This unique event is designed to help you overcome the biggest challenge in Mental/Behavioral and SUD: Resource Constraints that Limit Access and Care. We will provide a roadmap to dealing with key constraints and obstacles in behavioral health integration including accessibility and resource constraints, the next phase of integrated and coordinated care models, narrowing the gap of care through a comprehensive, multi- perspective, action-driven agenda. Featuring presentations from across the mental/behavioral continuum: ...

Health Plans:


  • Amrita Rai, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Director, Community Behavioral Health, Inland Empire Health Plan
  • Ann C. O’Grady, LCSW, Behavioral Health Director, Independence Blue Cross
  • Brad Lerner, J.D., Director of Public Policy and Manager of Behavioral Health and Enterprise Issues, Elevance Health
  • Elizabeth Whitteker, DBH, LCSW, Manager, Behavioral Health, Molina Healthcare of California
  • Glory Dole, BSN, MA, RN, Section Manager, Medicaid Contract and Compliance, Medicaid Programs Division, Washington State Health Care Authority
  • Hayley Sink, MPA, Director of Health Equity, Trillium Health Resources in North Carolina 
  • Jessica Johnson LPCC, LICDC, Director, Behavioral Health and Wellness, CareSource
  • Kellie Hans Reid, LCPC, Director, Child and Family Health, CareSource
  • Madalyn McMillan, Behavioral Health Strategy Advisor, Blue Cross NC
  • Mina Chang, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Chief Analytics & Compliance Division, Ohio Department of Aging
  • Sandra K.  Berg, PhD, LCPC, Senior Director of Behavioral Health and Programs, CareSource
  • Yavar Moghimi, MD, Medical Director, Behavioral Health, AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies
  • Leah Newkirk, Senior Counsel, Kaiser Permanente


    • Providers and Health Systems:


  • Gloria Merritt, RN, MSN, VP BH Growth & Clinical Services, Elara Caring
  • Rachel Davis, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
  • Umar Bowers, MD, Medical Director, Dawson Med & Dawson Med Urgent Care
  • Steven Sheets, LPC, President & CEO, Southwest Behavioral & Health Services
  • Jennifer Fillmore, MS, LCAC, Director of Substance Use Residential and Specialized Services, Centerstone
  • Lauren Conaboy, Vice President of National Policy, Centerstone


    • Community Based and Non-Profit Organizations & Peer Support Groups:


  • Diane Arms, Director, Community Behavioral Health, The Council on Recovery
  • Naomi Fener, NP, MPH, Director, Population Health, Families USA
  • Staci Lofton, Senior Director, Health Equity, Families USA
  • Dr. Raymond Blanchard, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, Lead Clinical Supervisor, School Based Behavioral Health and Training Program, Astor Services 
  • Lynda Gargan, Executive Director, National Federation of Families
  • Nze Okoronta, Board of Directors, National Association of Peers Supporters


    • Regulatory, Policy, and Advocacy Groups:


  • Julie Hayes Seibert, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A. Senior Research Scientist – Behavioral Health, NCQA
  • Michael J.E. Grier, MPH, Director of Federal Affairs, NCQA
  • Jeni Soucie, Senior Manager, Product Management, NCQA
  • Tim Clement, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, Mental Health America
  • David Lloyd, Chief Policy Officer, Inseparable
  • Laurel Stine, JD, MA, Executive Vice President & Chief Policy Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention


    • Association and Academics:


  • Maeghan Gilmore, MPH, Vice President, Government Affairs, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness
  • David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor of Psychology, Associate Director of Clinical Training, Director, Suicide Prevention Laboratory, The Catholic University of America, Department of Psychology


      • Problems frequently evade detection, particularly within vulnerable populations such as adolescents, young adults, elderly individuals, minorities, veterans, and those affected by multiple systems. The challenge is further intensified by restricted access in rural or underserved regions, resulting in fragmented care, ineffective resource allocation, accessibility challenges, and unfavorable outcomes. Overcoming these difficulties is imperative for Medicare and Medicaid providers and health plans as they struggle to develop effective integrated and coordinated care models that cater to these populations. The objective of CMS’ Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model is to enhance the overall quality of care and results for adults dealing with mental health conditions or substance use disorder.

      The 2024 speaker line-up consists of well-respected health plans, innovative providers and physician groups, and policy makers pioneering integrated care for mental health, substance use disorders, and whole person care who will share strategies to facilitate behavioral/mental and SUD care in a cost-efficient manner that drives superior outcomes.   Specific areas we will focus on include:
      Limited Accessibility & Resources to Care:

    • Evaluating the effectiveness of short-term interventions
    • Identifying and addressing issues related to access and network inadequacies
    • Eliminating provider burnout
    • Treating cognitive disorders in primary care
    • Responding to the short- and long-term effects of limited resources in behavioral health

      • The Next Phase of Integrated & Coordinated Care Models:

    • Addressing the untreated or undertreated areas of behavioral health in primary care settings
    • Setbacks and accolades for integrated care models: How does a good integrated care model run?
    • Coordinated care models: One size does not fit all!
    • Integrating mental health and SUD into primary care settings

      • VBC Payer Strategies:

    • Advancing VBC, waivers, bonuses, quality with holds, incentives, etc. and minimizing the biggest limiting factor in behavior health progress
    • Revamping new models of behavioral care by eliminating administrative barriers and increasing payment rates
    • Payer strategies and VBC
    • Assessing how value-based payment models influence the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of behavioral health care

      • Narrowing the Gap of Care through Virtual/Digital Care for Behavioral Health:

    • Utilizing telehealth and virtual care to increase accessibility
    • How is AI being used in the treatment for mental health and Substance Use Disorders?
    • The use of telepsychiatry to improve VBC fir behavioral health
    • Evaluating the technology landscape for quality and efficacy
    • Building a dependable infrastructure for advanced technology in behavioral health

      • Data, Predictive Analytics, Interoperability, & Infrastructure in Behavioral Health:

    • Creating a robust data infrastructure for behavioral health
    • Filling the gaps of care with better data analytics and predictive modeling for better behavioral health outcomes
    • Capturing, reporting, and measuring data for earlier intervention and better outcomes
    • Get the latest on natural language processing
    • Current interoperability challenges and potential solutions

      • SDoMH through a Diversity Lens

    • Improving mental health for marginalized racial and ethnic groups, low-income, and individuals in rural populations
    • Interventions to reduce health disparities in mental health and SUD
    • Reversing social drifts
    • Barriers and drivers for ethnic care, language, and culturally appropriate care
    • Engagement and stigma considerations

      • Quality Measures & National Guidelines:

    • Operationalizing quality measures and standards
    • Physical and mental health differentiators: Evening the playing field for behavioral health outcomes
    • Measuring efficacy programs
    • Medication adherence from a quality perspective

      • Substance Use Disorders:

    • Prevention and early intervention
    • Wider access to treatment
    • Streamlining fragmented systems of care for SUD
    • Lowering the high out of pocket care for SUD prevention and treatment

      • Policy and Regulation for Mental Health & SUD:

    • Innovation in Behavior Health (IBH) updates in quality, outcomes, infrastructure, payments, and IT support
    • Mental Health Parity updates and changes affecting payers
    • Complying with telehealth, technology, and virtual care

      • Suicide and Societal/Self-Harm Prevention:

    • Best practices and preventative measure that work
    • Peer support groups
    • Supporting 988 services

    Now eligible for CEUs!
    The Behavioral/Mental Health Conference has been approved by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) to award a maximum of 9.5 non-CHIME CEUs towards the certification programs listed below.
    • Certified Healthcare CIO (CHCIO) program
    • Certified Healthcare Information Security Leader (CHISL) program
    • CHIME Foundation Certified Healthcare Executive (CFCHE) program
    • Certified Digital Health (CDH) program
    Credential holders can submit total hours earned at  https://chimecentral.org/dynamic- page/certifications-and-certificates.

    2024 All-Star Speakers
    Health Plans:
    Independence Blue Cross

    Ann C. O’Grady, LCSW

    Behavioral Health Director
    Elevance Health

    Brad Lerner, J.D.

    Director of Public Policy and Manager of Behavioral Health and Enterprise Issues
    Molina Healthcare of California

    Elizabeth Whitteker, DBH, LCSW

    Manager, Behavioral Health
    Washington State Health Care Authority

    Glory Dole, BSN, MA, RN

    Section Manager, Medicaid Contract and Compliance, Medicaid Programs Division
    Trillium Health Resources in North Carolina 

    Hayley Sink, MPA

    Director of Health Equity
    CareSource

    Jessica Johnson LPCC, LICDC

    Director, Behavioral Health and Wellness
    CareSource

    Kellie Hans Reid, LCPC

    Director, Child and Family Health
    Kaiser Permanente

    Leah Newkirk

    Senior Counsel
    Blue Cross NC

    Madalyn McMillan

    Behavioral Health Strategy Advisor
    Ohio Department of Aging

    Mina Chang, Ph.D.

    Deputy Director, Chief Analytics & Compliance Division
    CareSource

    Sandra K.  Berg, PhD, LCPC

    Senior Director of Behavioral Health and Programs
    United Healthcare Community Plan of KY

    Stephanie Koenig, LCSW

    Behavioral Health Director
    AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies

    Yavar Moghimi, MD

    Medical Director, Behavioral Health
    Providers and Health Systems:
    Elara Caring

    Gloria Merritt, RN, MSN

    VP BH Growth & Clinical Services
    University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

    Rachel Davis

    Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor
    Dawson Med & Dawson Med Urgent Care

    Umar Bowers, MD

    Medical Director
    Southwest Behavioral & Health Services

    Steven Sheets, LPC

    President & CEO
    Centerstone

    Jennifer Fillmore, MS, LCAC

    Director of Substance Use Residential and Specialized Services
    Centerstone

    Lauren Conaboy

    Vice President of National Policy
    Community Based and Non-Profit Organizations & Peer Support Groups
    The Council on Recovery

    Diane Arms

    Director, Community Behavioral Health
    Families USA

    Naomi Fener, NP, MPH

    Director, Population Health
    Families USA

    Staci Lofton

    Senior Director, Health Equity
    Molloy University

    Dr. Raymond Blanchard, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC

    Assistant Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
    National Federation of Families

    Lynda Gargan

    Executive Director
    National Association of Peers Supporters

    Nze Okoronta

    Board of Directors
    Mostly Medicaid, LLC

    Steven Hedgepeth, MBA

    Practice Lead, Government and Providers
    Regulatory, Policy, and Advocacy Groups:
    NCQA

    Julie Hayes Seibert, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A.

    Senior Research Scientist – Behavioral Health
    NCQA

    Michael J.E. Grier, MPH

    Director of Federal Affairs
    NCQA

    Jeni Soucie

    Senior Manager, Product Management
    Mental Health America

    Tim Clement

    Vice President of Federal Government Affairs
    Inseparable

    David Lloyd

    Chief Policy Officer
    American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

    Laurel Stine, JD, MA

    Executive Vice President & Chief Policy Officer
    Association and Academics:
    The Catholic University of America, Department of Psychology

    David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP

    Professor of Psychology, Associate Director of Clinical Training, Director, Suicide Prevention Laboratory
    Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness

    Maeghan Gilmore, MPH

    Vice President, Government Affairs
    Now eligible for CEUs!

    The Behavioral/Mental Health Conference has been approved by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) to award a maximum of 9.5 non-CHIME CEUs towards the certification programs listed below.



    2024 Partners
    Supporting Organization
    • Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD<br> Innovations for Medicaid, Medicare, and Duals
    Media & Association Partner
    • Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD<br> Innovations for Medicaid, Medicare, and Duals

    Who Should Attend:

    This program is designed to appeal to Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and Dual SNPs, Healthcare providers/physician groups, hospitals, integrated delivery systems, ACOs  —Vice Presidents, Directors, Managers, Supervisors and Specialists of:

    ● Behavioral Health ● Mental Health ● Population Health ● Substance Abuse Disorders (SUD) ● Opioid Abuse ● Medical Directors ● Chief Medical Officers ● Case Management ● Clinicians ● Psychiatrist  ● Psychologists  ● SDOH ● Health Equity ● Health Services ● Government Programs ● Medicare, Medicaid, Duals ● Medical Directors ● Quality Improvement ● Clinical Officers ● Medical Home ● Utilization Management ● Care Management and Coordination ● Rural Health ● Regulatory/Compliance

    Plus:
    Substance Abuse Clinics, Psychiatric offices, Psychologists, Suicide prevention, Rehabilitation centers, Consultants, Service Providers, Health Technology Innovators, Data Analytic Providers, Remote Patient Monitoring organizations, etc.

    Register Now