View the 2025 Agenda | AEP Medicare Readiness Summit | A RISE Health Conference

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The 8th Annual AEP Medicare Readiness Summit
April 24-25, 2025
Seattle, WA

Past Agenda

Thursday - April 24, 2025

11:00 AM 12:00 PM

10:00 AM 11:00 AM

9:00 AM 10:00 AM

8:00 AM 9:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

11:00 AM 7:00 PM

10:00 AM 6:00 PM

9:00 AM 5:00 PM

8:00 AM 4:00 PM

Information Desk Open

11:00 AM 9:00 PM

10:00 AM 8:00 PM

9:00 AM 7:00 PM

8:00 AM 6:00 PM

Exhibit Hall Open

12:00 PM 12:10 PM

11:00 AM 11:10 AM

10:00 AM 10:10 AM

9:00 AM 9:10 AM

Opening Remarks

Shannon I. Decker, PhD, MBA, MBA, MEd, MEd, Founder & CEO
VBC One

12:10 PM 1:10 PM

11:10 AM 12:10 PM

10:10 AM 11:10 AM

9:10 AM 10:10 AM

Keynote Address: Well Begun is Half Done: Bending the Insurance Risk Curve Using Applied Behavioral Science

  • Explore how AEP marks the beginning of the behavior change relationship that you'll establish with your members and how applied behavioral science can help
  • Discuss how the next era of insurance involves bending the risk curve, changing the behaviors of those we insure
  • Learn how increasing data and improvements in actuarial science have made it easier than ever to map the risk curve but also results in diminishing marginal returns to greater accuracy

Matt Wallaert, Chief Experience Officer, Oceans
Founder, BeSci.io
Former Chief Behavioral Officer, Clover Health

1:10 PM 1:55 PM

12:10 PM 12:55 PM

11:10 AM 11:55 AM

10:10 AM 10:55 AM

Regulatory Review for a New Administration

  • Analyze potential regulatory changes and their implications under the new administration 
  • Examine the adjustment in broker payment structures and the results of the stay 
  • Gain insights into anticipated regulatory trends for 2026 and beyond 

Tricia Beckmann, J.D., Principal 
Faegre Drinker


Kacey Dugan 
Director - Policy & Regulatory Affairs
Faegre Drinker 

1:55 PM 2:20 PM

12:55 PM 1:20 PM

11:55 AM 12:20 PM

10:55 AM 11:20 AM

Networking Break

2:20 PM 3:10 PM

1:20 PM 2:10 PM

12:20 PM 1:10 PM

11:20 AM 12:10 PM

Panel: Lessons Learned from the 2025 AEP & OEP Season

  • Review the main obstacles faced during the most recent AEP and OEP plus what was done to overcome them
  • Hear success stories that drove engagement and enrollment, maximizing outcomes in the competitive environment
  • Discuss insights and innovative approaches into navigating the complex upcoming AEP

 

Moderator: 
Hank Osowski 
Managing Partner 
Strategic Health Group 

Panelists:
Tara Minissale, Manager, GM Broker Affairs & Partnerships - Government Markets
Independence Blue Cross 

Maggie Mood, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Mass Advantage

 

3:10 PM 4:10 PM

2:10 PM 3:10 PM

1:10 PM 2:10 PM

12:10 PM 1:10 PM

Networking Lunch

4:10 PM 5:00 PM

3:10 PM 4:00 PM

2:10 PM 3:00 PM

1:10 PM 2:00 PM

Brace for Impact: Balancing Pharmacy Benefit’s Effects on the Bottom Line

  • Discuss the top 10 Medicare negotiated medications and the financial implications for your plan
  • Hear from industry experts on innovative approaches for managing the rising costs associated with GLP-1 medications
  • Explore effective strategies to reduce costs and balance projected pharmacy benefit expenses leading into 2026

 

Gary Melis R.Ph., Clinical Pharmacist

Network Health

5:00 PM 5:45 PM

4:00 PM 4:45 PM

3:00 PM 3:45 PM

2:00 PM 2:45 PM

Thinking Broader, Going Deeper

  • Consider the importance of being local and getting involved in your community 
  • Broaden your mindset around a Community Center of Influence and the broker’s influence on their community and the industry
  • Explore strategies to maintain consistent contact with clients
  • Have a solid plan in place for AEP now, and consider best practices for what that plan should look like
  • Be informed, prepared, local, and involved to achieve sustainable, long-term growth

Samantha George, Director of Client Relationships
The Baldwin Group

Tina Dueringer, BSN, RN, CCM, PCC, CEO, Principal Advisor
Dueringer Advisors

5:45 PM 6:15 PM

4:45 PM 5:15 PM

3:45 PM 4:15 PM

2:45 PM 3:15 PM

Networking Break

6:15 PM 7:05 PM

5:15 PM 6:05 PM

4:15 PM 5:05 PM

3:15 PM 4:05 PM

Optimizing Your Broker Training Program

  • Home in on the tools brokers need to sell your product first 
  • Discover tested training methods that lead to growth 
  • Explore a variety of communication methods to effectively engage your brokers 

Larry Baca, Director, Medicare Sales, California 
Providence Health Plan 

 

7:05 PM 7:50 PM

6:05 PM 6:50 PM

5:05 PM 5:50 PM

4:05 PM 4:50 PM

Engaging & Retaining Your D-SNP Population

  • Analyze the effectiveness of different channels for reaching your D-SNP population to create an outreach strategy 
  • Determine tactics to overcome common digital access barriers to ensure your members receive the information they need  
  • Utilize grassroots marketing efforts to engage members in authentically local ways by partnering with community groups 

Robert Bever
Director of Medicare Sales
Banner Health 

7:50 PM 8:00 PM

6:50 PM 7:00 PM

5:50 PM 6:00 PM

4:50 PM 5:00 PM

Closing Remarks

Shannon I. Decker, PhD, MBA, MBA, MEd, MEd, Founder & CEO
VBC One

8:00 PM 9:00 PM

7:00 PM 8:00 PM

6:00 PM 7:00 PM

5:00 PM 6:00 PM

Networking Cocktail Reception

Join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and face-to-face networking with peers.

Friday - April 25, 2025

11:00 AM 12:00 PM

10:00 AM 11:00 AM

9:00 AM 10:00 AM

8:00 AM 9:00 AM

Registration Desk Opens and Networking Breakfast

11:00 AM 4:35 PM

10:00 AM 3:35 PM

9:00 AM 2:35 PM

8:00 AM 1:35 PM

Exhibit Hall Open

12:00 PM 12:10 PM

11:00 AM 11:10 AM

10:00 AM 10:10 AM

9:00 AM 9:10 AM

Welcome Remarks

Shannon I. Decker, PhD, MBA, MBA, MEd, MEd, Founder & CEO
VBC One

12:10 PM 1:00 PM

11:10 AM 12:00 PM

10:10 AM 11:00 AM

9:10 AM 10:00 AM

Panel: Harnessing the Power of AI in Medicare: Preparing for the Future of AEP 

  • Leverage AI to improve the efficiency and accuracy of enrollment task
  • Gage how to best ensure your AI tools adhere to CMS regulation
  • Look at upcoming trends and technologies that are transforming AEP preparation and delivery

Moderator
Shannon I. Decker, PhD, MBA, MBA, MEd, MEd, Founder & CEO
VBC One

Panelists:
Karen June Kuipers, CEO
Incentivize Consulting Inc.

Nikki Hungate, Director of Medicare
PacificSource

Jason Vallejos, Executive VP & CSO
Syndicated Insurance Agency

 

1:00 PM 1:45 PM

12:00 PM 12:45 PM

11:00 AM 11:45 AM

10:00 AM 10:45 AM

Navigating the 2025 CMS Marketing Minefield: Compliance Strategies for AEP Success

  • Decode the 2025 CMS Final Rule updates impacting marketing, brokers, TPMOs, and disclaimers 
  • Build a proactive compliance plan to avoid sanctions, enforcement letters, and member confusion 
  • Balance growth + guardrails using real-world examples of compliant messaging that still drives enrollment 
  • Develop an internal “CMS Checkpoint” system for campaign approval, vendor oversight, and training 

Tina Dueringer, BSN, RN, CCM, PCC, CEO, Principal Advisor 
Dueringer Advisors 

Jason Hegstad, independent Medicare sales expert 

1:45 PM 2:20 PM

12:45 PM 1:20 PM

11:45 AM 12:20 PM

10:45 AM 11:20 AM

Networking Break

2:20 PM 3:05 PM

1:20 PM 2:05 PM

12:20 PM 1:05 PM

11:20 AM 12:05 PM

Operationalizing AEP Prep

  • Discover how to bring the organization together to prepare for AEP  
  • Consider best practices for when and how to effectively share information to internal teams and external partners 
  • Explore strategic operational variations depending on the type of MA plan 

Nikki Rital Hungate, Director of Medicare 
PacificSource 

3:05 PM 4:05 PM

2:05 PM 3:05 PM

1:05 PM 2:05 PM

12:05 PM 1:05 PM

Networking Lunch

4:05 PM 4:50 PM

3:05 PM 3:50 PM

2:05 PM 2:50 PM

1:05 PM 1:50 PM

Supplemental Benefits Under the Microscope: Addressing Utilization and Value

  • Review the latest requirements for tracking and reporting utilization 
  • Examine common reasons why members may not fully utilize available benefits such as lack of awareness, accessibility issues, or perceived value and strategies to navigate those reasons for better usage 
  • Leverage utilization data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities to know which benefits to keep and where to cut costs 

 

Tomeshia Beckett, J.D., L.L.M., Chief Compliance Officer 
Millennium Physicians 

4:50 PM 5:35 PM

3:50 PM 4:35 PM

2:50 PM 3:35 PM

1:50 PM 2:35 PM

Maximize Membership Growth through Agent/Physician Collaboration

  • Leverage provider relationships to gain success in AEP sales and enrollments
  • Consider strategies for AEP growth through engaged conversation and community education
  • Focus on collaboration between agents and providers for AEP growth and empower providers with stronger business knowledge

Dushyant Viswanathan, MD, ABIM, ABoIM, AACE, CMO
The Columbia Center for Integrative Medicine

Jason Vallejos, Executive VP & CSO
Syndicated Insurance Agency

Elizabeth Villatoro Castro, Chief Growth Officer
Syndicated Insurance Agency

5:35 PM 6:05 PM

4:35 PM 5:05 PM

3:35 PM 4:05 PM

2:35 PM 3:05 PM

Conference Wrap Up & Interactive Q&A

Come prepared for an interactive dialogue as you unpack the lessons learned throughout the conference. Walk away with your most pressing questions answered and insights you can bring back to your organization. 

Shannon I. Decker, PhD, MBA, MBA, MEd, MEd, Founder & CEO
VBC One

6:05 PM 6:15 PM

5:05 PM 5:15 PM

4:05 PM 4:15 PM

3:05 PM 3:15 PM

Closing Remarks