January 9, 2025

The Westin Seattle

2025 Washington State of Reform Health Policy Conference

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Conference 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.

7:30-8:30

Registration/Networking Breakfast

8:30-9:15

Opening Keynote

9:30-10:30

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

10:45-11:45

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

Fortifying Cyber Security & Interconnectivity

11:45-12:45

Networking Lunch

1:00-2:00

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

2:15-3:15

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

3:30-4:00

Closing Keynote

Community Health Plan of Washington

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Time
Title
7:30-8:30

Registration/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.

8:30-9:15

Opening Keynote

Details coming soon.

9:30-10:30

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. 

9:30-10:30

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. 

9:30-10:30

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. 

9:30-10:30

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. 

9:30-10:30

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. 

10:45-11:45

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.  

10:45-11:45

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. 

10:45-11:45

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 systemSpeakers 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.  

10:45-11:45

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. 

10:45-11:45

Fortifying Cyber Security & Interconnectivity

As Washington’s healthcare system grows more complex, questions on how to improve interoperability and cyber security remain. Join this session to hear from experts about the challenges with interoperability, current and proposed solutions and how those impact providers, plans, and community-based organizations (CBOs). Panelists will discuss the evergreen landscape for interoperability and then talk about what steps need to be taken to achieve that vision. What data exchange frameworks are in place and what future changes are needed for improving the statewide system? 

11:45-12:45

Networking Lunch

1:00-2:00

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. 

1:00-2:00

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.  

1:00-2:00

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). 

1:00-2:00

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 statefunded 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.  

1:00-2:00

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. 

2:15-3:15

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. 

2:15-3:15

Elevating the Role of Nontraditional Providers

As Washington continues to deal with a healthcare workforce shortage, advocates are working to reduce barriers for nontraditional providers. Join this panel as they discuss how nontraditional 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.  

2:15-3:15

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 reformJoin 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.  

2:15-3:15

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. 

2:15-3:15

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. 

3:30-4:00

Closing Keynote

Details coming soon.

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