Fall 2020 Conference Agenda
September 22–October 2, 2020

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

OPENING PLENARY

Administration's Policy on Value-Based Care
CMMI's Brad Smith

Brad Smith, CMMI director and deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, is set to deliver the opening keynote address at the NAACOS Fall 2020 Conference. He is a successful healthcare entrepreneur with a proven history of improving care for some of our nation’s most vulnerable patients. He will share CMMI’s role in supporting health care’s transformation to value along with details on new opportunities for ACOs and other population-health focused models. 

Sept 22
12:15 – 1:45 pm

Managing Risk Across Populations
Chair: Anthony Reed, Ascension
Speakers: Richard Martin, Geisinger Health/Keystone ACO, Nick Bassett, Castell Health/Intermountain Heath, Sidney "Beau" Raymond, Ochsner Health

In today’s competitive healthcare environment an organization that has the scale to build infrastructure and spread the cost over a wide patient base can generate significant returns on investment. This session explores what industry leaders in value-based care are doing to provide seamless care to their patients across multiple risk models and contracts.

Sept 22
2:00 – 3:00 pm

Transforming the Health Care System
Moderator: Clif Gaus, NAACOS
Speaker: Don Berwick

Join Dr. Don Berwick, former member of the Biden/Sanders Unity Task Force, to hear how we can transform the U.S. health care system to improve quality and reduce costs. 

Sept 23
11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Managing Performance Across Payers: Getting Different Populations on the Same Page
Speakers: Maria Nikol and Ryan Mackman, Salient Healthcare

Being able to centralize and make use of data from multiple payers is difficult to do. As a result ACOs have to use multiple systems to analyze data and provider performance is not easily compared across payers. In this presentation, learn about the benefits that come as a result of being able to access all your payer data in one, simple solution and how those benefits will positively impact your ACO. 

Sponsored by Salient Healthcare

Sept 23
12:30 – 2:00 pm

How Medicare ACO Experience Informs Medicare Advantage Strategy 
Chair: Emily Brower, Trinity Health
Panelist: Thomas Kloos, Atlantic Health ACO; Mike Barrett, Collaborative Health System, Dan Bair, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic

Join three experienced ACO leaders who will share how they parlayed their success in managing a Medicare ACO Population into taking on greater Medicare Advantage accountability.  They will share what initiatives were easier to spread, and where they needed different approaches, to improve outcomes and decrease costs.  Practical learning and time for discussion will make for an interactive session.

Sept 23
2:00 – 2:45 pm

Peer-to-Peer Exchange: Low and Minimal Risk ACOs

NAACOS will be facilitating discussions on several different topics during the conference using a Zoom platform so that all participants can come together to network and talk.  Any registered participant can join these discussions and you will be asked to click on a Zoom link that will be provided in emails and on the streaming website during the conference. More information and session moderators will be provided at a later date. 

Sept 23
2:45 – 3:45 pm

Data Sharing Opportunities and Challenges: New Rules for ACOs
Chair: Travis Broome, Aledade
Speakers: Kent Locklear, Lightbeam Health Solutions and Maria Nikol, Salient Healthcare

Beginning in 2021, the Office of the National Health IT Coordinator and CMS have new rules affecting interoperability and information sharing in ACOs.  Learn how your ACO can adapt and succeed given these changes to data sharing.

Sept 24
11:45 am – 12:15 pm

The PAC Playbook in Direct Contracting Models
Speakers: Dave Ault and Jomy Matthew

Join physician and ACO experts as they explore the changing role of care management in the post-acute care (PAC) space to drive value in direct contracting models. This session will also outline key PAC considerations and recent model changes in light of COVID-19, for entities considering participation in this model. 

Sponsored by naviHealth

Sept 24
12:30 – 2:00 pm

Physician Comp: Going Beyond RVUs on the Road to Value
Chair: Kimberly Kauffman
Speakers: Peter Kelly, CareMount; Mark Vorherr, Mount Carmel Health System

Learn how organizations have revised their physician base compensation models to accelerate the transition from FFS to FFV and support success in risk bearing arrangements.  Topics will include production vs. capitation and evolving metrics such as total medical expense, panel size, quality scores and patient engagement.

Sept 24
2:00 – 2:45 pm 

Peer-to-Peer Exchange: High Risk ACOs

NAACOS will be facilitating discussions on several different topics during the conference using a Zoom platform so that all participants can come together to network and talk.  Any registered participant can join these discussions and you will be asked to click on a Zoom link that will be provided in emails and on the streaming website during the conference. More information and session moderators will be provided at a later date. 

Sept 24
2:45 – 3:45 pm

Health Care Post-COVID
Moderator: Rob Fields, Mount Sinai Health System
Speaker: Mark McClellan

Drawing upon a highly distinguished record of public service and academic research, Dr. Mark McClellan will share his insight into the healthcare system’s post-COVID future.

Sept. 25
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

What's the Latest for ACOs?

Hear from NAACOS staff and ACO leaders about late-breaking news and policies affecting ACOs.  The NAACOS policy team will review announcements from CMS on direct contracting, PY 2019 results, and operational trends revealed through our survey research. ACO Leaders will share their insight for adapting to these new opportunities and preparing for a successful 2021.

Sept 25
12:15 – 1:45 pm

ACOs' Use of Digital Health Tools
Chair: David Pittman, NAACOS
Speakers: Micheal Abramoff, Digital Diagnostics; William Biggs, Amarillo ACO; Jasmin Danso, Richmond University Health Network

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked tremendous interest in the use of telemedicine. Proper use of digital health tools can create a more efficient, more cost-effective health system, which are also the goals of accountable care models. This session will hear from ACOs and experts on how to use telemedicine, remote monitoring, and artificial intelligence to optimize patient care. We hope to leave plenty of time for discussion and questions.

Sept 29
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Thoughts on Future of Value-Based Care
Chair: Clif Gaus, NAACOS
Speakers: Mike Chernew and Jay Crosson

Michael Chernew, current chairman of MedPAC, and Jay Crosson, former chair, will share their thoughts on the future of ACOs and future opportunities and challenges for transforming health care into a value-based system.  

Sept 29
12:15 – 1:45 pm

Medicaid: The Next Value-Based Contract for Innovation in Population Health
Chair: Debbie Welle-Powell, Essentia Health
Panelists: Jessica Martensen, Essentia Health; Kristen Mucitelli, Trinity Health; Kathy Parsons, Central Minnesota ACO; Dev Sangvai, Duke Connected Care

Learn how 3 ACOs are effectively caring for their Medicaid risk-based patients from developing new and innovative care programs to controlling costs while integrating the SDoH  into care plans. Panelists will share learnings on care interventions, course corrections, and practical tips for engagement, closing gaps in care and connecting members to new food sources and community partners.

Sept 29
2:00 – 3:00 pm

Critical Policy Updates for ACOs
Chairs: Allison Brennan, Jennifer Gasperini, and David Pittman, NAACOS

In this session, NAACOS staff will review key regulatory and legislative updates for ACOs. Among other topics, this session will discuss recent Congressional activity, key proposals included in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule – such as notable ACO quality and MACRA proposals, updates to the Next Gen and Direct Contracting models and important telehealth policy changes. 

Sept 30
11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Seamless Transition of Care Starts with Communication
Speakers: Eric Cragun and Erica Smuin, Castell Health 

ACOs are responsible for a variety of diverse beneficiaries, many of which have chronic conditions or complex needs. This makes care collaboration essential when it comes to best supporting these beneficiaries and improving care outcomes. Ensuring seamless care transitions is an important step for improving patient care, as it’s easy for information to get lost or miscommunicated during transitions between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities or other post-acute care (SNFs). 

Join Eric Cragun and Erica Smuin as they discuss 

• Key strategies in post acute management in reducing post acute expense while improving quality
• The value in working with in network SNFs to improve workflows, shared processes and transitions of care
• How to leverage providers and care coordinators to manage patients directly in SNFs--resulting in better patient outcomes

Sponsored by Collectivehealth 

Sept 30
12:30 – 2:00 pm 

Chronic Care and Social Determinants of Health During COVID
Chair: Bracken Babula, Thomas Jefferson University
Speaker: Rob Fields, Mount Sinai Health System; Laura Gontz, Thomas Jefferson University; Megan Reyna, Advocate Aurora Health

A panel discussion on how ACOs have addressed chronic disease and social determinants of health (SDOH) since the COVID-19 Pandemic arrived in the United States. ACO leaders will review successes and challenges during the pandemic, highlighting technology innovations, care management teams, and staff repurposing. Panelists will also discuss broader impacts to ACOs, and where we go from here.

Sept 30
2:00 – 2:45 pm 

Peer-to-Peer Exchange: Direct Contracting
Facilitators: Melanie Matthews, Physicians of Southwest Washington and Multicare Connected Care; Joey Bartman, Trinity Health

NAACOS will be facilitating discussions on several different topics during the conference using a Zoom platform so that all participants can come together to network and talk.  Any registered participant can join these discussions and you will be asked to click on a Zoom link that will be provided in emails and on the streaming website during the conference. More information and session moderators will be provided at a later date. 

Sept 30
2:45 – 3:45 pm

Innovative Venture-Funded Primary Care Models
Chair: Rob Mechanic, Institute for Accountable Care
Panelist: Rushika Fernandopulle, Iora Health; Farzad Mostashari, Aledade

Wall Street is showing increased interest in primary care. Last month a new company – Oak Street Health that currently manages 85,000 patients went public with a valuation of $9 billion. In today’s session we will discuss two distinct primary care enterprises: Iora Health, an intensive primary care model that employs physicians and operates primarily under full capitation; and Aledade, a primary care physician support company that works with independent practices to enable successful transitions to value-based contracting. We will discuss the value proposition these companies bring to primary care physicians and their strategies for growth. 

Oct 1
11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Evolving Post-Acute Strategies
Speakers: Greg Baumer, naviHealth; Sean Mullins, Olio Health; Troy Reiff, American Senior Communities 

It’s no surprise the pandemic changed your post-acute strategy. In this panel discussion, you’ll get unique perspectives from a post-acute leader, a technology founder and an experienced PAC management partner on modernizing strategies. Patients are going to skilled nursing facilities further away, higher acuity patients are pushed into home care, it’s more difficult to place patients, and readmission rates are rising. Learn how to develop stronger relationships, get real-time visibility into patient location and status, and drive better results. 

Sponsored by Olio Health 

Oct 1
12:30 – 2:00 pm

Rural and Frontier ACOs:  Can They Deliver on the National Promise for Quality Care and Cost Management?
Chair: Patt Richesin, Kootenai Accountable Care
Speakers: Tim Gronniger, Caravan Health; Michelle Coon, CAM Health Network and Yvonne Ketcham Ward, Community Health Center Network; Simeon Niles, CMMI Representative

According to U. S. Census Data (2016) approximately 97% of United States'  land area is within rural counties, and 60 million people, roughly 19.3% of the population, reside in these areas.  Sustainability for population health initiatives in these areas has largely been overlooked in favor of the larger impact that can be generated in urban/suburban settings. Join us to discuss the realities of delivering care in rural and frontier markets, the public policies that influence sustainable delivery systems in these settings, and the newly released CMMI Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model designed to test whether upfront investments, predictable capitated payments, and operational and regulatory flexibilities will enable rural health care providers to improve access to high quality care while reducing health care costs. 

Oct 1
2:00 – 2:45 pm

Peer-to-Peer Exchange: Quality During COVID
Facilitators: Melody Danko-Holsomback, Geisinger Health/Keystone ACO; Megan Reyna, Advocate Aurora Health

NAACOS will be facilitating discussions on several different topics during the conference using a Zoom platform so that all participants can come together to network and talk.  Any registered participant can join these discussions and you will be asked to click on a Zoom link that will be provided in emails and on the streaming website during the conference. More information and session moderators will be provided at a later date. 

Oct. 1
2:45 – 3:45 pm 

Congressional Roundtable:  ACO Policy and Politics
Moderator: David Pittman, NAACOS
Participants: Kyle Hill, Office of Representative DelBene (WA-D); Alexandra Morris, Office of Representative Welch (VT - D); Mary Ellen, Office of Representative LaHood (IL - R);  Charlotte Pineda Office of Representative Marshall (KS - R)

This session will begin with the announcement of the recipients of NAACOS first-ever Champion of Health Value Awards. Our winning recipients will deliver brief remarks, followed by a panel of senior-level congressional staff sharing their views on the outlook and impact of new health policies affecting ACOs.

Oct. 2
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

At the Intersection of Private Payers and Providers: Strategies that Achieve Value
Moderator: Stephen Nuckolls, Coastal Carolina Quality Care

Speakers: Rahul Rajkumar, BCBS of NC and Rick Gilfillan, Former Trinity Health CEO

Join leaders in value-based care to learn about opportunities for ACO providers to partner with private payers.  Dr. Rajkumar, CMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Caroline, will share his organization’s value-based care strategy. Dr. Gilfillan, former CEO of Trinity Health, will give the provider perspective on partnering with private payers, as well as a longer term view on transforming our health system to one based on value.

Oct. 2
12:15 – 1:45 pm

Town Hall with CMS
Moderator: Allison Brennan, NAACOS
Speakers: John Pilotte and Amy Bassano, CMS

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