovative program aimed at providing sustainable housing solutions for homeless individuals across the state. Panelists will discuss the initiative’s impact, successes, and ongoing challenges in addressing both immediate housing needs and long-term solutions for this vulnerable population. Panelists will also discuss solutions for addressing the disproportionate impact Arizona’s recent extreme heat events have had on the homeless population.  

Margaret Adams: Special Projects Administrator, Office of Homeless Solutions, City of Phoenix

Liz Da Costa: Housing Administrator, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Joe Gaudio: Treasurer, Home Matters to Arizona

Kurt Sheppard: Director, Complete Care, Banner Health

Moderator: Andy McMahon: Principal, Health Management Associates

With the potential for significant changes to federal health policy under the Trump administration, Arizona health leaders are eager to understand how federal health policy might shift in the coming months and how it will impact their state. This panel will explore the key federal policy shifts that could impact Arizona healthcare, particularly focusing on potential changes to Medicaid, the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), and other critical healthcare programs. 

Brittney Kaufmann: Chief Executive Officer, Health System Alliance of Arizona

Beth Kohler: Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Association of Health Plans

Meaghan Kramer: Health Policy Advisor, Office of Gov. Katie Hobbs

Moderator: Don Novo: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, offering innovative solutions that can improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and enhance clinical decision-making. However, with great promise comes significant responsibility. This panel will delve into both the practical applications and risks of AI in Arizona’s healthcare setting, offering a balanced discussion on its future. 

Margaret Calacci: Director of Immersive Technology & Clinical Associate Professor, Arizona State University

Whitney Daniels: Senior Advisor, Office of Gov. Katie Hobbs

Shruti Gurudanti: Co-Founder, Televeda

Moderator: Flint Michels, MBA, MHSA: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates

We’re thrilled to have a pre-recorded video from U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly to play for the audience at the start of the Lunch hour. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from Sen. Kelly about his outlook on federal health policy changes and how they might impact Arizonans.

Dr. Ashby Wolfe, Regional Chief Medical Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will join us virtually to provide an overview of the current priorities of the agency and recent updates related to Medicare and Medicaid policies.

As Arizona’s healthcare sector faces increasing demand and evolving challenges, it is more critical than ever to explore innovative strategies for building and sustaining a skilled workforce. This panel will bring together speakers from various sides of the issue to discuss innovative, on-the-ground approaches being taken to solving the state’s most pressing workforce challenges. Topics will include filling entry-level positions in the healthcare field, strategies for hiring more interns, and more.  

Shannon Clancy: Chief Executive Officer, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Carlos Contreras: Director, Office of Economic Opportunity

Jessie Gillam: Vice President of Behavioral Health Transformation, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers

Heidi Sanborn: President, Arizona Nurses Association

Moderator: Matt Longman: Senior Account Supervisor, Lovell Communications

As the landscape of Medicaid continues to evolve, Arizona’s Medicaid program—administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)—faces critical decisions that will shape the future of healthcare access across the state. This panel will provide an in-depth look at recent and upcoming changes to Medicaid in Arizona, examining how AHCCCS is adapting to shifting federal health policies, implementing new rules, and ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to receive essential care.  

Lauriane Bellot-Hanson: Senior Professional Services Consultant, Findhelp

Paula Dahl: Regional Vice President of Growth, Carelon Behavioral Health

Carmen Heredia: Director, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Mayday Levine-Mata, PsyD: Senior Director, Health Services, Arizona Complete Health

Moderator: Jesse Eller: Principal, Health Management Associates

As Arizona faces increasingly extreme heat events, the need to strengthen the state’s public health system grows stronger. These public health leaders will explore the growing challenges posed by extreme heat and other public health threats in Arizona, focusing on their disproportionate impact on vulnerable Arizonans. The panel will discuss strategies for building a more resilient public health infrastructure in the face of pressing public health emergencies.  

Lilliana Cardenas: Subdivision Administrator, Community Resilience Manager, Maricopa County Public Health

Eugene Livar: Chief Heat Officer, Arizona Department of Health Services

Moderator: Shannon Waters, MC, LAC: Associate Managing Director, Crestline Advisors

Hear from some of the leading lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature about healthcare policymaking in Arizona. These legislative leaders will discuss the legislation they supported this session, the key bills that passed, and the health-related issues they’ll continue to prioritize in the future.  

Rep. Selina Bliss: Chairman, Health & Human Services Committee, Arizona House of Representatives

Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales: Member, Health & Human Services Committee, Arizona Senate

Rep. Carine Werner: Chairman, Health & Human Services Committee, Arizona House of Representatives

Moderator: Christina Altmayer, MPA: Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates