October 28, 2025
Raleigh Marriott City Center
2025 North Carolina State of Reform Health Policy Conference
RegisterConference Overview
The inaugural 2025 North Carolina State of Reform Health Policy Conference will be taking place in-person on October 28th, 2025 at the Raleigh Marriott City Center!
Managing constant change in healthcare takes more than just hard work. It takes a solid understanding of the legislative process and knowledge about intricacies of the healthcare system. That’s where State of Reform comes in.
State of Reform pulls together practitioners, thought leaders, and policymakers – each working to improve the healthcare system in their own way – into a unified conversation in a single place. It is sure to be one of the most diverse statewide gatherings of senior healthcare leaders, and one of the most important events in North Carolina healthcare.
Join the conversation with other healthcare executives, and help shape reform on October 28th, 2025! If you have any questions, please feel free to drop us a line!
As an independent chartered chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the Triangle Healthcare Executives’ Forum, is authorized to award 4.0 hours of ACHE Qualifying Education credits toward advancement or recertification. Participants in this program who wish to have it considered for ACHE Qualifying Education credit should list their attendance when they apply to the American College of Healthcare Executives for advancement or recertification. Attendees should remember to self-report qualifying education credits using link titled “My Education Credit” on the myACHE profile page.
Topical Agenda
Here is the agenda for the 2025 North Carolina State of Reform Health Policy Conference. This represents input from hours of conversations with our Advisory Panel and stakeholders across the spectrum of North Carolina 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.
Registration/Networking Breakfast
Opening Keynote
Devdutta Sangvai, MD: Secretary, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
State Lawmakers Discuss Health Policy (Session 1)
Rep. Timothy Reeder: Deputy Majority Whip, North Carolina House of Representatives
Sen. Gladys Robinson: Member, Appropriations on Health & Human Services Committee, North Carolina State Senate
Collaborating to Improve Healthcare Service Delivery in North Carolina
Bridging the Distance: Advancing Rural Health in North Carolina
Integrating Housing Support into North Carolina’s Health System
Advancing Healthcare Through Innovation: The Role of AI & Emerging Technology in North Carolina
Navigating Behavioral Health: Innovations, Integration, & Impact
Networking Lunch
Aging Well in North Carolina: Policy, Partnership, & Innovation for Older Adult Care
Improving Family & Child Well-Being Outcomes
The Growing Role of Value-Based Care in North Carolina
State Lawmakers Discuss Health Policy (Session 2)
Sen. Jim Burgin: Chairman, Health Care Committee, North Carolina Senate
Rep. Carla Cunningham: Vice Chairman, Health Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
Closing Keynote
Tom Friedman: Executive Administrator, North Carolina State Health Plan
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See Sponsorship DetailsRegistration/Networking Breakfast
Opening Keynote
It’s an honor to kick off the day with a conversation featuring Devdutta Sangvai, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services. Join us as we hear Sec. Sangvai discuss his agency’s work to improve healthcare in the state, the department’s upcoming initiatives, and more.
Devdutta Sangvai: Secretary, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Moderator: John Eller: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates
State Lawmakers Discuss Health Policy (Session 1)
The first of a two-part session, join these two esteemed legislative leaders for a discussion about the key health-related bills that came out of this year’s session. These lawmakers will share their perspective on various challenges facing North Carolina’s healthcare system and their thoughts about how to address them.
Rep. Timothy Reeder: Deputy Majority Whip, North Carolina House of Representatives
Sen. Gladys Robinson: Member, Appropriations on Health & Human Services Committee, North Carolina State Senate
Moderator: John Eller: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates
Collaborating to Improve Healthcare Service Delivery in North Carolina
North Carolina stands at a pivotal moment in the future of healthcare access and delivery. This panel will explore the current state of healthcare services across the state, examining the growing pressures facing hospitals, clinics, and providers in both rural and urban communities. Topics will include the impact of state and federal payment cuts on health systems, the ongoing challenge of building and retaining a skilled healthcare workforce, and strategies to sustain and strengthen primary care in underserved areas.
Melanie Bush: Assistant Secretary, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Andy MacCraken: Director, North Carolina Center on the Workforce for Health
Dave Richard: Senior Vice President, McGuire Woods
Brendan Riley: Vice President, Government Relations & External Affairs, North Carolina Community Health Center Association
Michelle Ries: President & Chief Executive Officer, The North Carolina Institute of Medicine
Moderator: Tonya Moore: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates
Bridging the Distance: Advancing Rural Health in North Carolina
Rural communities in North Carolina face persistent challenges in accessing timely, high-quality healthcare. From workforce shortages to limited specialty care and geographic barriers, the rural health landscape requires targeted, innovative solutions. This panel will explore the current realities and emerging strategies to improve health outcomes in North Carolina’s rural regions. Key discussion topics will include the expanding role of virtual care in overcoming distance and provider scarcity, strategies to address critical gaps in specialty care access, and approaches to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in rural settings.
Anita Bachmann: Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan – North Carolina
Glen Chambers: Senior Vice President of External Relations, findhelp
Heidi Chan: Market President, AmeriHealth Caritas
Lisa Macon Harrison: Health Director, Granville Vance Public Health
Chris Paterson: Chief Executive Officer, Centene Corporation
Maggie Sauer: Director, Office of Rural Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Moderator: Jennifer Hodgson: Principal, Health Management Associates
Integrating Housing Support into North Carolina's Health System
Stable housing is a critical foundation for good health, yet thousands of North Carolinians face housing insecurity that directly impacts their well-being and drives avoidable healthcare costs. This panel will explore how healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers are working together to address housing as a health intervention across the state.
Don Jonas: Vice President, Social Impact, Advocate Health
Ann Oshel: Senior Vice President, Community Health & Well-Being, Alliance Health
Eileen Rosa: Continuum of Care Lead Agency Director, Wake County Government
Michelle Zechmann: Chief Executive Officer, Haven House Services
Moderator: Corrie Piontak: Principal, Health Management Associates
Advancing Healthcare Through Innovation: The Role of AI & Emerging Technology in North Carolina
This dynamic panel will explore how artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and emerging digital tools are transforming the state’s healthcare landscape. From predictive algorithms and clinical decision support to remote monitoring, virtual care, and population health management, panelists will discuss how these technologies are improving outcomes, increasing efficiency, and reducing disparities across urban and rural communities.
John Khoury: Senior Vice President of Product Strategy & Client Innovation, Bamboo Health
Alex Maiersperger: Global Healthcare Product Marketing Lead, SAS
Thomas Nisbet: Partner, IBM
Brian Silverstein: Chief Population Health Officer, Innovaccer
Trey Sutten: Chief Executive Officer, Siftwell
Moderator: Brandon Greife: Principal, Health Management Associates
Navigating Behavioral Health: Innovations, Integration, & Impact
This panel will bring together leaders and experts to explore the key components reshaping behavioral health care across North Carolina. Topics will include the integration of behavioral health and physical health services, the implementation of the Tailored Plan for individuals with complex needs, and the state’s efforts to strengthen the crisis continuum of care. Panelists will also examine the expanding role of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in increasing access, improving care coordination, and delivering evidence-based services.
Kelly Crosbie: Director, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services
Cindy Ehlers: Chief Strategic and Innovations Executive Officer, Trillium Health Services
Tracy Hayes: Area Director & Chief Executive Officer, Vaya Health
Libby McCraw: Chief Executive Officer, Partners Health Management
Rob Robinson: Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Health
Moderator: Dave Richard: Senior Vice President, McGuire Woods
Networking Lunch
Aging Well in North Carolina: Policy, Partnership, & Innovation for Older Adult Care
North Carolina’s aging population is growing rapidly, creating both opportunities and challenges for the state’s healthcare and social support systems. This panel will explore strategic initiatives aimed at improving care for older adults, with a focus on the Long-Term Care Compacts and the All Stages Multi-Sector Plan for Aging. Topics will include advancing age-friendly healthcare systems, aligning multi-sector partnerships, and addressing factors that impact older adults’ quality of life.
Mary Bethel: Chair, Board of Directors, North Carolina Coalition on Aging
Heather Burkhardt: Associate State Director for Outreach and Advocacy, Triangle Region, AARP
Kay Castillo: Executive Director, Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care
Linda Kendall Fields: Director & PI of the Cares Program, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Moderator: Tommaso DiGiovanni: Associate Principal, Health Management Associates
Improving Family & Child Well-Being Outcomes
North Carolina stands at a critical juncture in its efforts to improve health outcomes as access to services and support systems can be challenging in both rural and urban areas. Topics will include addressing early childhood development, maternal health, supporting family mental health, and strengthening the social determinants that impact lifelong well-being.
Dana Hagele: Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross NC
Kella Hatcher: Executive Director, North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force
Sharon Hirsch: Chief Executive Officer, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina
Elizabeth Hudgins, MPP: Executive Director, North Carolina Pediatric Society
Belinda Pettiford: Section Chief, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Erica Palmer Smith: Executive Director, NC Child
Moderator: Liz Marcell Williams: Principal, Health Management Associates
The Growing Role of Value-Based Care in North Carolina
As North Carolina continues its transition from volume to value, the implementation and growth of value-based care remains central to improving health outcomes and controlling costs. This panel will examine the evolving landscape of value-based care in the state, with a focus on recent payment reform updates for primary care, key challenges in operationalizing value-based models, and the emerging role of Accountable Care Communities in addressing broader social drivers of health.
Vaughn Crawford: Director, Customer Success, Unite Us
Taylor Griffin: Senior Policy Advisor, North Carolina Association of Health Plans
Kelly Garrison: Chief Value Officer, OneHealth
Jennifer Houlihan: Vice President of Enterprise Population Health, Advocate Health
Alex Mullineaux: North Carolina Market President, Aledade
Moderator: Dean Cikins: Strategic Client Director, Bamboo Health
State Lawmakers Discuss Health Policy (Session 2)
Part two of our legislative sessions features two more influential lawmakers for a discussion about the key health-related bills that came out of this year’s session. They will share their perspective on various challenges facing North Carolina’s healthcare system and their thoughts about how to address them.
Rep. Carla Cunningham: Vice Chairman, Health Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
Sen. Jim Burgin: Chairman, Health Care Committee, North Carolina Senate
Moderator: John Eller: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates
Closing Keynote
We’re closing the day with remarks from Tom Friedman, Executive Administrator for the North Carolina State Health Plan. Friedman will discuss his perspective on key issues explored throughout the day’s agenda including healthcare coverage, access, and more.
Tom Friedman: Executive Administrator, North Carolina State Health Plan
Moderator: Brandon Greife: Principal, Health Management Associates