2026 Washington State of Reform Health Policy Conference

We’re kicking off the day with a distinguished panel of Washington’s most influential state leaders for a discussion about the state’s response to the changing federal health policy landscape. The audience will gain insight about the work Washington is doing to preserve healthcare coverage amidst ongoing federal rollbacks, how different state agencies are collaborating, and how the health sector can work together to continue to preserving Washington‘s healthcare system. 

Jane Beyer: Senior Advisor, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Ryan Moran: Director, Washington State Health Care Authority

Angela Ramirez: Secretary, Washington State Department of Social & Health Services

Tana Senn: Secretary, Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families

Ingrid Ulrey: Chief Executive Officer, Washington Health Benefit Exchange

Dennis Worsham: Secretary, Washington State Department of Health

Moderator: Kathleen Nolan: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

As Washington navigates the evolving healthcare landscape, this panel will explore opportunities to collaborate across agencies and sectors to minimize enrollment losses. Experts will also highlight how technological and non-technological solutions responding to short-term disruptions may yield longer-term improvements in consumers’ healthcare experiences.

Amy Dobbins: Customer Experience Administrator, Washington State Health Care Authority

Lee Che P. Leong: Senior Policy Advocate, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Daphne Pie: Regional Health Services Administrator, King County

Laura Kate Zaichkin, MPH: Director of Market Competition & Affordability, Washington Health Benefit Exchange

Moderator: Liz Arjun, MPH, MSW: Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will examine how King County and Washington State can leverage the expansion of behavioral health infrastructure and evolving payment‑rate legislation to maximize new capacity and strengthen service delivery across the continuum of care. Panelists will explore timing estimates for facility openings and program launches, emerging strategies for aligning facility development with workforce and community‑based services, and the roles of key stakeholders—managed care organizations (MCOs), community‑based organizations (CBOs), county behavioral health administrative services organizations, and state agencies—in orchestrating this growth. The discussion will illuminate how to operationalize capacity gains through equitable access, performance monitoring, and sustainable reimbursement models to ensure that investments translate into improved outcomes for individuals experiencing significant behavioral‑health needs.

Isabel Jones: Deputy Director, Behavioral Health & Recovery Division, King County

Connie Mom-Chhing, DM, MPA: Senior Director, Regional Systems Integration, Community Health Plan of Washington

James Polo, MD: Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Community & State

Moderator: David DiGiuseppe : Principal, Health Management Associates

The 340B Drug Pricing Program continues to play a pivotal and often contested role in Washington’s healthcare landscape, influencing how hospitals, community health centers, and policymakers navigate affordability, access, and accountability. This panel brings together experts to explore how recent legislative developments, pharmacy contracting dynamics, and manufacturer restrictions are shaping 340B operations across Washington. Speakers will examine the program’s impact on rural and underserved communities, emerging challenges to compliance and transparency, and the evolving policy debates that could redefine the future of 340B at both the state and federal level.

Eric Lohnes: Deputy Vice President, State Advocacy, PhRMA

Lisa Nelson, PharmD, RPh, 340B ACE: Chief Pharmacy Officer, Unity Care Northwest

Chelene Whiteaker: Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA)

Moderator: Jenny Arnold, PharmD, FWSPA: Chief Executive Officer, Washington State Pharmacy Association

In the midst of tightened federal funding, Washington is ramping up state‑level investments and empowering local governments to improve housing access and availability. Panelists will highlight what cities and counties are doing—from adopting housing action plans and updating zoning to using incentives like local sales‑tax sharing to fund affordable and supportive housing. They will also examine landmark state reforms such as required “middle‑housing” zoning and reduced parking mandates to spur supply.

Noah Fay: Senior Director of Housing, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)

Chanita Jackson: Interim Managing Director, Apple Health and Homes, Washington State Department of Commerce

Kelly Kinnison: Chief Executive Officer, King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCHRA)

Kelli Larsen: Policy and Planning Director, Office of Housing, City of Seattle

Moderator: Jesse Benet: Director, Northwest, Corporation for Supportive Housing

Washington State has long been a leader in expanding access to healthcare, with bold commitments toward achieving universal coverage. As federal policies shift and economic pressures grow, how can the state sustain and build on this progress? This panel will explore the policy, financing, and delivery system strategies needed to maintain momentum toward universal coverage, including Medicaid expansion, the Cascade Care public option, and efforts to cover undocumented residents. Panelists will discuss the challenges of affordability, enrollment, equity, and political will, and offer insights into how Washington can continue to lead the nation in ensuring that every resident has access to comprehensive, high-quality care.

Emily Brice, JD: Co-Executive Director, Advocacy, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Jonathan Freedman, MSPH: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

Shirley Prasad, JD, MHA: Director of Government Affairs, Washington Health Benefit Exchange

Moderator: Molly Firth, MPH: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington Department of Health Systems & Population Health

This panel will reflect on the progress made in strengthening Washington State’s behavioral health crisis response system and chart a forward‑looking roadmap for deeper collaboration across the healthcare sector. Topics will include real‑time data sharing, early warning systems for community‑level risk, deployment of co‑response models (pairs of behavioral health clinicians with first responders), creation of alternative safe‑spaces and walk‑in crisis relief centers, and workforce readiness. The discussion will explicitly surface barriers and enablers to cross‑sector collaboration, highlight how to scale and sustain innovations, and propose concrete next steps for healthcare sector stakeholders eager to contribute to a proactive, integrated crisis‑response ecosystem in Washington.

Darlene Davies: Clinical Programs Director, Carelon Behavioral Health

Teesha Kirschbaum: Director, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery, Washington State Health Care Authority

Vicki Lowe: Executive Director, American Indian Health Commission

Michelle McDaniel: Chief Executive Officer, Crisis Connections

Michele Roberts: Assistant Secretary, Prevention & Community Health, Washington State Department of Health

Washington’s Complex Discharge Pilot is helping to support patients who are medically ready to leave the hospital but remain admitted due to barriers in post-acute placement, behavioral health needs, housing instability, guardianship issues, or system fragmentation. This panel will discuss the early lessons learned, including strategies for addressing regulatory and funding gaps, expanding post-acute and housing capacity, and building cross-sector coordination. Attendees will gain insights into how the pilot’s design, data framework, and emerging results are shaping statewide efforts to reduce discharge delays, free up hospital capacity, and ensure safe, equitable transitions of care.

Darla Bernstein, RN: Health Services Director, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington

Madeline Grant: Chief Administrative Officer, Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine

Caitlin Safford, MHA: Senior Health Policy Advisor, Office of Gov. Bob Ferguson

Moderator: Kathleen Nolan: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore the evolving landscape of primary care innovation in Washington State, with a focus on how team‑based models can better serve higher‑need populations and how interoperability—including the role of a Community Information Exchange (CIE)—can support that shift. Panelists will examine the state’s strategy under the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA)’s Primary Care Transformation Initiative (PCTI), where payment reforms, the Primary Care Practice Recognition (PCPR) program, and a Multi‑Payer Collaborative aim to align incentives and raise the standard of primary care delivery.

Rodney Anderson: President & Chief Executive Officer, Family Care Network

Madlen Caplow: Senior Program Officer, Arcora Foundation

Jim Freeburg: Executive Director, Patient Coalition of Washington

Bruce Gray: Chief Executive Officer, Northwest Regional Primary Care Association

Rebecca Kavoussi: Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Nest Health

Moderator: Warren Brodine: Managing Director, Delivery Systems, Health Management Associates

In this unique discussion, hear from two of Washington’s most prominent healthcare leaders about the challenges they’re facing today and how the state’s healthcare system can work together to address them. EvergreenHealth Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ettore Palazzo and Premera Blue Cross Chief Executive Officer Jeff Roe will discuss the state of the healthcare system today and the levers that are available to increase affordability in the midst of federal and state funding cuts.

Ettore Palazzo, MD: Chief Executive Officer, EvergreenHealth

Jeff Roe: Chief Executive Officer, Premera Blue Cross

Moderator: Dara Smith: Office Managing Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore innovative, collaborative solutions to the pressing public health challenges facing Washington State, with a special focus on vaccine policy and the role of misinformation in undermining community health. Panelists will review how the state is advancing vaccine access, dive into strategies for strengthening cross‑sector collaboration, and discuss how to leverage communication campaigns, local trusted messengers, data‑driven outreach to under‑vaccinated populations, and policies that improve equitable access, while identifying the persistent barriers that must be addressed.

Chris Chen, MD, MBA: Medical Director for Medicaid & Clinical Informatics, Washington State Health Care Authority

Lacy M. Fehrenbach: Chief of Prevention, Safety, & Health, Washington State Department of Health

Justin Gill, DNP, APRN, FNP-C: President, Washington State Nurses Association

Moderator: Kathleen Nolan: Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

This panel will dive into the evolving landscape of prior authorization policy in Washington ’s healthcare system, with a sharp focus on how stakeholders can harness artificial intelligence and pursue standardization across health plans. Panelists will discuss recent regulatory advances, how AI can be safely and effectively deployed to speed authorization decisions, and how standardizing prior authorization guidelines, submission formats, and decision‑time metrics across multiple commercial and state‑regulated health plans can reduce administrative burden and improve access to care.

Marissa Ingalls: Director, Government Affairs and Policy, Association of Washington Healthcare Plans

Laurent Rotival : Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Regence

John Scott, MD: Chief Digital Health Officer, University of Washington Medicine

Jed VanHorn: Software Engineer, MultiCare Health System

Moderator: Ethan Norris: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

As Washington advances toward more integrated and person-centered care, interoperability across health and social service systems is critical. This panel will explore how platforms like TRAX, the Health Care Management and Coordination System (HCMACS), the Community Information Exchange (CIE), and the Health Information Exchange (HIE) are working to bridge data silos and support coordinated service delivery. Panelists will discuss the current state of cross-system integration, highlight successes and persistent barriers, and share strategies for improving data sharing across clinical, behavioral health, and social care sectors.

Sara Hallvik: Vice President, Data Solutions, Comagine Health

Maura Little: Director, External Affairs, HCP OneHealthPort

Dan Renfroe: Community Information Exchange Program Manager, Washington State Health Care Authority

Moderator: Ryan Howells: Principal, Leavitt Partners

Washington State’s 1115 Medicaid Transformation Waiver has been a cornerstone for piloting innovative approaches to whole-person care, but as the state looks ahead, there is growing urgency to shift from short-term experimentation to long-term system redesign. This panel will explore how the waiver’s initiatives—such as complex discharge planning, supportive housing, and Health Home programs—can evolve into sustainable components of Washington’s broader healthcare framework. Panelists will also examine alternative federal authorities, including State Plan Amendments (SPAs) and 1915 waivers, as potential pathways for institutionalizing successful models. Join us for a forward-looking discussion on the future of Medicaid transformation and what it will take to embed equity, integration, and person-centered care into the fabric of Washington’s health system.

Jacob Avery: Process Improvement Manager, Wellpoint

Jacey Cooper: President, Health Strategies; Senior Advisor Precision, Health Management Associates

Kahlie Dufresne: Deputy Policy Director, Washington State Health Care Authority

John Kim: Chief Executive Officer, Healthier Here

Aren Sparck: Tribal Affairs Administrator, Washington State Health Care Authority

Moderator: Liz Arjun, MPH, MSW: Principal, Health Management Associates

This panel will examine the transformative potential of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) waiver application submitted by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), focusing on what the state has proposed, how it aligns with federal guidance, and what lies ahead in the path to implementation. Panelists will unpack the key elements of Washington’s RHTP submission, including commitments to strengthen rural hospital sustainability, expand workforce recruitment and retention, deploy telehealth and remote monitoring technologies, enhance behavioral health and substance use disorder services in underserved areas, and build cross‑provider strategic partnerships.

Cathy MacCaul: Advocacy Director, AARP

Elya Prystowsky, PhD: Executive Director, The Rural Collaborative

Theresa Tamura: Operations & Engagement Strategist, Washington State Health Care Authority

Jacqueline Barton True, MSW, MPH: Vice President of Advocacy & Rural Health, Washington State Hospital Association

Moderator: Angela Bowen, JD, MPA: Senior Consultant, Health Management Associates

This panel will explore how Washington state can strengthen behavioral health supports for children within primary care settings. We will focus on the unique opportunities and challenges of integrating behavioral and developmental health services into pediatric and family medicine. Topics will include the evidence-based Healthy Steps model, early‐intervention strategies for the caregiver–child dyad, ensuring parity in coverage across Medicaid and commercial plans, and the role of school-based health settings in supporting kids.

Tory Gildred: Assistant Vice President of Behavioral Health, Molina

Laura Knapp MSW, LICSW: Vice President, Mental & Behavioral Health, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Sarah Rafton, MSW: Washington Thriving Director of Policy & Advocacy, Behavioral Health Catalyst

Mary Ann Woodruff, MD, FAAP: Physician Champion for Care Transformation, Pediatrics Northwest

Moderator: Liz Arjun, MPH, MSW: Principal, Health Management Associates

Washington is leading a broad, collaborative effort to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all residents. Through partnerships among state agencies, hospitals, health plans, providers, and community organizations, Washington’s health sector is aligning strategies to curb rising costs while improving outcomes and equity. This panel will highlight the collective work driving these efforts but also discuss the remaining challenges in lowering healthcare costs and how the state can address them.

Jane Beyer: Senior Advisor, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Patrick Connor: Washington State Director, National Federation of Independent Business

Evan Klein: Special Assistant for Legislative & Policy Affairs, Washington State Health Care Authority

Sven Peterson: Vice President, Compliance Ethics & Regulatory Services, Premera

David Ward: Family Medicine Physician & Senior Medical Director, Primary Care, Kaiser Permanente

Chelene Whiteaker: Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA)

Moderator: Gary Cohen: Principal, Health Management Associates

In an era of increasing climate-related disasters, public health crises, and complex emergency responses, Washington’s health sector faces unprecedented challenges — and opportunities — to build resilience. This panel brings together leaders from hospitals, public health agencies, emergency management, and community organizations to explore how the state is preparing for and responding to health emergencies.

Nicolette Louissaint, PhD: Chief Policy Officer, Healthcare Distribution Alliance

Tim Lynch, PharmD, MS, FABC, FASHP, FWSPA: Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, MultiCare Health System

Moderator: Onora Lien: Executive Director, Northwest Healthcare Response Network

Hear from some of the Washington State Legislature’s leading health policymakers about what to expect during this year’s legislative session. These lawmakers will discuss legislation they’re supporting and the major themes that they anticipate for health policy reform this year. 

Sen. Annette Cleveland: Chair, Health & Long-Term Care Committee, Washington State Senate

Sen. June Robinson: Chair, Ways & Means Committee, Washington State Senate

Moderator: Katharine Weiss, MPA: Program Director, State of Reform