View Agenda
Explore the schedule of sessions from The Special Needs Plan Leadership Summit
Monday - April 27, 2026
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Information Desk Opens
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Scaling and Strengthening Special Needs Plans: Tools to Build, Grow, and Optimize Your Program
Attendees will explore the financial considerations of SNP growth, strategies for ensuring strong clinical oversight, and operational tools that support sustainable performance across D-SNPs, C-SNPs, and I-SNPs. Through real-world examples and group discussion, participants will leave with actionable insights to strengthen governance, compliance, and member outcomes while controlling costs.
- Evaluate the benefits and operational challenges of expanding or enhancing SNP offerings
- Compare requirements and growth considerations across D-SNPs, C-SNPs, and I-SNPs
- Assess the financial realities of SNP expansion, including startup costs, ongoing investments, and cost-effectiveness strategies
- Strengthen clinical oversight structures and governance models to support high-risk populations
- Refine Models of Care (MOCs) to align with evolving regulatory expectations and performance goals
- Prepare for audits and sustain compliance as programs scale
- Right-size staffing models for care coordination, quality, compliance, and member services
- Leverage technology and data platforms to monitor utilization, outcomes, quality measures, and regulatory requirements
- Enhance outreach, enrollment, and retention strategies for complex populations
- Develop a practical roadmap for near-term improvements and longer-term program growth through a facilitated group exercise
Speaker
Natasha VanWright
RN, VP Population Health and Clinical Operations at Centene Corporation
Speaker
Isabel Hayes
Healthcare Partnerships & Market Strategy Executive
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
Join us for face-to-face networking with peers over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, included in your event registration.
Tuesday - April 28, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Information Desk Opens
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:05 AM
Welcome Remarks
9:05 AM
9:05 AM – 10:00 AM
SNPs at a Policy Crossroads: Preparing for Payment Reform, Integration Expansion, and Regulatory Volatility
- Evaluate emerging federal and state dynamics shaping SNP–Medicaid integration across D-SNPs, I-SNPs, and C-SNPs
- Assess recent SNP enrollment growth trends and their implications for federal oversight, payment reform, and program scrutiny
- Identify key elements likely to appear in the CY 2028 proposed rule and other forthcoming MA and SNP-specific legislative activity
Speaker
Michael Cheek
President & CEO at Special Needs Plan Alliance
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Voices of Experience: Navigating Complex Care
Hear directly from individuals, caregivers, and support partners as they share lived experiences navigating complex health care systems, care coordination programs, and community-based services. This candid discussion will highlight what works, where gaps persist, and how organizations can better design care models that truly reflect the needs of high-risk populations.
- Understand how individuals and caregivers experience care coordination, clinical support, and community services across the care continuum
- Explore barriers to accessing care, navigating benefits, and engaging with providers and support networks
- Identify opportunities to improve transitions of care and reduce friction across providers, caregivers, and community partners
- Explore how listening to patients and members can itself improve trust, engagement, and health outcomes
Moderator
Jim Knebel
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Speaker
Maninder “Mini” Kahlon
Associate Professor, Department of Population Health at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin
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Speaker
Lindsey Wahlstrom
Leader in Patient Engagement & Advocacy for Digital Health, Co-Founder at Rona’s FUN LAB
Speaker
Mindi Knebel
Founder and CEO at Kaizen Health
10:50 AM
10:50 AM – 11:10 AM
Networking Break
11:10 AM
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Chronic Care Gaps in Hard-to-Reach Populations During Rapid Contract Growth
- Examine common barriers that prevent medically complex and hard-to-reach members from engaging in preventive care and chronic disease management, including unstable housing, outdated contact and PCP information, and competing social priorities
- Explore strategies for redesigning member engagement programs to better reach high-need populations, including targeted food delivery, care coordination support, and community-sensitive outreach
- Identify practical approaches for improving diabetes quality measures at scale, including A1c control, diabetic eye exams, and kidney health evaluations, while maintaining program effectiveness
Speaker
Sally Leahy
Director, Quality at Pyx Health
Speaker
Kari Gilson
Vice President, Quality & Risk Adjustment Process Improvement at Centene
12:00 PM
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM
Tools & Technology Spotlight Presented by The Helper Bees
Leading service providers will showcase their offerings in a quick-pitch setting. Evaluate the latest and greatest tech tools to bring back to your organization.
Speaker
Dean Gutridge
VP of Growth at The Helper Bees
12:15 PM
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Networking Lunch
1:15 PM
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Track 1
Audit-Ready Every Day: Building Sustainable Compliance Programs
- Implement year-round audit readiness practices that reduce risk and eliminate reactive compliance efforts
- Design effective delegation models that balance operational efficiency with regulatory accountability
- Evaluate performance monitoring and oversight processes for delegated entities
- Develop audit-ready documentation and governance structures tied to MOC requirements
Speaker
Elizabeth Sutton
Risk Management Lead at Humana
Speaker
Sara Stoner
Lead | Care Management Risk and SNP Governance at Humana
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Track 2
Evolving SNP Models of Care: Changes for 2027
- Interpret recent and proposed MOC changes related to person-centered care planning and member engagement
- Develop compliant and clinically meaningful care plans for members who decline participation or cannot be reached
- Incorporate greater specificity into D-SNP Models of Care, including Medicaid eligibility categories and plan types
Speaker
Caroline McDonald
Principal at Prizm Health Advisory, LLC
2:05 PM
2:05 PM – 2:50 PM
Track 1
Elevating Quality in SNPs: Metrics & Meaningful Outcomes
- Strengthen performance monitoring and evaluation processes used to measure MOC effectiveness
- Identify common compliance gaps and operational risk areas within SNP-MOC audit reviews
- Translate audit findings and enforcement trends into proactive improvement strategies
Speaker
Joia Merriweather
HEDIS/Stars Program Director at Texas Independence Health Plan
2:05 PM – 2:50 PM
Track 2
The Rise of C-SNPs: Expansion, Opportunity, and Strategic Risk
- Evaluate the operational and regulatory differences between C-SNPs and D-SNPs that influence growth strategies
- Assess whether C-SNPs represent a sustainable long-term opportunity or a short-term revenue advantage
- Identify infrastructure, clinical, and compliance considerations necessary to support responsible C-SNP expansion
Speaker
Brent Sanders
President & CFO at Belong Health
2:50 PM
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
Networking Break
3:10 PM
3:10 PM – 3:55 PM
Track 1
Delegated Entity Oversight & FDR Governance in SNP Programs
- Design governance frameworks for First Tier, Downstream, and Related Entities (FDRs), including contracting, audit rights, and corrective action planning
- Implement ongoing performance monitoring and reporting structures for delegated care management, quality, and administrative vendors
- Identify common delegation pitfalls that trigger audit findings and enforcement actions in SNP populations
Speaker
Tina Dueringer
CEO, Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors
Speaker
Porsche Glover
Senior Compliance Analyst at VillageCareMAX
3:10 PM – 3:55 PM
Track 2
I-SNPs in Focus: Institutional Partnerships & Sustainable Growth
- Strengthen partnerships with long-term care facilities to improve coordination, outcomes, and accountability
- Optimize risk adjustment, documentation, and quality performance within high-acuity populations
- Reduce avoidable hospitalizations and high-cost events through proactive, facility-based care models
Speaker
Kaitlin Mayhew
Senior Director, Product Development at Curana Health
Speaker
Alan Kimmel
Chief Medical Director at Provider Partners Health Plans
Speaker
Paul Stierer
Lead Director, National VBC Development at Aetna
3:55 PM
3:55 PM – 4:00 PM
Session Transition
4:00 PM
4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Scaling Person-Centered Care: Engagement & Retention Strategies
- Implement engagement strategies that build trust and improve member retention among high-need populations
- Leverage data analytics to personalize outreach, stratify risk, and prioritize interventions
- Align care coordination, social determinants initiatives, and community partnerships to support holistic member needs
Speaker
Reva Sheehan
Sr. Vice President of Health Solutions at DUOS
Speaker
Angelique J. Hughes
Executive Director, National Duals Program Office at Aetna
4:50 PM
4:50 PM – 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
Join us for face-to-face networking with peers over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, included in your event registration.
Wednesday - April 29, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 11:20 AM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Information Desk Opens
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks and Day One Takeaways
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
D-SNP Integration in Action: Navigating Operational & Regulatory Realities
- Define what coordination looks like within D-SNP integration models, including oversight, accountability, and plan-state responsibilities
- Examine the data and systems infrastructure required to support meaningful Medicare-Medicaid integration
- Navigate overlapping federal and state regulatory requirements and identify strategies to manage compliance complexity
Speaker
Gretchen Wagner
Associate Vice President: Risk Management at Humana
Speaker
Sarah Ferguson
Program Director, Special Needs Plans at Devoted Health
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Driving Efficiency & Cost Control in SNPs
- Evaluate the financial risks associated with rapid SNP growth and identify safeguards to maintain long-term sustainability
- Implement data-driven approaches to better manage high-risk populations and allocate resources effectively
- Reduce avoidable hospitalizations and high-cost events through proactive care coordination and early intervention strategies
Speaker
Alan Kimmel
Chief Medical Director at Provider Partners Health Plans
Speaker
Caleb Hemmer
Vice President of Sales at Belong Health
10:50 AM
10:50 AM – 11:20 AM
Networking Break
11:20 AM
11:20 AM – 12:05 PM
Decoding the Final Rule: Key Impacts for SNP Strategy, Operations, and Compliance
- Interpret key provisions from the Final Rule, including Part D updates, rate changes, and CMS guidance on SNP operations and oversight
- Evaluate implications of policy changes such as passive enrollment updates and potential contract termination pathways
- Assess CMS concerns including increased scrutiny of D-SNP representation and potential requirements for C-SNPs to establish state contracts
Speaker
Dwight Pattison
Founder & Principal Consultant at QPAdvantage
12:05 PM
12:05 PM – 12:55 PM
Key Conference Takeaways & The Road Ahead
- Synthesize the most significant insights and recurring themes discussed throughout the conference
- Evaluate emerging policy, operational, and financial trends shaping the future of SNPs
- Anticipate near-term challenges and opportunities facing SNP leaders
Moderator
Tina Dueringer
CEO, Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors
Speaker
Kaitlin Mayhew
Senior Director, Product Development at Curana Health
Speaker
Caleb Hemmer
Vice President of Sales at Belong Health
Speaker
Joia Merriweather
HEDIS/Stars Program Director at Texas Independence Health Plan
12:55 PM
12:55 PM – 1:00 PM
Closing Remarks
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