Spring 2024 Conference
April 10–12
Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor

 
NAACOS conferences are the only events organized exclusively by ACOs.
 
Schedule:
Wednesday (pre-conference workshops): 1:00–5:00 pm ET
Thursday (Main Meeting): 7:30 am6:00 pm ET
Friday (Main Meeting): 7:30 am–2:30 pm ET

Thursday, April 11

Time Session Location

7:00 am

Registration Opens 

Key Foyers

7:30 am – 8:15 am

Business Partner Sponsored Breakfast

Bold Moves: Redefining the Game in Value-Based Healthcare with Technology and Collaboration

In this session, attendees will gain perspectives from industry partners to see how their commitment to value-based care (VBC), use of HCC technology and population health management collaborative (PHMC) is proving to be a winning combination.

Sponsored by Stanson Health, a PINC AI Solution

Key 1 – 2

7:30 am – 8:15 am

Business Partner Sponsored Breakfast

Incentivizing Your Post-acute Care Network to Meet Contract Metrics
Speakers: Kristen Klopp and Phyllis Wojtusik, Real Time Medical Systems

This session explores proven strategies ACOs can implement to engage their post-acute network (PAN) in driving care outcomes to meet specific value-based contract goals. Participants will learn how live post-acute data transparency goes beyond ADT and claims data to deliver the live clinical insights needed, at both the patient and facility level, to successfully guide and manage their PAN. 

Sponsored by Real Time Medical Systems

Key 3 – 4

7:30 am – 8:15 am

Business Partner Sponsored Breakfast

Taking Ownership of the Total Cost of Care with Atlantic Health System: Empowering Coordinated Care Through High-performing PAC Networks 
Speakers: Mark Calderon and Ania Lesiak, Atlantic Health 

This session will walk attendees through the challenges faced by Atlantic Health's integrated care team, from addressing missing information in EHRs to overcoming staffing challenges and gaining visibility into where, when and why patients are seeking care for targeted interventions. Learn how they strategically reduce avoidable readmissions, conduct targeted transitional care management activities, and efficiently manage throughput and length of stay.

Sponsored by WellSky

Key 9 – 10

8:30 am – 10:00 am

Opening Plenary

CMS Leaders Fireside Chat
Speakers: Meena Seshamani
, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare; Liz Fowler, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and Dora Hughes, Acting Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality with moderator, Clif Gaus, President and CEO of NAACOS

Key 5 – 8

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Break

Exhibits Open

Key Foyers

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Embracing AI, ML, NLP Tools for ACOs Without Breaking the Bank
Chair: Bijal Desai, Northwestern Medicine Physicians Partners ACO
Speakers: Dave Henriksen, Castell Health; Cheryl Lulias, Medical Home Network; Nathan Moore, BJC ACO 

ACOs will share practical approaches to enable adoption of AI, ML, MLP tools for various use-cases while sharing successful and challenging implementation lessons. 

Key 1 – 2

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Engaging and Aligning Post Acute Care Providers in a Value Based World
Chair: Jason Feuerman, LTC ACO
Speakers: Rob Mechanic, Institute for Accountable Care; Beth Souder, Delaware Valley ACO; Dana Strauss, Signify Health; Ray Thivierge

This session will focus on the need for ACOs to creatively engage and align with post acute providers.  Post acute providers feel carved out of the value-based care system and this panel will discuss ways for ACO to leverage these providers to get better and more sustainable outcomes while enhancing alignment in the care delivery system.  These experts will debate the different ways in which to tackle this challenge and propose actual change to today's environment. 

Key 3 – 4

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Setting Sail: What Is the Future Direction of Your MSSP ACO?
Chair: Emily Brower, Trinity Health
Speakers: Rob Fields, Beth Israel Deaconess; Shelley Overholt-Thiesen, Aledade; Ashish Parikh, Summit Health; Jenny Reed, Baylor, Scott & White 

Hear from leaders of successful MSSP ACOs on where they are headed in the next five years. We'll discuss recent changes to the model and how ACOs are course correcting, advancing and retreating; new clinical initiatives that ACOs are investing in now to overcome obstacles on the horizon; and how these ACOs think about new models: do they long for REACH, see storms brewing? Identify your headwinds and tailwinds as you launch your ACO or move into your new agreement period.

Key 9 – 10

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Encompassing Medicaid and Uninsured in your Value-Based Care Initiatives
Chair: Brandi Apodaca, Community Health Provider Alliance 
Speakers: Leslie Southworth, Montana Primary Care Association; Michaela Holmes, Iowa Primary Care Association; Christian Gomes, Valley Health

Explore strategies for aligning Medicaid and uninsured populations with your ACO's value-based care goals. Hear from ACOs comprised of FQHCs and RHCs as they share innovative techniques, including data analytics, pilot programs, and practice transformation strategies. Learn how to strengthen your ACO's relationship with Medicaid through effective data utilization. Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical insights and connect with peers in the evolving landscape of value-based care.

Key 11 – 12

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Networking Lunch

Key 5 – 8

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Can We Change Care, Experience and Total Cost at End of Life?
Chair: Shannon Banks, MaineHealth ACO
Speakers: Nathan Moore, BJC ACO; Lee Pellechia, MaineHealth ACO; Beth Souder, Delaware Valley ACO

Join experts with clinical, analytic, and operational perspectives to review case studies of palliative and end-of-life care strategies which have changed practice workflows, patient experience, provider engagement, and ACO results. 

Key 1 – 2

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

What Really Matters to Patients? Aligning ACO Engagement Efforts with Patient Preferences
Chair: Megan Guinn, BJC ACO
Speakers: Jenn Booker, Upperline Health; Deb Dittberner, Aledade; Melanie Phelps, American Heart Association

Effectively engaging patients in their health care is critical to the success of ACOs and will be essential to achieving CMS’s goal to have all Medicare beneficiaries in an accountable care relationship by 2030. This session will highlight patient preferences and consumer principles for value-based care and discuss how to align ACO efforts with these insights. Speakers will review ACOs’ innovative approaches to engaging patients, including automated engagements to reach broad populations, leveraging data to identify patients motivated to participate in programs or interventions, and engaging patients at the point-of-care through shared decision making.

Key 3 – 4

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Digital Quality Measures: The Economics, Infrastructure, and Policy That Will Drive Future Success
Chair: Anna Taylor, MultiCare Connected Care 
Speakers: Jennifer Gasperini, NAACOS; Emily Levi, MaineHealth ACO; Semira Singh, Providence

This session will detail stories of how ACOs have set their roadmap Digital Quality Reporting, so that others can understand the process of setting it, the decision points and what the outcomes for some have been on executing those strategies. 

Key 9 – 10

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Physician Enablement Strategies to Improve ACO Performance
Chair: Gabriel Drapos, Pearl Health
Speakers: Jennifer Houlihan, AdvocateHealth; Rob Mechanic, Institute for Accountable Care; Gabe Orthous, Health Choice Care

Panelists will describe how ACOs are using purpose-built tools and data science to enable providers and care teams to lower the cost of care.  Join the discussion of emerging value-based care models, challenges ACOs face in setting primary care providers up for success, and how physician enablement technology and workflows are driving outcomes.

Key 11 – 12

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Break

Exhibits Open 

Key Foyers

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Affinity Group Meeting – Data and Analytics
Facilitator: Gabe Orthous, Health Choice Care

Affinity Group Meeting – Quality
Facilitator: Josh Israel, Aledade

Affinity Group Meeting – CMO and Clinical
Facilitators: Nina Taggart, Lehigh Valley Health Network; David Van Winkle, Tandigm Health

Affinity Group Meeting – Executive
Facilitators: Shannon Banks, MaineHealth ACO; Jake Wood, PSW

Affinity Group Meeting – Operations
Facilitator: Stephen Foust, LifePoint Health; Tori Bratcher, Trinity Health

Affinity Group Meeting – Compliance and Legal 

Key 1 – 2

 



Key 3 – 4


Key 9 – 10

 



Key 11 – 12

 

Key 5 – 8



Brent

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Reception

Exhibits Open

Key Foyers

Friday, April 12

Time

Session

Location

7:00 am

Registration Open

Key Foyers

7:30 am – 8:15 am

Business Partner Sponsored Breakfast

The Design and Application of Lab Data as the Gatekeeper for Value-based, Population Health Management 
Speakers: Pranam Ben, The Garage and Linda Fraunhofer, Labcorp

The strategic integration of lab data plays a crucial role in enhancing healthcare outcomes and cost of care. We will unravel lab data's transformative impact on shaping proactive healthcare strategies, optimizing resource allocation, and fostering a more efficient and patient-centric approach. By leveraging lab data, care teams can make informed decisions, identify high-risk populations, and unlock the full potential of value-based care initiatives. 

Sponsored by The Garage

Key 3 – 4

7:30 am – 8:15 am

Business Partner Sponsored Breakfast

Sponsored by Olio

Key 9 – 10

7:30 am – 8:15 am

Business Partner Sponsored Breakfast

Sponsored by Milliman

Key 11 – 12

8:30 am – 9:30 am

Plenary: Moving to Value-Based Care on All Lines of Business: Best Practices for Implementation
Chair: Bob Rauner, OneHealth Nebraska
Speakers: Travis Broome, Aledade; Francis Mercado, Rainier Health Network; Aisha Pittman, NAACOS; AHIP representative

Physicians, practices, VBC entities, and health plans have made great strides over the last decade toward adopting various forms of VBC payment and demonstrating a commitment to improving quality and cost. Today, more than 75% of organizations participating in Medicare ACO arrangements in 2022 had VBP arrangements with MA or commercial plans and more than 30% had such arrangements in Medicaid. In 2022, NAACOS, AHIP, and the AMA began a collaboration to identify voluntary best practices for advancing a sustainable future for value-based care. This session will highlight best practices for engaging in total cost of care payment arrangements.

Key 5 – 8

9:30 am – 10:00 am

Break

Exhibits Open

Key Foyers

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Unlocking the Power of Integrated Care: Transforming Healthcare through Behavioral Health Integration
Chair: Stephanie Turner, UNC
Speakers: Ish Bhalla, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina; Matthew Press, University of Pennsylvania; Nate Sowa, UNC School of Medicine 

Discover the impact of integrating behavioral health into primary healthcare, unlocking early access to mental healthcare, improving care coordination, and enhancing chronic disease treatment. Collaborative Care Management (CoCM), an integrated behavioral health model, has shown remarkable results in improving depression scores, as well as enhancing the experience for both patients and providers. Join this session to explore the economic and patient care benefits that academic, community, and payer settings have realized from the integration of physical and behavioral health services.

Key 1 – 2

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Voice of the Patient: Quality Measurement
Chair: Kim Kauffman, Aledade 

Join us as we speak frankly and directly with a Patient Representative from an ACO Board and a representative from a Patient Advocacy group about how our industry endeavors to measure quality. We will talk about how patients perceive the intent, content and process of quality measurement and reporting. We will explore ways in which patient feedback on the topic may be used to inform quality measurement. In short, we will ask patients how we, as an industry, can do better on the important topic of quantifying quality.

Key 3 – 4

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Washington Update
Chair: Aisha Pittman, NAACOS 
Speakers: Diwen ChenRobert Daley, Jennifer Gasperini, Alyssa Neumann, and David Pittman, NAACOS

Through advocacy and thought leadership, NAACOS aims to advance ACOs and value-based care. Join this session to hear an update on Congress and Administration activities and market trends that may impact you. Additionally, the NAACOS team will review our 2024 advocacy priorities. We’ll be ready to answer any of your policy questions.

Key 9 – 10

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Operationalizing Medicaid Care Models
Chair: Rebecca Adkins, Jefferson Health
Speakers: Catherine McCarron, Jefferson Health Plan; Stacy Meyr, Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance; Marinan Williams, Dell Children's Medicaid Plan 

This session will cover the stakeholders in Medicaid and what ACOs need to know about this population and their needs. Speakers will also provide insight into effective care models including the member perspective.  

Key 11 – 12

11:30 am – 11:45 am

Break

Key Foyers

11:45 am – 1:15 pm

Explore and Debate…..Whose Role Is It for SDoH - Public Health, Health Systems or Health Plans? 
Chair: Debbie Welle-Powell
Speakers: Sue Birch, Washington State Health Care Authority; Adam Myers, Cleveland Clinic and Blue Cross Blue Shield; Eric Schneider, National Committee for Quality Assurance

The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution delegates public health powers to the states, and without a federal framework and funding this responsibility is unclear and the work often falls to the delivery systems and others. In this session we will debate the roles and responsibilities of health systems, health plans, and public health when it comes to screening, paying, and improving health outcomes for social determinants of health (SDoH).  Panelists will describe how ACOs approach the SDoH framework and the strategies for funding through community benefit, per member per month fees with health plans, grants/ donations, and new CMS payments for assessments. Participants will gain an understanding of the six SDoH domains, responsibilities, and integration for better health outcomes.

Key 3 – 4

11:45 am – 1:15 pm

Keys to ACO Success
Chair: Stephen Nuckolls, Costal Carolina Quality Care 
Speakers: Allison Brennan, NAACOS Consultant; Harry Reese, Ochsner; Mary D. Strasser, Essentia Health; Stephanie Turner, UNC

ACOs have proven to improve outcomes and lower costs for the beneficiaries that they serve. But what drives that success? This panel will engage in a discussion of the strategies and practices used to lead high-performing ACOs. We will also provide highlights of the forthcoming Drivers for ACO Success white paper.

Key 9 – 10

11:45 am – 1:15 pm

Learning from MA Care Models
Chair: Wilson Gabbard, Advocate Aurora Health 
Speakers: Nick Bassett, Intermountain Health; Henish Bhansali, Medical Home Network; Tori Bratcher, Trinity Health; Jennifer Houlihan, Advocate Health 

Leaders from Trinity Health, Intermountain Health, Advocate Health and Medical Home Network will review how they are translating care models from Medicare Advantage (MA) to MSSP, REACH, ACA and beyond.  The panel will review the growth trend of MA, some of the challenges that have faced the program, and how they have seen payer and provider partnerships help transform care delivery.

Key 11 – 12

1:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Lunch 

CMS Town Hall 
Moderator: Aisha Pittman, NAACOS
Speakers: Pauline Lapin, CMS; Ellen Lukens, CMMI; John Pilotte, CMS; Purva Rawal, CMS 

This session includes a town hall format and is an important way for ACOs and CMS to have an open dialogue about important Administration priorities, the shift to value-based care, and the Medicare ACO program, including discussion on evolving policies and how ACOs and DCEs fit into CMS’s overall goal of improving Medicare payment and healthcare delivery. This is an excellent opportunity for ACO and DCE executives to pose questions and receive answers directly from CMS leaders and to hear the newest developments straight from the agency.

Key 5 – 8