Featured Events
The Alliance regularly holds webinars and forums on impactful health care topics throughout the year. All events listed are free and open to the public. Join the conversation!
Balancing the Value Equation in Healthcare
April 2 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time | Parkview Event Space, Seattle
Through collective action, we can empower healthcare purchasers, health plans, and providers to drive substantial market change, ultimately improving the quality, cost, and equity of care.
Join us this April to hear from leaders with firsthand experience achieving significant savings and increasing member and patient value through new and innovative models and initiatives.
Panel discussions will focus on how to improve healthcare purchasing decisions and the current climate of health care policy in the country.
WHA’s Executive Director Dr. Drew Oliveira will share insights into how we are working with our membership to improve the cost, quality, and access to care, ensuring everyone in Washington receives high-value care when needed.
Morning Keynote
Ge Bai, PhD, CPA – Professor of Accounting at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Professor of Health Policy & Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Bai’s keynote will focus on challenges for purchasing healthcare, hospital pricing and transparency, direct contracting to improve value and addressing other challenges facing employers.
Afternoon Keynote
Cora Opsahl – Health Fund Director at Building Services 32BJ Benefits Fund
Opsahl’s keynote will touch on her experience as a large health fund director meeting fiduciary responsibilities through a value-driven approach. She will provide insights on achieving savings and highlight resources to help in health care purchasing decisions.
More Information:
- Greg Marchand – Director, Global Benefits, The Boeing Company
- Christina Johansen – Managing Director, Benefit Operations, SEIU 775 Benefits Group
- Julie Thuy Underwood – Deputy City Manager of Operations, City of Kirkland
- Carol Wilmes – Director of Member Pooling Programs, Association of Washington Cities
- Matthew Lund – CEO/President, Fortune Management Inc.
- Peter Jong – Principal, Health & Benefits Consultant, Mercer
- Megan Pedersen – Director, King County Office of Labor Relations
- Shawn Gremminger – President & CEO, National Alliance of Health Care Purchaser Coalitions
- Carley Hamann – VP, Markets, Vera Whole Health
- Judy Zerzan-Thul, MD, MPH – Chief Medical Officer, WA Health Care Authority
- Jim Freeburg – Executive Director, Patient Coalition of Washington
- Nancy Giunto – Former Executive Director, Washington Health Alliance
Read the Full Agenda
9:00 AM Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:15 AM What’s Next for Self-Insured Purchasers?
Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, Professor of Practice, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
10:00 AM Practically Speaking: Next steps to improve value
Moderator: Jim Freeburg, Executive Director, Patient Coalition of Washington
Panelists: Ge Bai; Nancy Giunto, Retired Executive Director, Washington Health Alliance; Drew Oliveira, Executive Director, Washington Health Alliance; Greg Marchand, Director of Global Benefits, The Boeing Company; and Peter Jong, Principal, Health & Benefits Consultant, Mercer
10:40 AM Break
11:00 AM From Vision to Value: An employer’s journey
Moderator: Judy Zerzan, Chief Medical Officer, WA Health Care Authority
Panelists: Carley Hamann, VP Markets, Vera Whole Health; and Julie Thuy Underwood, Deputy City Manager of Operations, City of Kirkland
11:40 AM A Value Add: WHA Today
Drew Oliveira, MD, MHA, Executive Director, Washington Health Alliance
12:00 PM Lunch (Provided)
1:00 PM The Path to Possibility: How to Enact Change in Your Benefits
Cora Opsahl, Health Fund Director, 32BJ Benefit Funds
1:30 PM Balancing Successes and Pitfalls to Enacting Change
Moderator: Denise Giambalvo, Director, Member Engagement and Business Strategy, Washington Health Alliance
Panelists: Christina Johansen, Managing Director, Benefit Operations, SEIU 775 Benefits Group; Matt Lund, CEO/President, Fortune Management Inc.; Cora Opsahl; Megan Pedersen, Director, King County Office of Labor Relations; and Carol Wilmes, Director of Member Pooling Programs, Association of Washington Cities
2:15 PM Leveraging Policy to Drive Better Value for Employers
Shawn Gremminger, President & CEO, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
2:45 PM Closing Comments
3:00 PM Adjourn
Parkview Event Space
200 8th Ave N. Seattle, WA 98109
Building features street-parking access and a parking garage.
More information at: parkviewseattle.com.
This event is being held with the support of our sponsors:
If you are having issues accessing the registration link, please contact Nicholas Rondinone, Senior Communications Manager, at nrondinone@wahealthalliance.org.
For the remainder of the Alliance events, including board and committee meetings, please visit the Alliance’s calendar page.