April 17, 2025
The Marriott East Lansing at University Place
2025 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference
RegisterConference Overview
The 2025 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference will once again be taking place in-person at the Marriott East Lansing at University Place on April 17th, 2025!
State of Reform pulls together practitioners, thought leaders, and policy makers – each working to improve our healthcare system in their own way – into a unified conversation in a single place. If you are interested in understanding what occurs at the nexus of healthcare policy and politics, then this is the conference for you.
Join us at the Marriott East Lansing on April 17th to discuss the most important health care activities taking place in Michigan. If you have questions or speaker suggestions, please feel free to drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!
Topical Agenda
Here is the agenda for the 2025 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference. This represents input from hours of conversations with our Advisory Panel and stakeholders across the spectrum of Michigan 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 haven’t already, you can register here.
Please note that all agenda times are local.
Networking Breakfast
Opening Plenary
How Does the Evolving Federal Landscape Impact Michigan Healthcare?
CCBHCs & Other Behavioral Health Innovations in Michigan
Enhancing Women’s & Maternal Healthcare in Michigan
Michigan’s Work to Improve Children’s Mental Health
The Opioid Epidemic: Leveraging Settlement Dollars for Recovery & Prevention
Health-Related Social Needs: The Impact of the In-Lieu of Services Benefit & What it Means for Michigan’s Health Sector
Networking Lunch
Transitioning to Michigan’s New Dual Eligible Managed Care Structure
Expanding Access & Reducing Costs for Pharmaceuticals in Michigan: Challenges & Solutions
Michigan’s Effort to Provide Healthcare for the Reentry Population
A Conversation with State Lawmakers
Closing Plenary
Our Advisory Panel consists of a diverse array of experts in Michigan’s health sector who advise State of Reform on the key issues in state healthcare and health policy. We rely heavily on these stakeholders to develop our agenda topics, framing, and speakers. Thank you to these esteemed individuals, without whom we wouldn’t be able to put together State of Reform’s robust, curated agendas.
- Kimberly Bachelder: Director, Government Accounts, Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services
- Philipp Bergquist: Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Primary Care Association
- Christine Burk: Chief of Staff, Oakland Community Health Network
- Frances Carley: Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oakland Community Health Network
- Adam Carlson: Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
- Kathryn Commey: State Administrative Manager, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
- Peggy Crandell: Vice President, Government Contracts, Molina Healthcare of Michigan
- Kevin Fischer: Executive Director, NAMI Michigan
- Patricia Graham: Chief Executive Officer, Meridian Health
- Farah Hanley: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates
- Amanda Ittner: Deputy Director, Mid-State Health Network
- Jim Johnson: Director, Region 10 PIHP
- Kristen Jordan: Bureau Director, Behavioral Health Specialty Supports & Services, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
- David LaLumia: Executive Director, AAA Michigan
- Mary Marlatt Dumas: Director, Lakeshore Regional Entity
- Jim McEvoy: Principal, Health Management Associates
- Brian Mills: Deputy Director, Michigan Association of Health Plans
- Lindsey Naeyaert: Service Delivery Transformation Section Manager, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
- Isabell Pacheco: Chief Administrative Officer, Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services
- Dominick Pallone: Executive Director, Michigan Association of Health Plans
- David Schneider: Senior Advisor, Michigan State University Institute for Health Policy
- Robert Sheehan: Executive Director, Community Mental Health Association of Michigan
- Marti Kay Sherry: Planning Manager, Bureau of Health Care Services, Michigan Department of Corrections
- Manny Singla: Director, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network
- Traci Smith: Director, Macomb County CMH Services
- Monique Stanton: President & Chief Executive Officer, Michigan League for Public Policy
- Shannan Swafford: Co-Founder, Enterprise Social Record
- Mila Todd: Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer, Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health
- Renee Topolski: Deputy Director, School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan (SCHA-MI)
- Danielle Wagner: Growth & Community Engagement, Molina Healthcare of Michigan
- Scott Wamsley: Bureau Director, Aging & Long Term Care Services, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
- Craig Westman: Growth, Behavioral Health, Carelon Behavioral Health
- Stephanie Winslow: Executive Director, PACE Michigan
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See Sponorship DetailsNetworking Breakfast
Opening Plenary
Details coming soon.
How Does the Evolving Federal Landscape Impact Michigan Healthcare?
Join this group of experts as they discuss the Trump administration’s impact on Michigan healthcare and health policy. These experts will discuss what has already been done in the administration’s first few months as well as significant changes we might see in the future. Hear about topics like changes to HHS and CMS, the outlook for block grants, work waivers and ACA federal subsidies.
CCBHCs & Other Behavioral Health Innovations in Michigan
Michigan continues working to strengthen its behavioral health system, including through the growing role of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Health Homes. How can the state continue to strengthen and expand the CCBHC model to meet Michiganders’ behavioral health needs? What challenges does the state face as CCBHCs continue to rapidly grow? Panelists will discuss the future of the CCBHC model and other state efforts—like the Innovations in Behavioral Health (IBH) grant and physical health integration—to fortify the behavioral health system.
Enhancing Women's & Maternal Healthcare in Michigan
Join us for an insightful discussion on the current state of maternal healthcare in Michigan, as experts explore the challenges and opportunities facing expectant mothers across the state. This panel will focus on payors’ role in improving women’s health. Speakers will discuss how health plans and other members of the health sector can address critical issues such as payment challenges and access to resources.
Michigan's Work to Improve Children's Mental Health
Leaders remain focused on strengthening the state’s support system for children’s mental health needs. Children continue to be underserved and outcomes are not where advocates and policymakers think they should be. The urgent need to address children in crisis who are not being appropriately served continues to be an ongoing challenge. Advocates will discuss the significance of the effort to address both mental health services and child welfare through current state initiatives and how this and other efforts can result in tangible improvements.
The Opioid Epidemic: Leveraging Settlement Dollars for Recovery & Prevention
Michigan has been significantly impacted by the opioid epidemic, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities. This panel will examine the current state of the opioid crisis in Michigan and how recent opioid settlement dollars are being allocated to combat this public health emergency. Experts will discuss how these funds are being used to improve prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across the state.
Health-Related Social Needs: The Impact of the In-Lieu of Services Benefit & What it Means for Michigan's Health Sector
Michigan is piloting an innovative In Lieu of Services (ILOS) benefit to address Medicaid members’ health-related social needs (HRSNs). With factors like housing, food insecurity, and race/ethnicity impacting individuals’ access to healthcare, ILOS have the potential to greatly improve the health of vulnerable Michiganders. This panel will talk through the status of the ILOS program, how it will impact different areas of the health sector, and what to expect in the future.
Networking Lunch
Transitioning to Michigan's New Dual Eligible Managed Care Structure
Michigan is embarking on a major shift in how it serves individuals eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, transitioning from the MI Health Link program to a new, more integrated Dual-Eligible Managed Care (DEMC) structure. The change is set to take place on Jan. 1st, 2026. This panel will explore the nuances of this transition, including how it aims to improve care coordination, streamline services, and better meet the needs of Michigan’s dual-eligible population.
Expanding Access & Reducing Costs for Pharmaceuticals in Michigan: Challenges & Solutions
Many Michiganders continue to face obstacles to accessing pharmacy services. This is especially true in rural and underserved communities, where people struggle to obtain timely and affordable medications. Speakers will discuss the role of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board as well as other initiatives’ promise for addressing the issue.
Michigan's Effort to Provide Healthcare for the Reentry Population
Michigan has recently received approval through its 1115 Medicaid waiver to provide healthcare services to individuals who are leaving the carceral setting. This panel will delve into the details of the waiver, discuss how leaders are preparing to offer this significant service, and talk through the timeline for implementation.
A Conversation with State Lawmakers
Join this group of lawmakers as they discuss the state of health care in Michigan. Legislators will share their thoughts on the 2025 session and will discuss the impact of federal changes locally.
Closing Plenary
Details coming soon.