Monday, October 3, 2011
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Opening Plenary:  Show Me the Federal Vision
Speaker: Howard Koh
The Affordable Care Act defines the federal framework for health reform.  Each week brings new announcements of federal regulations, grant opportunities, and other decisions that shape the implementation of the law.  In this opening plenary session, a high-ranking HHS official will present the federal vision for health reform.  Remarks will focus on how states and the federal government can work together to achievethe goals of the law.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011
8:30 am – 10:00 am
Morning Plenary: Show Me the State of Play
Speaker: Alan Weil, Charles Milligan, Joseph Flores, MaryAnne Lindeblad
States are grappling with myriad health policy challenges.  As they implement the ACA reluctantly, enthusiastically, or somewhere in between, they face Medicaid cost growth, eroding private health insurance coverage, and growing health care costs all in the context of continued weak fiscal conditions.  How are states getting ready for 2014 and beyond in this difficult environment?  Which issues are at the top of their priority list, and which are being deferred until later?  Are they making progress toward the ever-elusive goal of health care cost containment?  Hear from a panel of state health policy leaders who will describe how they are answering these questions and rising to the challenges facing their states.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch Plenary: Show Me How to Work Across State Lines
State borders pose important challenges and opportunities for health policy.  Half of America’s largest metropolitan areas span multiple states.  For people in border regions, home, work, and the places where they receive health care services may be in different jurisdictions, with different delivery systems, insurance regulations, eligibility standards for public programs, and approaches to public and population health.  In this session, you will hear from local government leaders in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas, who will describe how they have collaborated to meet the needs of their citizens.  The lessons they have learned can help state policy leaders shape appropriate approaches in their own states.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Closing Plenary: Show Me What Flexibility Means
Speaker: Mark Larson, Joan Henneberry, Bruce Greenstein
Fixed allocations to states to meet the health care needs of their citizens are garnering renewed attention at the national and state level.  A number of states are considering global Medicaid waivers, the ACA already permits states to seek a waiver to opt out of the law’s overall approach, and Congress recently discussed making those waivers available starting in 2014. Federal budget discussions contemplate major cuts to and changes in Medicaid, some of which would convert the program into a block grant to states.  State leaders will describe their interest in these ideas and discuss their perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach.  Audience discussion of this critical issue will be encouraged.