2026 Colorado State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Details coming soon.

Colorado’s healthcare leaders discuss the state’s healthcare landscape and the ongoing pressure from both state and federal budget constraints and how they are navigating doing more with less. This panel will explore how state agencies and their partners are navigating fiscal uncertainty while trying to deliver meaningful improvements in care, health outcomes, and system performance. Join us for a discussion of the strategies, partnerships, and policy approaches to move Colorado forward despite a challenging financial landscape.

Stephanie Beasley: Commissioner, Colorado Behavioral Health Administration

Ned Calonge, MD, MPH: Chief Medical Officer, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Adela Flores-Brennan: Medicaid Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Moderator: Joan Henneberry: Former Executive Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

The 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Act is reshaping the healthcare landscape in Colorado, creating new challenges and opportunities for Medicaid, providers, health plans, and consumers. This panel will examine the law’s impact on coverage, funding, access to care, and healthcare delivery across the state. Join Colorado healthcare leaders as they discuss how organizations are adapting to policy changes, planning for the future, and working to preserve access and improve outcomes in an evolving fiscal environment. 

Ross A. Brooks: President & Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Community Health Network

Annie Lee, JD: President and Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Access

Donna Lynne, DrPH: Chief Executive Officer, Denver Health & Hospital Authority

Peter Powers: Market President, CommonSpirit Health

Moderator: Shannon Breitzman: Managing Director, Population Health, Health Management Associates

State lawmakers serving on Colorado’s Medicaid Commission play a key role in shaping the future of the state’s healthcare system. Join us for a lunchtime conversation with Commission members as they discuss the Commission’s priorities, recommendations, and ongoing work to strengthen Medicaid in Colorado. Designed for health policy leaders, providers, advocates, and other stakeholders, this panel will provide an inside look at how policymakers are addressing access, affordability, delivery system challenges, and the evolving healthcare needs of Coloradans.

Fraud, waste and abuse remain significant challenges for Colorado’s healthcare system, impacting program integrity, costs, and access to care. This panel will bring together healthcare leaders, policymakers, health plans, and enforcement experts to discuss emerging risks, prevention strategies, and innovative approaches to safeguarding public resources. Attendees will gain insights into how Colorado is strengthening oversight, leveraging data and technology, and fostering collaboration to protect patients while ensuring healthcare dollars are spent effectively and responsibly. 

Ashley DiRienzo: Director, Fraud, Waste, & Abuse Division, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

Clint Eisenhower: Regional Director, Health Management Associates

Moderator: Christine Rein: Managing Director, Finance and Operations, Health Management Associates

Rural communities across Colorado are confronting mounting challenges, from workforce shortages and hospital financial instability to limited access to specialty, behavioral health, and maternity care. At the same time, the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) presents a historic opportunity to strengthen healthcare delivery in rural and frontier regions. This panel will explore how Colorado is using RHTP investments to expand access to care, support providers, modernize healthcare infrastructure, and develop innovative models that improve outcomes for rural residents. Join healthcare leaders, policymakers, and community partners as they discuss early lessons learned, emerging opportunities, and the strategies needed to build a more sustainable and resilient rural healthcare system for the future. 

Steve Holloway, MPH: Health Access Branch Director, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Sarah Leahy: Director of Member Services, Colorado Rural Health Center

Courtney Roy: Rural Health Transformation Project Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

Kari Snelson, LCSW, CHC: Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Health Partners

Kevin Stansbury, MS, JD, FACHE: Chief Executive Officer, Lincoln Community Hospital

Moderator: Colleen Kapsimalis Doyle, MPH, CPH: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

As states prepare to implement new Medicaid work requirements under the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Act, Colorado healthcare leaders are assessing the potential impact on coverage, access to care, and administrative operations. This panel will explore the policy and operational challenges associated with work requirements, strategies for supporting eligible beneficiaries, and the implications for providers, health plans, and state agencies. Join experts as they discuss how Colorado is navigating this evolving policy landscape while working to maintain continuity of care and health outcomes for vulnerable populations. 

Stephanie Denning: Deputy Director, Medicaid Operations Office, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

Sarah Lampe: President & Chief Executive Officer, Prime Health

Mimi Scheuermann, MSW: Chief Program Officer, Denver Human Services

Moderator: Robyn Odendahl, MPA: Principal Health Management Associates

As healthcare policies continue to evolve at both the state and federal levels, special and high-risk populations—including LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and other underserved communities—face unique challenges in accessing and navigating care. This panel will explore the policy changes, coverage concerns, and access barriers affecting these populations in Colorado, as well as the strategies healthcare organizations, advocates, and policymakers are using to promote equitable access and improve health outcomes. Join this timely discussion on the future of inclusive, patient-centered care in a changing healthcare environment. 

Abby Bohannon: Health Equity Director, One Colorado

Claire Cruse: Board President, Colorado Center for Aging

Elizabeth Freudenthal, PhD: Senior Medicaid Consultant, Medicaid Strategy & Initiatives, Children’s Hospital Colorado

Moderator: Margot Swift, MPH: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

Colorado is working to improve health outcomes for children through innovative approaches to care delivery, prevention, behavioral health integration, and community partnerships. This panel will explore strategies to address persistent challenges, including access to care, mental health needs, health disparities, and the social factors that shape child well-being. Hear from healthcare leaders, policymakers, and community organizations as they share lessons learned, emerging initiatives, and opportunities to create a healthier future for Colorado’s children and families. 

Warren Binford, JD, EdM: W.H. Lea for Justice Endowed Chair in Pediatric Law, Ethics & Policy Director for Pediatric Law, Ethics & Policy at the Kempe Center, University of Colorado Anschutz

Josh Ewing: Executive Director, Healthier Colorado

Rep. Lindsey Gilchrist: Chair, Health & Human Services Committee, Colorado House of Representatives

Lisa Hill: President & Chief Executive Officer, Invest in Kids

K. Ron-Li Liaw, MD: Mental Health In-Chief, Children’s Hospital Colorado

Moderator: Courtney Thompson: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

Details coming soon.