January 9, 2025
The Westin Seattle
2025 Washington State of Reform Health Policy Conference
RegisterConference Overview
The 2025 Washington State of Reform Health Policy Conference will once again take place in-person at the Westin Seattle on January 9th, 2024!
State of Reform conference is focused on bridging the gap between health policy and political reality. Too often, those with good ideas for reforming healthcare don’t have a solid understanding of how the legislative process works. Those who understand politics don’t always understand the intricacies of the healthcare system. If you are interested in understanding what occurs at the nexus of healthcare and politics, then this is the conference for you!
Join us at the Westin Seattle on January 9th to discuss the most important healthcare activities taking place in Washington. If you have any 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 Washington State of Reform Health Policy Conference. This represents input from hours of conversations with our Advisory Panel and stakeholders across the spectrum of Washington State 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 have not already registered, you can do so here.
Please note that all agenda times are local.
Registration/Networking Breakfast
Opening Keynote
Improving Youth Behavioral Health
Driving Towards Patient-Affordable Healthcare
Climate Change’s Impact on Health
Maintaining & Building Network Adequacy in Rural Washington
Artificial Intelligence: Where We Are & Where We’re Going
Evaluating 988 & Access to Behavioral Health Crisis Services
The Future of Washington’s Healthcare Cost Transparency Board
The Fight for Equitable Healthcare in Washington
Supporting & Growing Washington’s Healthcare Workforce
Washington’s Health Data Exchange Infrastructure
Networking Lunch
The Opioid Crisis: Challenges & Solutions in Washington State
The Future of Financing Long-Term Services & Supports
Washington’s 1115 Waiver: Progress So Far & What to Expect
Equitable Budgeting During Tough Times
The Path Forward for Improving Primary Care
Washington’s New Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Model
Elevating the Role of Nontraditional Providers
What We Can Learn from Washington State’s Healthcare Victories
Reforming Prior Authorization to Improve Access to Care
How to Continue Increasing Medicaid Access in Washington
Closing Keynote
Event Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Track Sponsors
Exhibitor Sponsors
Want to sponsor an upcoming conference?
See Sponorship DetailsRegistration/Networking Breakfast
The Networking Breakfast will take place before the start of the conference to allow attendees to grab light refreshments and connect with their fellow colleagues before we kick things off for the day.
Opening Keynote
Details coming soon.
Improving Youth Behavioral Health
Join this panel of experts as they discuss the ins and outs of Washington’s adolescent behavioral health system. Learn about the investments the state has made to increase capacity, the challenges associated with treating youth substance use disorder, the importance of school-based services, and more.
Stephan Blanford: Executive Director, Children’s Alliance
Jamie Hanna, MD: National Medical Director, Children’s Behavioral Health, Magellan
Jennifer Helseth: Public Health System Analyst, Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families
Driving Towards Patient-Affordable Healthcare
In 2022, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner released a report revealing that healthcare costs in Washington’s commercial insurance market increased by 13%, nearly double the rate of inflation between 2016-2019. This panel will discuss the findings of such reports and the work currently being pursued to curb costs. Panelists will also discuss potential future legislation and policy that would help reduce the healthcare cost curve and increase affordability for patients.
Emily Brice: Co-Executive Director (Advocacy), Northwest Health Law Advocates
Leah Hole-Marshall, JD: General Counsel & Chief Strategist, Washington Health Benefits Exchange
Mark Stensager: Former Hospital Executive, Guthrie Healthcare System; Independent Consultant
Moderator: Jane Beyer: Senior Health Policy Advisory, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Climate Change's Impact on Health
The growing problems associated with climate change are having increasingly detrimental impacts on Washingtonians’ health. Join this group of expert panelists as they discuss what infrastructure is needed today and in the future to mitigate the damage of climate change on our health. Speakers will talk through the impacts of factors like smoke exposure and intense heat, as well as the most promising strategies for mitigating them.
Rad Cunningham, MPH, MPA: Senior Epidemiologist, Washington State Department of Health
Brad Kramer, PhD, MPA, BS: Program Manager, Climate + Equity Initiative, Public Health, Seattle & King County
Edwin Lindo, JD: Associate Teaching Professor, University of Washington – School of Medicine
Maintaining & Building Network Adequacy in Rural Washington
Rural communities continue to struggle with attaining access to the healthcare system. Join this panel of experts as they discuss how to build a strong provider network in remote communities and ensure patients have access to the right kinds of services when they need it.
Jennifer Kreitler, ALMI, HIA, MHP: Manager, Provider Network Oversight Program, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Moderator: Dara Smith: Managing Principal, Health Management Associates
Artificial Intelligence: Where We Are & Where We're Going
As technology evolves at a rapid pace, Washington’s healthcare system is exploring ways to keep up with technological innovation. Join this panel as they discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on our healthcare system. How is AI currently being used in healthcare and how does it align with current regulations? Panelists will discuss how AI is impacting the healthcare market and how it can be used or abused when it comes to clinical decision–making.
Speaker information coming soon.
Evaluating 988 & Access to Behavioral Health Crisis Services
Two years into the implementation of the 988 crisis line, advocates and policymakers will discuss how things are going. Hear from experts about program uptake and learn about the early successes and challenges facing the program.
Sen. Manka Dhingra: Deputy Majority Leader, Washington State Senate
Teesha Kirschbaum: Director, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery, Washington State Health Care Authority
Michele McDaniel: Chief Executive Officer, Crisis Connections
Michele Roberts: Assistant Secretary, Prevention & Community Health, Washington State Department of Health
Moderator: Betsy Jones: Chief Strategy Officer, Community Health Plan of Washington
The Future of Washington's Healthcare Cost Transparency Board
Washington created the Health Care Cost Transparency Board with the goal of tracking the state’s healthcare expenditures and using their findings to identify cost reduction strategies. In this session, panelists will discuss the work of the board so far, its impact on consumers, and how it might be maximally effective heading into the future.
Joseph Dieleman: Associate Professor, Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation, University of Washington
Moderator: Liz Arjun: MPH, MSW: Principal, Health Management Associates
The Fight for Equitable Healthcare in Washington
In this panel, experts will discuss Washington’s progress so far in increasing health equity in its healthcare system. Speakers will discuss the progress made in the last few years, recommendations for ensuring equity work is incorporated into the state budget, and the key measures they will support in the 2025 legislative session and beyond.
Vanetta Abdellatif: President & Chief Executive Officer, Arcora Foundation
Romilla Batra, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Premera
Patricia Egwuatu, DO: Associate Program Director, Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity, Kaiser Permanente
Lee Che Leong: Senior Policy Advocate, Northwest Health Law Advocates
Supporting & Growing Washington's Healthcare Workforce
Over the last couple biennium, Washington has made significant investments in growing and sustaining the healthcare workforce. Join this panel as they discuss how those investments are working and how workforce support efforts should be funded moving forward. Panelists will dive into what work still needs to be done and upcoming legislation that would help alleviate the workforce shortage.
Dee Bender: Vice President, Washington Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
Lisa Bogard: Health Plan President, Wellpoint Washington
Maddie Foutch: Legislative & Campaigns Director, SEIU 775
Justin Gill, DNP, APRN, RN: President, Washington State Nurses Association
KaraLynn LaValley, PhD, RN: Associate Dean of Nursing, Green River College
Washington's Health Data Exchange Infrastructure
Washington health leaders are continually working to make health data exchange robust and secure. This panel will discuss how to most effectively utilize and improve electronic health records, the impact of new reporting requirements, and health information exchange’s role in the chronic care environment.
Speaker information coming soon.
Networking Lunch
The Opioid Crisis: Challenges & Solutions in Washington
Washington continues to see worsening impacts of the ongoing opioid epidemic. Join this panel as they outline the severity of the opioid and fentanyl crisis in the state and discuss the work done so far to address it. Hear about how different regions, including rural areas and tribal communities, are getting creative in addressing the challenges.
David Sapienza: Lead Physician, Pathways, Public Health Seattle & King County — Community Health Services Division
Steve Woolworth: Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen Treatment Services
The Future of Financing Long-Term Services & Supports
Ensuring aging Washingtonians have access to necessary support services is a critical priority, and work remains to bridge the gap between long-term care and healthcare. Join this panel as experts discuss the status of the WA Cares program and the best paths forward for improving it. Experts will discuss how to fortify long-term services and supports (LTSS) for the aging population and ensure the Medicaid system doesn’t become overburdened due to a lack of LTSS infrastructure.
Madeline Grant: Chief Administrative Officer, Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine
Cathleen MacCaul: Advocacy Director, AARP Washington State
Bea Rector: Assistant Secretary, Aging & Long-Term Support Administration, Washington State Department of Social & Health Services
Washington's 1115 Waiver: Progress So Far & What to Expect
CMS recently renewed Washington’s Medicaid 1115 waiver for another five years, allowing the state to continue pursuing improvements to Apple Health. Join this panel for a discussion about the key provisions of the new waiver including care for the incarcerated population and new strategies for addressing health-related social needs (HRSNs).
Siobhan Brown: Program Manager III, Health Systems Innovation, Community Health Plan of Washington
John Kim: Chief Executive Officer, Healthier Here
Moderator: Dara Smith: Managing Principal. Health Management Associates
Equitable Budgeting During Tough Times
Creating an equitable state budget, even in times of economic growth, can be challenging. But when facing a bleak revenue forecast, state budget writers must work that much harder to consider equity when considering cuts to state–funded programs. Join this panel of experts as they discuss ideas and opportunities to navigate financial constraints while still ensuring the state allocates sufficient funding to improving health equity.
Sen. June Robinson: Chair, Senate Ways & Means Committee; Member, Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee; Washington State Senate
Moderator: Sam Hatzenbeler: Senior Policy Associate, Economic Opportunity Institute
The Path Forward for Improving Primary Care
To sufficiently improve long-term health outcomes and lower costs, Washington must improve its primary care system. Join this panel as they talk about the barriers to accessing primary care for different consumer populations. Hear from providers about where they see opportunities for improvement and join the discussion on what initiatives and ideas are underway already.
Bill Barcellona: Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, America’s Physician Groups
Jim Freeburg: Executive Director, Patient Coalition of Washington
Kelly Huffman: Health Care Integration Solutions Manager, Unite Us
Lakshmi Deepa Yerram, MD, MHA, FAAFP: Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Community & State
Washington's New Certified Community Behavioral Health Model
Join this group of expert panelists as they discuss the early days of the implementation of the state’s third certified community behavioral health model. Hear about how the model is working and join the conversation on how Washington can continue to leverage it to improve behavioral healthcare over the next decade.
Tom Sebastian: Chief Executive Officer, Compass Health; Fourfront Contributor
More speakers to be announced soon.
Elevating the Role of Overlooked Providers
As Washington continues to deal with a healthcare workforce shortage, advocates are working to reduce barriers for overlooked providers. Join this panel as they discuss how often-overlooked providers, including family caregivers and community health workers, are currently supporting the system. Hear about what policy is needed to reduce barriers for these critical provider groups and ensure their services receive coverage.
Jessica Houseman-Whitehawk: Executive Director & Co-Founder, Ttawaxt Birth Justice Center
Edgar Lopez-Baez: Community Health Worker Specialist, Foundation for Healthy Generations
Vicki Lowe: Executive Director, American Indian Health Commission
Jackie Vaughn: Executive Director, Surge Reproductive Justice
What We Can Learn from Washington's Healthcare Victories
Join this panel for a look back on the past couple decades of Washington’s work to improve healthcare. With new state leadership, policymakers should consider where we’ve been before deciding on a path forward. Experts will discuss how Washington expanded Medicaid access, built the Health Benefit Exchange and maintained its role as a national leader in healthcare reform. Join the discussion on how Washington can build on these victories and what the new slate of leaders can do to continue to move in the direction of progress.
Bob Crittenden, MD, MPH: Health Policy Advisor
MaryAnne Lindeblad, BSN, MPH: Former Medicaid Director, Washington State Healthcare Authority
Moderator: Ingrid Ulrey: Chief Executive Officer, Washington Health Benefit Exchange
Reforming Prior Authorization to Improve Access to Care
State policymakers have been working to reform the prior authorization process so it doesn’t interfere with patient care. Join these experts for a discussion about recent changes to prior authorization and utilization review, as well as how the health sector can continue to improve policy around these processes going forward.
Carla Answorth, MD, MPH: President, Washington Academy of Family Physicians
Audrey Mill Garcia: Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society
Heidi Kriz, MPH, RD: Director, Medical Policy & Medical Management, PA Transformation Lead, Regence
How to Continue Increasing Medicaid Access in Washington
Washington has made significant strides in recent years to improve access to the state’s Medicaid program for individuals facing barriers. This panel will discuss the work that’s been done and offer potential paths forward for continuing to reform the Medicaid program so every Washingtonian who needs services from the healthcare safety net can access them.
Jennifer Hanscom: Chief Executive Officer, Washington State Medical Association
Moderator: Amina Suchowski: Principal, Health Management Associates
Closing Keynote
Details coming soon.