Agenda
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June 17, 2026
Wednesday
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June 18, 2026
Thursday
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5:00 PM-7:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Connect with home health and skilled nursing leaders, providers, and partners to kick off the inaugural PAYER Summit. Share insights, spark new connections, and set the tone for two days of impactful conversations.
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8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Registration
WhereWright Foyer
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8:00 AM-9:00 AM
Breakfast
WhereWright Foyer
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9:00 AM-9:05 AM
Opening Remarks
Gather for a warm welcome from the the Home Health and Skilled Nursing News teams, as they set the stage for the high-impact sessions, networking opportunities and industry insights set to unfold.
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9:05 AM-9:45 AMExecutive Outlook: The Future of Post-Acute Payment
Featuring Ryan Haller CEO and Founding Principal, h/care, Coreen Dicus-Johnson President and CEO, Network Health, Allison Rizer Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, ATI Advisory
As payment models rapidly evolve, post-acute providers are navigating a complex mix of Medicare Advantage growth, value-based care mandates and shifting Medicaid policy. This executive outlook will examine how reimbursement structures are changing across home health and skilled nursing, what insurers, CMS and states are prioritizing, and how providers and payers must adapt to remain viable in a margin-constrained environment.
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9:55 AM-10:25 AMOption 1
Panel Coming Soon Presented by: Exacare

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9:55 AM-10:25 AMOption 2
Panel Coming Soon Presented by: ConsentMD
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10:25 AM-10:50 AM
Networking Break
Take a breather between sessions to mingle with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and build relationships with professionals shaping the future of payer-provider relations.
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10:50 AM-11:20 AMOption 1The Next Chapter for Medicare Value-Based Innovation: Optimism, Whiplash and What Comes Next
Featuring Dr. Janice Thorpe SVP of Value-Based Care and Clinical Education, Genesis HealthCare, Jennifer O’Neill Vice President, Palliative Care, VITAS Healthcare, Devin Woodley Vice President of Managed Care Contracting, VNS Health
As CMS continues to push toward population health through new models like TEAM, GUIDE, and LEAD—while repeatedly reshaping existing programs such as ACOs—providers and payers are navigating both opportunity and uncertainty. This panel will explore how organizations are positioning themselves for the next phase of value-based care.
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10:50 AM-11:20 AMOption 2Denials, Appeals and Dollars at Risk: Navigating the New MA Revenue Cycle
Featuring Elizabeth McLaren Sr. Vice President of Revenue-Cycle, Reimbursement and HCBS, Covenant Living
As Medicare Advantage plans intensify utilization management and payment scrutiny, providers are facing rising denials, downcoding and delayed reimbursements. This panel will examine key denial trends, appeals strategies that work and how providers can better protect revenue while maintaining productive payer relationships.
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11:30 AM-12:00 PMSite-of-Care Showdown: How MA, Medicaid and Value-Based Models Are Reshaping Where Patients Go Next
Featuring Arun Dahiya Principal, SNF Innovation & Advancement Strategy, OneHome, Brandi Cunagin Vice President Case Management, Signature HealthCARE
The question of where patients go after hospitalization is becoming more complex—and more consequential. This panel will explore how payers and providers are navigating site-of-care decisions across home health, skilled nursing and emerging alternatives, and what is driving those choices in practice. Panelists will share how clinical, financial and operational factors intersect—and what providers can do to stay competitive in a rapidly shifting landscape.
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12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
Refuel and recharge with home health and skilled nursing leaders by enjoying lunch, where meaningful introductions and collaborative conversations are always on the menu.
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12:00 PM-1:00 PM
HHCN+ Lunch
HHCN+ members are invited to join a collaborative discussion on the evolving landscape of the payer-provider relationship over an exclusive networking lunch.
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1:00 PM-1:30 PMOption 1From Contract to Collaboration: Building Post-Acute Networks that Work in Medicare Advantage
Featuring Chris Cycak-Dyos Director, Strategic Network Operations, Helion, Justin Meara SVP of Managed Care, Ignite Medical Resorts, Matt Lippitt Vice President and Division Director, BAYADA Home Health Care
MA leaders discuss how they negotiate post-acute agreements, align incentives, and manage performance once the ink is dry. Learn what drives trust, transparency and long-term success—and what tends to derail relationships.
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1:00 PM-1:30 PMOption 2Medicare Advantage Growth Spotlight: Hospital-Owned and Special Needs Plans Shape Post-Acute and LTC
Featuring Steve LaForte CFO and Principal, Cascadia Healthcare, Quingan Zhou VP, Growth Strategy & Ops, SCAN Health Plan
While major insurance companies have been pulling back on their Medicare Advantage offerings, SNPs and hospital-owned MA plans continue to expand and shape how a growing number of people receive post-acute and long-term care. Learn more about the factors driving growth for these plans and how they are impacting care delivery and business strategy for home health and SNF operators.
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1:30 PM-2:30 PM
Networking Break
Take a breather between sessions to mingle with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and build relationships with professionals shaping the future of payer-provider relations.
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2:30 PM-3:00 PMThe Duals Dilemma: Aligning Medicare and Medicaid for High-Need Populations
Featuring Rich Keller CEO, PurposeCare
Fragmentation between Medicare and Medicaid continues to drive cost, complexity and inconsistent outcomes. This panel will explore how D-SNPs, integrated care models and state-federal alignment efforts are evolving—and what they mean for post-acute and long-term care providers. Panelists will discuss where integration is improving care, where gaps remain and how providers can better navigate and participate in these models.
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3:40 PM-5:00 PM
Networking Reception
Unwind after a day of sessions by reconnecting with peers and continuing conversations with payers and providers in home health and skilled nursing.
