Preliminary Agenda
Monday, October 26
Registration Open
10 am – 5 pm
Networking Lunch
Noon – 1 pm
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Presenters:
Jennifer DeCubellis
President and CEO, America’s Essential Hospitals
Ken Marshall, MBA
Chief Operating Officer, UofL Health
1 – 1:30 pm
Medicaid Landscape: Changes to Medicaid Payment and Finance Policy
Explore national trends in Medicaid payment and finance policy as Working Families Tax Cut legislation policies are implemented, and discover their implications for essential hospitals.
Presenters:
Eva Johnson, JD
Principal, Eyman Partners
Sarah Mutinsky, JD, MPH
Principal, Eyman Partners
1:30 – 2:45 pm
Break
2:45 – 3 pm
Discussion: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities
Learn how essential hospitals are navigating changes in Medicaid coverage, financing, and payment policy by strategically considering the interactions of these policies in their state. This session also will include opportunities for facilitated discussion about new strategies essential hospitals should consider.
Presenters:
Michael Hatfield, MPA
Healthcare Government Relations Director, University of Kentucky
Ryan Loke, MHA
Chief Health Policy Officer, Grady Health System
Rob Nelb, MPH
Strategic Policy Advisor, America’s Essential Hospitals
3 – 3:50 pm
Break
3:50 – 4 pm
Lessons from the Field: Engaging with States and Federal Partners on H.R.1
As H.R.1 moves from enactment into implementation, engagement with state and federal partners has become central to the financial stability and operational performance of essential health systems. Many implementation questions remain, and the approaches organizations take over the coming months will shape outcomes. Participants will have the opportunity to compare perspectives on current challenges, discuss approaches that have proven constructive, and consider practical steps available in the near term.
Presenters:
Tyler DeRubio
Senior Director, Sellers Dorsey
Paul Frank
Vice President, Sellers Dorsey
Tom Wallace
Managing Director, Sellers Dorsey, Former Medicaid Director (FL)
4 – 5 pm
Networking Reception
5 – 7 pm
Tuesday, October 27
Registration Open
Evan Schweikert at eschweikert@essentialhospitals.org
7 am – noon
Networking Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 am
Opening Remarks
Presenters:
Jennifer DeCubellis
President and CEO, America’s Essential Hospitals
8:30 – 8:40 am
Hospital Responses to Upcoming Eligibility Changes
Examine top concerns in Medicaid eligibility and strategies to maintain coverage. Member experts will discuss best practices and challenges related to community engagement requirements and other new eligibility changes.
Presenters:
Sandra George, JD
Senior Advisor, Eyman Partners
Nicole Harper, PhD
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Revenue Cycle Services, Eskenazi Health
Erik Mikaitis, MD, MBA
CEO, Cook County Health
8:40 – 9:40 am
Break
9:40 – 9:50 am
Sustaining the Essential Hospital Mission amid Medicaid Disruption
Changes to Medicaid financing and coverage are creating significant uncertainty for essential hospitals. In this candid discussion, hospital and health system CFOs will share how they are preparing for changes to provider taxes and state-directed payments while addressing redeterminations, community engagement requirements, and shifts to marketplace coverage. Panelists will examine practical strategies to rationalize cost structures, strengthen revenue cycle performance, improve managed care returns, expand 340B Drug Pricing Program opportunities, pursue margin-accretive growth, and build the financial resilience needed to preserve access for the communities they serve.
Presenters:
Ekerete Akpan, MPA, CPA
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sinai Chicago
Nicole Harper, PhD
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Revenue Cycle Services, Eskenazi Health
Chad Mulvaney
Director, Forvis Mazars
9:50 – 10:50 am
Break
10:50 – 11 am
Keynote Discussion with CMS Deputy Administrator
Hear from senior Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) leadership about the latest Medicaid policy developments, including Section 1115 waiver policy and recent provisions from H.R. 1 related to Medicaid state directed payments, provider taxes, and eligibility.
Daniel (Dan) Brillman, MBA
Deputy Administrator and Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services Director
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Moderated by:
Beth Feldpush
Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, America’s Essential Hospitals
11 am – noon