View Agenda
Explore the schedule of sessions from Qualipalooza 2026
Sunday - June 28, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Information Desk Open
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Workshop A: Quality Data Evolution: Best Practices in a Time of Change
- Explore CMS’ finalized 2026 and 2027 Star Ratings changes and deep dive into the operational muscle plans must build to succeed in the latest health care landscape
- Leverage your Stars data to define your most viable improvement paths
- Manage the explosion of clinical data during the digital quality measurement transformation
Speaker
Liz Carr
VP of Product Delivery & Customer Experience at Ingenia
Speaker
Rodolfo Velasco
Chief Revenue Officer at Ingenia
10:15 AM
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Networking Break
12:00 PM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
Available to registrants who have registered for the 3-Day Pass.
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Workshop B: Navigating the New Reality of Medicare Advantage: What CMS’s Latest Final Rule Means for Your Path Forward to Star Ratings Success
- Discuss the latest Stars final rule and how it shapes the path ahead
- Learn how to leverage the 5-weighted QI measures for optimized scores
- Understand the 2026 MA market dynamics and how the final rule’s proposed refocus on clinical care, outcomes, experience could influence Star’s strategy and long-term contract viability
- Deep dive into Part D pressures and strategic responses
- Translate insight to action, building a solid Stars strategy for the program as it exists today, and a flexible, durable framework that can adapt as measurement rules, methodology and realities shift over time
Speaker
Mick Twomey
VP & GM at Hyperlift, Press Ganey
Speaker
Jessica Assefa
Partner, Strategic Consulting at Press Ganey
2:30 PM
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Networking Break
4:00 PM
4:00 PM – 4:10 PM
Transition Break
4:10 PM
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Regulatory Update 2026: What’s New, Now, and Next (all attendees welcome)
- Unpack the latest finalized changes to HEDIS and the Stars program—and what they mean for health plans and providers
- Explore how evolving regulatory requirements can be leveraged to close care gaps, elevate the member experience, and reduce health disparities
- Gain insight into the financial impact of upcoming changes and strategies for maximizing quality improvement investments
Speaker
Ana Handshuh
Principal at CAT5 Strategies
Speaker
Ryann Hill
MPH, Founder & CEO at Indigo Hill Strategies
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
All conference attendees invited
Monday - June 29, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Information Desk Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Opening Remarks
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM
Keynote Address
Fireside Chat: Where Do We Go from Here? The Transition to Digital Quality Measurement
- Learn why digital quality measurement is more than a technology shift—it’s an organizational shift from measurement as compliance to measurement as enablement
- Envision ways to seamlessly integrate digital measures into care delivery and care management workflows
- Understand how digital measures can help any organization—regardless of size or technical sophistication—quickly understand how it is performing and where there are opportunities to improve
- Find out what NCQA is doing to advance digital HEDIS® measures and how organizations can prepare for the transition
Moderator, Speaker
Melissa Newton Smith
Founder, Senior Advisor at Newton Smith Group
Speaker
Tricia Elliott
Vice President, Quality Implementation at NCQA
Speaker
Vik Wadhwani
Chief Product & Transformation Officer at NCQA
10:10 AM
10:10 AM – 11:00 AM
Building a Strong Foundation: Data Strategy and Governance for Health Care Quality
- Explain the role of data strategy and governance in enabling health care quality improvement measurement and performance
- Identify key components of an effective data governance framework, including ownership, accountability, and stewardship
- Assess common data challenges that impact quality reporting, regulatory readiness, and decision-making
- Apply practical strategies to strengthen data foundations that support continuous quality improvement initiatives
Moderator, Speaker
Reid Kiser
MS, Founder & Managing Partner at Kiser Healthcare Solutions
Speaker
Sabrina Zerzouri
Lead Program Manager, Medicare Star Rating Program at BlueCross BlueShield of Rhode Island
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
Networking Break
11:20 AM
11:20 AM – 12:10 PM
New Session Coming Soon
12:10 PM
12:10 PM – 1:15 PM
Networking Lunch
1:15 PM
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Track A: Building Bridges, Busting Silos
Tools & Technology Spotlight
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.
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Track B: Succeeding with Data-Centric Strategy
Tools & Technology Spotlight
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.
1:30 PM
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Track A: Building Bridges, Busting Silos
Create Winning Vendor Partnerships: What Health Plans and Vendors Need to Know
- Identify common misconceptions vendors have about health plan needs, and how these gaps can impact partnership success
- Discuss negotiation strategies and contract tactics to reach alignment and identify clear paths forward
- Consider tactics for ongoing partnership management, including communication cadence, performance monitoring, and issue resolution
- Recognize early warning signs of vendor misalignment and take corrective action before it impacts quality outcomes
Moderator, Speaker
Jessica Muratore
Founder & Principal Consultant at Muratore Advisory Services
Speaker
Becky Simmons
MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, Stars Program Manager at Security Health Plan/ Sanford Health Plan
Speaker
Kaitlin Bates
Medicaid Program Manager at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Track B: Succeeding with Data-Centric Strategy
Beyond Reporting: Turning Quality Data into a Strategic Asset
Explain how Medicare and Medicaid quality programs intersect and diverge at CareOregon, including implications for strategy, reporting, and performance management
Compare CareOregon’s prior and current quality reporting models, including key lessons learned from the transition
Identify early performance results and efficiency gains achieved through updated quality processes, and the opportunities revealed by those results
Use quality insights to support network contracting, rural health transformation initiatives, and care gap closure
Speaker
Dave Smith
Director, IS Analytics and Data Warehousing at Care Oregon
Speaker
Nicole Merrithew
VP, Informatics and Evaluation at Care Oregon
2:15 PM
2:15 PM – 2:20 PM
Transition Break
2:20 PM
2:20 PM – 3:05 PM
Track A: Building Bridges, Busting Silos
From Fragmented to Intentional: Building a Unified, Member-Centered Communication Strategy Across a Health Plan
- Identify common pitfalls of fragmented member outreach and understand how misalignment impacts member experience, CAHPS, and quality outcomes
- Apply a structured, cross-functional approach to designing an annual member communication plan that aligns strategy, operations, and technology
- Design a future-state member journey that balances regulatory requirements with digital-first, personalized engagement
- Implement governance and orchestration models that reduce redundancies, clarify accountability, and sustain improvements over time
- Leverage communication strategy as a quality improvement lever, supporting gap closure, health literacy, and proactive member engagement
Speaker
Leigh Elko
Senior Program Manager, HEDIS Initiatives, Office of Quality & Transformation at Johns Hopkins Health Plans
2:20 PM – 3:05 PM
Track B: Succeeding with Data-Centric Strategy
Insight to Impact: Leveraging Data to Drive Continual Quality Improvement
- Explore how data can be transformed into meaningful action through a structured approach to performance improvement
- Uncover insights and learn how teams analyzed data to identify opportunities and inform strategic decisions
- Recognize how to drive change and see how insights are translated into targeted interventions and initiatives
- Measure impact and discover practical methods for tracking outcomes and refining approaches to maximize effectiveness
Speaker
Andrea Brambila
Director, Quality & Process Improvement at Meridian Health Plan
Speaker
Jordan Fry
Business Analyst IV, Quality & Process Improvement at Meridian Health Plan
3:05 PM
3:05 PM – 3:25 PM
Networking Break
3:25 PM
3:25 PM – 4:10 PM
Track A: Building Bridges, Busting Silos
Shared Risk, Shared Responsibility? Where Plans and Provider Groups Align—and Break Down
- Discover how risk-based contracts are changing accountability for quality and Stars performance
- Explore why provider groups struggle under downside risk they don’t fully understand
- Mitigate the tension between plan-level performance challenges and provider-level expectations
- Learn how to identify who is truly accountable when quality targets are missed—and how contracts define (or obscure) that responsibility
- Find the “meeting point” for success: data transparency, education, incentives, and shared governance
Moderator, Speaker
Shannon Decker
Principal at VBC One
Speaker
Savannah Gonsalves
Director of Quality & Utilization Management, Nevada at Kaiser Permanente
Speaker
Anissa Johnson
Manager, Quality Practice Advisor at Wellcare
Speaker
Susan Waterman
Director, Risk Adjustment at Baylor Scott & White
Speaker
Arlene Godinez
Sr. Program Manager at VBC One
3:25 PM – 4:10 PM
Track B: Succeeding with Data-Centric Strategy
Checkpoints Along the Digital Quality Highway: Is Your Organization Ready for Digital HEDIS?
- Examine ten critical checkpoints that address both technical and organizational readiness for transitioning to digital HEDIS measures
- Assess organizational readiness: Evaluate your existing data sources, technical capabilities, and vendor partnerships to identify what's working and what needs immediate attention
- Avoid the roadblocks: Understand the most common failure points that derail digital transitions and discover how to build sustainable, interoperable infrastructure from the start
- Dive into the details: Discover critical considerations for HEDIS data acquisition, digital readiness assessment, and quality management approaches that enable smooth transitions
Speaker
Mary Goble
Director, Clinical Quality and Performance Improvement at Capital Health Plan
Speaker
Katharine Iskrant
Practice Leader at Healthy People
4:10 PM
4:10 PM – 4:15 PM
Transition Break
4:15 PM
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Choose Your Own Adventure Roundtable Discussions
Participate in a facilitated roundtable discussion and deep dive with peers on timely topics in the industry.
- Engaging IT to Improve Data Quality and Completeness
Facilitator: Dave Smith, Director, IS Analytics and Data Warehousing, Care Oregon - AI & Health Care Quality: Let’s Chat!
Facilitator: Amy L. Reilly MS, OTR/L, CCM, CPC, Director, Health Plan Quality – HEDIS, Health Plan Clinical Quality, Highmark Western and Northeastern New York - Live with a DSNP: Quality’s Reality Check
Facilitators: Kailey Collier, MHA, BSN, RN, Director of Quality Performance, Kern Health Plan & Tina Dueringer, BSN, RN, CCM, PCC, CEO, Principal Advisor, Dueringer Advisors - But We Just Wanna Help! Why Members Decline Your Calls—and What to Do About It
Facilitator: Leon Lead, Founder, Leon Lead Consulting - The Business Case for Reducing Loneliness
Facilitator: Ryan Dodson, CRC, Risk Adjustment Consultant, Choice Medical Group - Advocacy Essentials & Sharing Feedback with CMS
Facilitator: Ryann Hill, MPH, Founder & CEO, Indigo Hill Strategies - Building a Sustainable Quality Strategy (Despite the Headwinds)
Facilitator: Jessica Muratore, Founder & Principal Consultant, Muratore Advisory Services - What Members Expect Now: Shifting Member Expectations—and How to Adapt, Communicate, and Support Their Evolving Needs
Facilitator: Sabrina Zerzouri, Lead Program Manager, Medicare Star Rating Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island - Skills and Professional Development for Emerging Quality Leaders
Facilitator: TBA
Additional topics coming soon.
Speaker
Dave Smith
Director, IS Analytics and Data Warehousing at Care Oregon
Speaker
Amy Reilly
Director, Health Plan Quality – HEDIS, Health Plan Clinical Quality at Highmark Western and Northeastern New York
Speaker
Kailey Collier
Director of Quality Performance at Kern Health Plan
Speaker
Tina Dueringer
CEO, Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors
Speaker
Leon Lead
Founder at Leon Lead Consulting, LLC
Speaker
Ryan Dodson
CRC, Risk Adjustment Consultant at Choice Medical Group
Speaker
Ryann Hill
MPH, Founder & CEO at Indigo Hill Strategies
Speaker
Jessica Muratore
Founder & Principal Consultant at Muratore Advisory Services
Speaker
Sabrina Zerzouri
Lead Program Manager, Medicare Star Rating Program at BlueCross BlueShield of Rhode Island
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception
Tuesday - June 30, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Information Desk Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 9:55 AM
The Future of Quality Measures: From Process to Outcomes & CAHPS/HOS
- Discuss the anticipated CMS rule changes, including retiring process measures and the increasing weight on outcome measures and CAHPS
- Consider strategies for member education, health literacy, and perception as drivers of CAHPS/HOS and member experience
- Deep dive on CAHPS and HOS strategy in D-SNPs
Speaker
Kailey Collier
Director of Quality Performance at Kern Health Plan
Speaker
Leon Lead
Founder at Leon Lead Consulting, LLC
Speaker
Tina Dueringer
CEO, Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors
9:55 AM
9:55 AM – 10:40 AM
Advancing Medicaid Quality in a Volatile Landscape
- Identify the Medicaid quality measures and program priorities most likely to impact plan performance in 2026, including vaccinations, pediatric preventive care, chronic conditions, and utilization-driven measures
- Compare and align quality strategies across Medicaid, D-SNPs, and Medicare Advantage, distinguishing where measure overlap enables shared infrastructure versus where state-specific requirements require tailored execution
- Discuss strategies to maintain vaccination, pediatric, and member engagement performance amid political uncertainty and declining mandates
Speaker
Leslie Rodriguez
Consultant at BCBSAZ Health Choice
Speaker
Katie Martin
VP, Quality Management at Parkland Community Health Plan
Speaker
Crystal Redfern
Senior Director of Clinical Improvement at Novant Health Medical Group
10:40 AM
10:40 AM – 11:00 AM
Networking Break
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Beyond the Measures: How Quality Leaders Build the Case, Gain Buy-In, and Lead in a Changing Role
- Describe how the role of the health care quality professional is evolving, including expanded expectations related to advancing technology and increased strategic influence, financial stewardship, and cross-functional leadership
- Learn how to develop a clear, executive-ready business case for quality initiatives, connecting quality outcomes to cost, risk, regulatory performance, and organizational priorities
- Explore how to translate quality data and performance metrics into compelling narratives, enabling quality professionals to advocate for resources, sustain programs, and drive organizational change
Speaker
Dwight Pattison
Founder & Principal Consultant at QPAdvantage
Speaker
Bill Rayball
Vice President, Government Quality at Highmark
11:45 AM
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
HOS and Star Ratings: From Measurement to Meaningful Improvement
- Separate fact from fiction, making sense of common misconceptions about HOS
- Discuss scalable, evidence-based interventions that drive HOS improvement and contribute to measurable Stars impact
- Explore why—and how—to take a proactive vs reactive approach to HOS
12:30 PM
12:30 PM – 12:45 PM
Transition Break with Grab & Go Lunch
Pick up your lunch in the exhibit hall and return to the general session room for a working lunch as we deep dive into measure-specific discussion groups.
12:45 PM
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Work Groups: Quality Improvement, Measure-by-Measure (Working Lunch)
This interactive session is designed to facilitate constructive dialogue regarding specific HEDIS and Stars measures. Participants will engage in deep, collaborative discussions to identify barriers, share strategies, lessons learned, and best practices, and explore innovative solutions to improve performance on these measures.
Round 1 Measures (12:45pm - 1:30pm)
- Readmissions
Facilitator: Julianne Eckert RN BSN, CCM, CMCN, Associate Vice President, Stars Enterprise Activation, Humana - HOS
Facilitator: Ana Handshuh, Principal, CAT5 Strategies - Diabetes
Facilitator: Misty Milby, VP Clinical Business Development, Everlywell - Colorectal Cancer
Facilitator: Tina Dueringer, BSN, RN, CCM, PCC, CEO, Principal Advisor, Dueringer Advisors, Inc - CBP
Facilitator: Dwight Pattison, Founder & Principal Consultant, QPAdvantage - Med Adherence
Facilitator: Joia Merriweather, HEDIS/Stars Program Director, Texas Independence Health Plan - Depression Screening and Follow-up
Facilitator: Sean O’Brien, Director, Health Quality and Stars, Humana - Chlamydia/STI Screenings
Facilitator: Crystal Redfern, MS, MBA, CPHQ, Senior Director of Clinical Improvement, Novant Health Medical Group - Transitions of Care
Facilitator: Savannah Gonsalves, Director of Quality & Utilization Management, Nevada, Kaiser Permanente - KED
Facilitator: TBA
Round 2 Measures (1:30pm - 2:15pm)
- OMW
Facilitator: Jennifer Beckett, Principal Consultant, Chief Insight Consulting LLC - Retinal Screening
Facilitator: Katharine Iskrant, Practice Leader, Healthy People - COB/Polypharmacy/IOP
Facilitator: Leslie Rodriguez, PharmD, Consultant, BCBSAZ Health Choice - CAHPS
Facilitator: Amy Blackledge, MBA-HC, MSN, RN, CSSBB, Senior Director, Clinical Quality and Stars, Blue Cross of Idaho - New Mammography Measures & BiRad Scores
Facilitator: Mary Goble, Director Clinical Quality and Performance Improvement, Capital Health Plan - Transitions of Care
Facilitator: Lindsey O’Brien, Quality Management Analyst, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island - Diabetes
Facilitator: Amy L. Reilly MS, OTR/L, CCM, CPC, Director, Health Plan Quality – HEDIS | Health Plan Clinical Quality, Highmark Western and Northeastern New York - Medicaid Child and Adult Core Measure Sets
Facilitator: TBA - Readmissions
Facilitator: TBA - CBP
Facilitator: TBA
Additional measures coming soon.
Speaker
Julianne Eckert
Associate Vice President, Stars Enterprise Activation at Humana
Speaker
Ana Handshuh
Principal at CAT5 Strategies
Speaker
Amy Reilly
Director, Health Plan Quality – HEDIS, Health Plan Clinical Quality at Highmark Western and Northeastern New York
Speaker
Tina Dueringer
CEO, Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors
Speaker
Dwight Pattison
Founder & Principal Consultant at QPAdvantage
Speaker
Jennifer Beckett
Principal Consultant at Chief Insight Consulting LLC
Speaker
Leslie Rodriguez
Consultant at BCBSAZ Health Choice
Speaker
Mary Goble
Director, Clinical Quality and Performance Improvement at Capital Health Plan
Speaker
Katharine Iskrant
Practice Leader at Healthy People
Speaker
Joia Merriweather
HEDIS/Stars Program Director at Texas Independence Health Plan
Speaker
Sean O'Brien
Director, Health Quality and Stars at Humana
Speaker
Crystal Redfern
Senior Director of Clinical Improvement at Novant Health Medical Group
Speaker
Amy Blackledge
MBA-HC, MSN, RN, CSSBB, Senior Director of Clinical Quality and Stars at BC of Idaho
Speaker
Lindsey O'Brien
Quality Management Analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Speaker
Misty Milby
VP Clinical Business Development at Everlywell
Speaker
Savannah Gonsalves
Director of Quality & Utilization Management, Nevada at Kaiser Permanente
2:15 PM
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Work Group Wrap Up & Closing Remarks
Share key takeaways from roundtables, work groups, and all of Qualipalooza 2026.
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