2025 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Our opening session will bring together hospital leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of acute care and hospital management. Speakers will address emerging trends in acute care delivery, financial growth strategies for hospitals in a challenging environment, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our top executives and engage in a forward-thinking dialogue about the future of our industry.

Katie Eckert: Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations, Adventist HealthCare

Nicki McCann: Vice President, Johns Hopkins Health System

Roger Mitchell: Chief Executive Officer, Howard University Hospital

Moderator: Erin Dorrien: Principal, Health Management Associates

CMS has stated that it may modify or end Maryland’s longstanding Medicare Waiver while also implementing AHEAD in Maryland. Panelists will discuss how this might work and what the implications are for payers, providers, and patients. 

Jon Kromm: Executive Director, Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission

Megan Priolo: Vice President & Executive Director, CRISP Maryland

Gene Ransom: Chief Executive Officer, MedChi

Moderator: Amy Bassano: Managing Director, Medicare, Health Management Associates

Addressing the behavioral health needs of children and families is a critical component to their overall wellbeing and is increasingly being viewed as an area of need. This panel will explore innovative approaches to expanding resources for youth behavioral health, discussing strategies to enhance access to care, reduce stigma, and support families in navigating the behavioral health system. The panel will look beyond Maryland to explore successful initiatives in other states that have made strides in addressing youth behavioral health. 

Nicole Gilbert: Deputy Director, Office of Well-Being, District of Columbia Child & Family Services Agency

Alyssa Lord: Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, Maryland Department of Health

Joe Ribsam: Director of Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Policy, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Todd Peters, MD: Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Sheppard Pratt

Moderator: Faith Dyson-Washington: Principal, Health Management Associates

As healthcare systems across the nation evolve, new technologies are shaping the healthcare landscape. The pace of innovation of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, remote monitoring, and AI has increased rapidly in recent years. Panelists will discuss the major challenges they are facing with regard to coverage access and affordability. Panelists will offer lessons learned and insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead.  

Francesca Cook: Vice President, Global Pricing & Market Access, REGENXBIO

Carolyn Ha: Deputy Vice President of Policy & Research, PhRMA

Alex Prough: Chief Commercial Officer, Medical Guardian

Maya Sandalow: Associate Director, Bipartisan Policy Center

Kirsten Tullia: Senior Vice President, Payment & Health Care Delivery Policy & Head of Research, AdvaMed

Moderator: Zachary Gaumer: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

Maryland continues to work to improve the Medicaid program in an ever-changing federal landscape. With leadership changes at HHS and CMS, a change in perspective and focus of value–based payment models is likely. This change will disrupt current models and create new opportunities and risks for managed care plans. This panel will focus on those opportunities and potential pitfalls for payers. 

Angelo Edge: Chief Executive Officer, Aetna Better Health

Nora Hoban: Chief Executive Officer, Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers

Tricia Roddy: Deputy Medicaid Director, Maryland Department of Health

Moderator: Robin Preston: Senior Regional Vice President, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore innovative strategies and state-led initiatives aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes, with a particular focus on reducing disparities and addressing the social determinants of health that affect mothers and babies, especially in underserved communities. 

Kimberly Brooks, PhD: Clinical Psychologist, Children’s National, HealthySteps Program

Shelly Choo: Director, Bureau of Maternal & Child Health, Maryland Department of Health

Danielle Haskin, MSPH: Director, Equity Office, Frederick County Health Department

Katrina Mark, MD, FACOG, FASAM: Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Moderator: Liddy Garcia-Bunuel: Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore current efforts to strengthen prescription drug access and lower costs for individuals, with a focus on the 340B Drug Pricing Program and the work of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). Panelists will discuss how the 340B program has expanded access to discounted medications for safety-net providers and underserved populations, and the role the PDAB plays in monitoring and regulating prescription drug prices to protect consumers. 

Mike Eging: Executive Director, Rare Access Action Project

Patrick Mutch: President & Chief Executive Officer, Chase Brexton Health Care

Andrea Noda: Vice President of Health Care, Drug Policy, Arnold Ventures

Andy York: Executive Director, Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board

Moderator: Kevin Kirby, JD: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

Improving population health requires breaking down barriers and fostering collaboration across organizations and sectors. This vision is becoming a reality through strategic partnerships and innovative efforts to bridge the siloes in the state’s healthcare landscape. Panelists will explore the transformative power of collaboration in advancing population health improvement and the vital role that diverse stakeholders, from healthcare providers to community organizations, play in this process. 

Lucas C. Carlson, MD, MPH: Regional Medical Director, Care Transformation, Medstar Health – Baltimore Region

Elliott Emerich: Strategic Sales Director, Unite Us

Heather Kirby: Vice President, Chief Population Health Manager, Frederick Health

Elizabeth Kromm, PhD, MSc: Assistant Secretary, Population Health & Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Health

Moderator: Madeleine Shea, PhD: Principal, Health Management Associates

The opioid and substance use disorder (SUD) crisis continues to devastate communities, demanding a multi-faceted response that combines prevention, treatment, and recovery support. This panel will examine current strategies aimed at addressing the crisis, with a particular focus on Baltimore’s efforts under Mayor Brandon Scott’s comprehensive opioid response plan. 

Calvin Ball: County Executive, Howard County

Drew Fuller, MD, MPH, FASAM, FACEP: Founder & Medical Director, Brightwell Recovery Health

Sara Whaley: Executive Director of Overdose Response, City of Baltimore

Moderator: Anika Alvanzo, MD, MS, FACP, DFASAM: Physician Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore innovative strategies for institutionalizing and expanding school-based health as a strategy to improve health and behavioral health outcomes for students. Schools are in communities and easily accessible for parents and students, and school-based health centers are a key strategy to promote student wellbeing.  CMS has recently been providing guidance on Medicaid and school-based health. Panelists will discuss the role that the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports plays in this work.

Shelly Choo, MD, MPH: Director, Bureau of Maternal & Child Health, Maryland Department of Health

Brittany Patterson, PhD: Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine National Center for School Mental Health

Leigh Weihs, MSN, MPH, FNP: Nurse Practitioner, Baltimore County Public Schools

Moderator: Uma Ahluwalia, MSW: Director, Leapp Strategies

With a change in leadership at HHS and CMS a change in perspective and focus of value-based payment models is likely. This change will disrupt current models and create new opportunities and risks for hospitals and health systems. This panel will focus on those opportunities and potential pitfalls for acute care providers.   

Aneena Azel: Director, Provider/Payer Transformation, Johns Hopkins

Laura Russell: Assistant Vice President, Reimbursement Methodology & Data Analytics

Moderator: Erin Dorrien: Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore innovative strategies and ongoing efforts to grow the behavioral health workforce to meet the evolving needs of residents. Panelists will discuss initiatives aimed at expanding the pipeline for behavioral health careers, with a focus on recruitment, training, and retention of skilled professionals across a variety of disciplines. Speakers will talk through recent guidance regarding the reformation of Maryland’s behavioral health system and promising ways to address remaining gaps in the system. 

Dimitri Cavathas: Chief Executive Officer, HealthPort

Jeffrey J. Grossi, JD: Chief of Government Relations, Sheppard Pratt

Shannon Hall, JD: Executive Director, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland

Dan Martin, JD: Senior Director of Public Policy, Mental Health Association of Maryland

Moderator: Tonya Moore, JD: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates

Improving public health is crucial to ensuring the well-being of patients and addressing the growing challenges posed by infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and health disparities. Discussion will include strategies for keeping vaccination rates and responding to federal disinvestments in public health.

Elizabeth Kromm, PhD, MSc: Assistant Secretary, Population Health & Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Health

Lisa Nelson: Director of Nursing & Clinical Services, St. Mary’s County Health Department

Moderator: Erin Russell, MPH: Principal, Health Management Associates

We’re closing the day by hearing influential state lawmakers discuss the Maryland Legislature’s work to improve health policy. Grab a seat to hear Dels. Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Emily Shetty speak about the bills they supported this year and important health-related takeaways from this year’s session.

Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk: Chair, Health & Government Affairs Committee, Maryland House of Delegates

Del. Emily Shetty: Chair, Health & Social Services Subcommittee, Maryland House of Delegates

Moderator: Andrea Maresca: Managing Director, Client Services, Health Management Associates