2026 Washington Health Policy Commons

Ryan Moran runs one of the most important agencies in Washington State government. In this keynote address, he’ll provide an overview of the work of the Washington State Health Care Authority, ranging from interim work groups to a look ahead to the 2027 session.

• Ryan Moran: Director, Washington State Health Care Authority

Under Commissioner Patty Kuderer, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner has been reinvigorated, contributing new energy to topics like primary care and transparency. This breakout will be a deep dive into work of the OIC with a group of senior staff. 

• Ingrid Ulrey: Senior Health Policy Advisor
• Todd Lovshin: Deputy Insurance Commissioner, Rates, Forms & Provider Networks
• Nico Janssen: Senior Health Policy Analyst
• Andrew Davis: Deputy Insurance Commissioner, Consumer Protection (Invited) 

Perhaps it’s time to think differently about how to generate the workforce to support the health of our community. This panel of experts will discuss innovative ideas to build workforce capacity that can meet the demands of a diverse range of health needs. 

• Colby Takeda: CEO, Pear Suite 
• Justin Gill: President, WSNA 
• Elizabeth New: Director, Center for Workers Rights and Health Care, Washington Policy Center 

There is a lot of talk about AI in health care. So, how is it being deployed? And how effective is that in terms of either cost, quality or access? This session will talk through what’s taking shape in the market today, what appears to be working, and what we can learn from it.

• Lauren Gums: EVP, Transcarent
• Laurent Rotival: CIO, Cambia Health Solutions 
• Daniel Kelly: Co-founder, Chief Innovation Officer, NewDays

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is perhaps the most important federal health legislation since the passage of the ACA. It’s fundamentally shifting the Medicaid program, from financing to eligibility. Listen to these respected leaders discuss how they are responding to the challenges presented in OBBBA.

• Leanne Berge: CEO, Community Health Plan of Washington
• Caitlin Safford: Senior Policy Advisor- Public Health, Healthcare, Behavioral Health, Office of the Governor
• Chelene Whiteaker: SVP, Washington Hospital Association 
• Emily Brice: Co-Executive Director, NW Health Law Advocates 

Often, it’s the folks in the hallways of the capitol, working with policy makers and interfacing with market leaders, who know exactly where health care is heading – months before everyone else. These respected advocates will share their vision for policy in 2027, and the implications for the market in the months ahead. 

• Sean Graham: Senior Director, Government Affairs and Policy, WSMA
• Amber Lewis: President, Lewis Consulting
• Jessica Hauffe: Director, Government Affairs, WSNA
• Chelsea Hager: Partner, Insight Strategic Partners 

A tremendous amount of effort, energy and investment have poured into Washington’s BH system over the last decade. What do we have to show for it? Where can progress be made today? This panel will engage in a frank discussion and will welcome audience engagement in the conversation. 

• Rep. Lauren Davis: Member, House Health Care and Wellness Committee 
• Jolene Seda: CEO, Triumph Treatment Services 
• Tom Sebastian: CEO, Compass Health 

Rural health transformation funds represent one of the most significant investments in rural health ever by the federal government. So, what should we expect to see from the five-year effort? This session will explore the road ahead and outline what success might look like for Washington State. 

• Elya Prystowsky: Executive Director, The Rural Collaborative 
• Wendy Sisk: CEO, Peninsula Behavioral Health 
• Priya Helweg: Director, Rural Health Transformation Program, HCA

This session will talk about the realities of today’s health care ecosystem, where one entity’s cost is another entity’s revenue. From consumers to value based care, from policy to the market, this session will discuss the challenges of affordability in today’s health care system. 

• Umar Farooq: EVP Health Care Services, Premera Blue Cross 
• Jim Freeburg: Executive Director, Patient Coalition of Washington
• Shirley Prasad: Director, Government Relations, Washington Health Benefit Exchange 

This panel of Democratic legislators will look ahead to the challenges of policy making in today’s political climate. From budgets to bills, bring your questions to what will be an interactive discussion. 

• Sen. Annette Cleveland: Chair, Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee 
• Rep. My-Linh Thai: Member, House Health Care and Wellness Committee 
• Rep. Alicia Rule:  Vice Chair, House Health Care and Wellness Committee 

What does making progress on quality mean in today’s health care ecosystem? This session will talk through what has been a period of mixed results in quality metrics, with an eye to the systems that will improve care for Washington’s community. 

• Drew Oliveira, MD: Medical Director, Washington Health Alliance 
• Georgia Thomas, RN: VP, Quality & Safety, Kaiser Permanente Washington
• Kate Broderick: COO, Physicians of Southwest Washington
• Rick Rubin: President, Washington Health Forum (moderator)

As the scope of today’s health care system has expanded to include more social services, this has highlighted the challenges in supporting care across the safety net. This session will discuss the initiatives in place to serve populations across silos, from housing to hospitals. 

• Whitney Haggerson: VP, Health Equity and Medicaid, Providence Health and Services
• Lynn Kimball: Executive Director, Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington
• Danie Eagleton: VP, Quality, Innovation and Health, Plymouth Housing

New legislation is taking shape that will create a program to support transparency and oversight of market transactions and consolidation. Learn what is coming, and how that work has been informed by similar programs in Oregon. 

• Bob Crittenden, MD: Professor Emeritus, Univ. of Washington 
• Tom Holt: CEO, The Holt Company 
• Ross Valore: Board and Commission Director, HCA 

Gov. Ferguson will make comments about his administration’s response to HR 1 and his work to prepare a budget ahead of the next legislative session. He’ll then sit for an informal discussion about state health policy in 2026 and what senior health care leaders might be thinking about as 2027 gets upon us. 

• Hon. Bob Ferguson: Governor, State of Washington 

Congresswoman Kim Schrier will share her perspective on the federal health policy landscape, including recent changes to Medicaid and the challenges facing access and affordability . She’ll then sit for an informal conversation about what she is seeing from Washington, D.C and that impact on Washington.

• Rep. Kim Schrier: US House of Representatives, Congressional District 8 

Some of our state’s leading policy makers from the minority party will join this session to discuss the politics of 2026 and the implications for policy in 2027. Bring your questions for an interactive panel. 

• Sen. Ron Muzzall: Ranking Member, Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee 
• Sen. Jeff Holy: Member, Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee (Invited)
• Rep. Matt Marshall: Member, House Health Care and Wellness Committee (Invited) 

From HR 1 to budget challenges in the next legislature, this session will hear from executive leaders at work to ensure the Medicaid system holds fast during a period of transition. These senior executives will discuss the road ahead for our state’s safety net. 

• Stacey Lopez: Chief Clinical Officer, Sound Behavioral Health 
• Lisa Yohalem: CEO, HealthPoint 
• Matt Lund: Chief Contracting Officer, UW Medicine
• Beth Johnson: CEO, Coordinated Care (Invited) 

If the passage of the ACA marked a period of collaboration and removal of walls between silos, how has HR 1 and a period of retrenchment changed this culture? These leaders will discuss the challenges and opportunities today for working together in 2027 and beyond. 

• Alice Steiner: Policy Director, Unite Us 
• Ginny Weir: CEO, Foundation for Health Care Quality 
• Maura Little: CEO, Washington Alliance for Health Data Exchange 

While some focus is on public budgets and policy transitions, employers continue to be asked to pay premiums rising faster than the rate of inflation. What does relief or help look like for employers – and their employees – in 2027. This panel will take up the topic with an eye to reasonable solutions from both policy and the marketplace. 

• Ashley Thurow: VP, Contracting and HCN Network, Providence Health and Services
• Stephanie Walker: VP, Key Accounts, Regence Blue Shield 
• Rachel Smith: CEO, Washington Roundtable 

Three of the HCA’s most senior leaders will discuss their plans for 2027 and the scope of changes to come. Bring your questions to what will be a wide ranging discussion with some of the HCA’s key executives. 

• Trinity Wilson: Director, Medicaid and Apple Health, HCA 
• Dave Iseminger: Director, Employees and Retirees Benefit, HCA
• Teesha Kirschbaum: Asst. Director, Div. of Behavioral Health 

What has public health learned since the COVID epidemic swamped Washington State in 2020? How has public health changed as a result. This session will review the impacts of past experience, the plan for the future, and where opportunities for alignment exist in 2027. 

• Tao Kwan-Gett: State Health Officer, Department of Health 
• Brad Finegood: Strategic Advisor, Seattle-King County Public Health 
• Chantal Harmon Reed: Director, Public Health, Tacoma Pierce County Public Health (invited)

From reductions in residency spots to pressure on reimbursements, primary care is facing significant pressure. This is generating momentum in policy discussions which may catalyze change ahead. This group of experts will connect dots across policy, care delivery and financing.

• Kristen Wyrick, MD: Regional Medical Director for Primary Care, Optum Washington
• Mack Hinson, MD: President, Kinwell Primary Care 
• Hiroshi Nakano: Board Member, International Community Health Services 

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will share her perspective on the future of health care policy, including her efforts to expand coverage through Medicare for All, and establish stronger guardrails around private equity ownership in health care. She’ll then sit for an informal conversation about affordability and the policy changes she believes will shape the health care system in the years ahead.

• Rep. Pramila Jayapal: US House of Representatives, Congressional District 7

One of Washington State’s most respected policy makers, Sen. June Robinson,  will offer a look ahead at the 2027 legislative session and the difficult choices involved in crafting Washington’s 2027–2029 budget.  She’ll discuss the fiscal pressures facing the state, competing priorities for limited resources, and what the budget environment could mean for health care and other key investments.

• Sen. June Robinson: Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee