2024 WEDI Spring Conference

Event Details

WEDI'S VIRTUAL MULTI-DAY SHOWCASE OF HEALTH IT EXCELLENCE RETURNS!

VIEW THE CONFERENCE DRAFT AGENDA HERE

Join us for 4 fantastic days of best practices, solutions, lessons learned and emerging trends. In addition to sessions on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, standards and more, we're paying special attention to Prior Authorization and Data Exchange solutions as the industry continues to identify new and innovative ways to improve information exchange, enhance care quality, and reduce cost and burden.

Excited to announce Aneesh Chopra will be our keynote speaker on May 14

Aneesh Chopra is the President of CareJourney, an open data membership service building a trusted, transparent rating system for physicians, networks, facilities and markets on the move to value. He served as the first U.S. Chief Technology Officer under President Obama (’09-’12) and in 2014, authored, “Innovative State: How New Technologies can Transform Government.” He serves on the Board of the Health Care Cost Institute, the New Jersey Innovation Institute, and earned his MPP from Harvard Kennedy School and BA from The Johns Hopkins University.

Please welcome MIke Tuffin, President and CEO, AHIP

Mike Tuffin has worked at the intersection of the health care industry and public policy for more than 20 years. He returned to AHIP in January 2024, having previously served the association as EVP for Public Affairs. His prior roles include serving as SVP of External Affairs at UnitedHealth Group and leading the Washington DC headquarters of APCO Worldwide. He earned a BA from Providence College and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Please welcome Christopher Ross, Chief Information Officer, Mayo Clinic

Cris Ross, CIO, Mayo Clinic, has 30 years prior experience in healthcare, technology and government. At Mayo Clinic, he is responsible for all information technology. Since joining in 2012, he has revamped IT strategy, helped lead an enterprise-wide EHR convergence program, developed partnerships and initiated major innovation programs in data, analytics and machine learning. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, he held technology and business leadership roles with Surescripts, MinuteClinic and UnitedHealth Group. Previously he held various roles as a tech entrepreneur, financial manager and a congressional aide.

Welcome back Steven Posnack, Deputy National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)

Steven Posnack serves as the Deputy National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. In this role, he advises the national coordinator, leads the execution of ONC's mission, and represents ONC's interests at a national and international level. In conjunction with the national coordinator, Steve oversees ONC's federal coordination, regulatory policy, public-private initiatives, and the overall implementation of statutory authorities and requirements, such as those from the 21st Century Cures Act and HITECH Act. He earned a Bachelor's degree in computer science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a Master's degree in security informatics rom Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute, and a Master's degree in health policy from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Conference Highlights (Subject to Change, Updating Constantly)

WEDI Workgroup Meetings: Monday, May 13. We welcome member and non-member attendees access to our workgroup meetings, the life blood of WEDI. Workgroups provide thoughtful leadership and common-sense approaches that enhance the exchange of clinical and administrative healthcare information. They collect input, exchange ideas, and make recommendations that inspire impactful and far-reaching change in our industry. Workgroups will be scheduling their meetings for May 13 from 9am- 12pm eastern. Once again, open to all conference attendees, members and non-members (a conference benefit only offered twice a year).

Sequoia Spotlight: Interoperability Updates from the Sequoia Project; May 13

The Sequoia Project, through its initiatives, and its engagement with government and industry, are experts who can identify the barriers to interoperability and pioneer processes to make health information exchange work on a national level.

Tune in to hear from Payers, Providers, and QHINs participating in Sequoia Project interoperability initiatives. Learn about the work underway to help payers comply with CMS rules, what’s new with QHINS, and how a new nationwide data usability movement will improve health data quality.

Overview of Sequoia

Mariann Yeager, CEO, The Sequoia Project

Interoperability Matters: Payer-to-Payer API Workgroup

David Pyke, Contractor, The Sequoia Project (moderator)
Robert (Bob) Oakley, Strategy Lead, Physician Innovation, Evernorth
Nancy Beavin, Provider Connectivity Leader, Medica

QHINs and Payers Panel

Zoe Barber, Policy Director, The Sequoia Project (moderator)
Kathyrn Bingman, VP of Interoperability Adoption, eHealth Exchange
Ryan Bohochik, VP, Value-Based Care Epic
Matt Becker, VP of Interoperability, Kno2

Data Usability: Data Usability Taking Root Movement and Payers

Didi Davis, VP, Informatics, Conformance and Interoperability, The Sequoia Project (moderator)
Adam Davis, MD, Physician Informaticist, Sutter Health
Lauren Riplinger, Chief Public Policy and Impact Officer, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

Privacy and Security Educational Block, May 13

Agency Update from the HHS Office for Civil Rights- Tim Noonan, Depity Director for Health Information Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity, HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

Lesson Learned from a Ransomware Incident- The healthcare sector is increasingly funding itself in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, with ransomware attacks having almost doubled in the last year. Attacks disrupt the delivery of health care, with common disruptions including electronic systems, scheduled care, pharmaceutical workflow and ambulance diversion to name a few. We welcome healthcare stakeholders who have experienced a ransomware attack to understand what happened, the actions that took place immediately afterwards and what lessons can be passed along to the industry in hopes to avoid future incidents.

Matthew Otwell, CISO, Maryland Department of Health
Rebecca Freeman, Chief Nursing Information Officer, University of Vermont Health Network
Nathan Couture, Network AVP Information Security and CISO, University of Vermont Health Network
Lisa Bisterfeldt, Program Manager, Cyber Security, St. Luke's Health System
Troy Adams, Cyber Engagement Specialist, Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3)

Tuesday, May 14, Prior Authorization and Data Exchange Solutions

Conference Keynote: Aneesh Chopra, CareJourney

Taking a pulse of the industry. With the latest in regulations promoting an increase in interoperability and access, along with emerging technology and trends in health IT, we welcome Aneesh's insight on the industry; the benefits, the challenges and what is on the horizon.

Takeaways from WEDI's Road to Interoperability and Prior Authorization Education Series

CAQH Index Report:

The CAQH Index is the industry source for tracking health plan and provider adoption of fully electronic administrative transactions and the opportunity for future savings. We welcome Kristine Burnaska, Research and Measurement with CAQH to our spring conference to offer additional insight on the 2023 report.

CDex, PDex, and all that FHIR Jazz

Are you seeking guidance on how to comply with the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057)? Don Rucker, former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and Jocelyn Keegan, HL7 Da Vinci Project program manager, will discuss real world application of the Da Vinci guides referenced in Patient, Provider, Payer-to-Payer APIs and outline how they interact with common payer and provider workflow challenges like risk, quality, prior authorization, so we can enable automation, streamline workflows and improve health care delivery.

Where to Start? Considerations for Implementing HL7 FHIR-enabled Prior Authorization

Michael Gould, Burden Reduction Core Team Member, HL7 Da Vinci Project

CMS Interoperability and PA Updates and Discussion:

WEDI welcomes Alexandra Mugge, Chief Health Informatics Officer and Director at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to offer news and updates on the Interoperability and PA Rule and will field questions from conference attendees.

The Final Rule (CMS-0057-F): Improving Prior Authorization Processes via API & Lessons from Real World Implementers. Presented by MCG Health

Wednesday, May 15, Data Exchange Solutions; Learn from Early Adopters and Pioneers

WEDI Welcomes Mayo Clinic's Cris Ross

Cris Ross, CIO, Mayo Clinic, has 30 years prior experience in healthcare, technology and government. At Mayo Clinic, he is responsible for all information technology. Since joining in 2012, he has revamped IT strategy, helped lead an enterprise-wide EHR convergence program, developed partnerships and initiated major innovation programs in data, analytics and machine learning. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, he held technology and business leadership roles with Surescripts, MinuteClinic and UnitedHealth Group. Previously he held various roles as a tech entrepreneur, financial manager and a congressional aide.

WEDI Welcomes ONC's Steven Posnack

Steven Posnack serves as the Deputy National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. In this role, he advises the national coordinator, leads the execution of ONC’s mission, and represents ONC’s interests at a national and international level. In conjunction with the national coordinator, Steve oversees ONC’s federal coordination, regulatory policy, public-private initiatives, and the overall implementation of statutory authorities and requirements, such as those from the 21st Century Cures Act and HITECH Act.

CDex Implementation Updates and Insight:

Providence became the first major health system to implement Clinical Data Exchange (CDex) standards. Semira Singh and Michael Westover from Providence will discuss not only their implementation experiences, but also the benefits of using CDex, including decision making, reduced burden, improved patient outcomes and enhanced quality of care to patients.

Industry Collaboration to Improve Provider Data Quality:

CAQH is driving a collaborative effort with health plans from across the country to support providers, improve data quality, and reduce abrasion through collective action. CAQH and a panel of health plans will join us to discuss the root causes and share insights and next steps in solving the challenge of data quality.

Best Practices for ERA and EFT Enrollments:

The Remittance Advice and Payment subworkgroup has refreshed a previously published paper discussing best practices for ERA and EFT Enrollments, incorporating information gathered by The Cooperative Exchange on the topic. This session, hosted by Pam Grosze (PNC Bank) and Pat Wijtyk (Cognizant), the co-chairs for WEDI’s Remittance Advice & Payment Workgroup, will provide an overview of enrollment processes for ERA and EFT, and will review challenges and best practices for providers, payers, and clearinghouses. Simplifying the enrollment process through these best practices should facilitate an increase in the utilization of the EFT and ERA transactions and reduce administrative costs for all stakeholders.

Newest Capabilities that the Future Electronic Eligibility & Benefit Offers: 8040 Enhancements Session

Are you interested in a high-level review of the changes introduced in the newly published Health Care Eligibility & Benefits Inquiry & response transaction set? This session will review the general business capabilities introduced in the latest X12 published Technical Report Type 3 (8040) that will help health care payers and providers address business challenges they face today. Those challenges we face today could possibly result in costly phone calls. When it's time, implementing these changes could help curb those costs.

Thursday, May 16: Tech Standards, Governance and the Healthcare Cybersecurity Landscape

WEDI Welcomes AHIP's Mike Tuffin

Mike Tuffin is President & CEO of AHIP, the national trade association whose members provide health care coverage, services, and solutions to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. Tuffin has worked at the intersection of the health care industry and public policy for more than 20 years. He returned to AHIP in January 2024, having previously served the association as EVP for Public Affairs. His prior roles include serving as SVP of External Affairs at UnitedHealth Group and leading the Washington, DC headquarters of APCO Worldwide.

APIs, Apps, and AI: A Futuristic Look at Interoperability Over the Next 10 Years

The trifecta of application programming interfaces (APIs), artificial intelligence (AI), and consumer and provider applications have the potential to significantly move the needle to improve interoperability and innovation. While we’ve spent the last 15 years digitizing health care data, the next 10-15 years will be spent making the data actionable using APIs and third-party applications coupled with personalized insights powered by artificial intelligence. Come learn how the policy work ONC and CMS are doing, coupled with private sector initiatives and other FHIR accelerators, make this the most exciting time in the history of digital health

Standards Development and Operating Rules Organization Updates

WEDI invites conference attendees to attend this important spotlight as SDOs (Standard Development Organizations) and Operating Rules Entities offer updates on their activities and address any questions from the audience. Learn more about these organizations; their activities, workgroups, products, and how to participate. Be an agent of change for the healthcare industry and work with these great organizations.

Discussing Healthcare’s Cybersecurity Landscape

NIST SP 800-66 Rev 2, Implementing the HIPAA Security Rule, focuses on safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI) held or maintained by regulated entities. Our panel of privacy and security SMEs will not only discuss the guidance and resources connected to the rule but will also expand the discussion to look at the ever-evolving concerns surrounding healthcare data security.

CMS National Standards Group Presentation and Feedback Session!

The CMS National Standards Group, on behalf of HHS, administers the Compliance Review Program to Ensure compliance among covered entities with HIPAA Administrative Simplification rules for electronic health care transactions. We welcome NSG to offer updates on on their enforcement efforts and host a feedback session (your voices needed!) on their enforcement and compliance process.

“Model” Behavior: Updates from CMS’ Innovation Center (CMMI)

Todd Couts is the Deputy Director of the Business Services Group (BSG) in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). He leads technology, data, budget, and acquisition initiatives for innovative models such as Accountable Care Organization and bundled payment models. Prior to CMMI, Todd played key roles in other CMS programs such the ICD-10 implementation, CMS’ EHR meaningful use implementation, and the Marketplace implementation.

Interested to become an Event Sponsor or Education Partner?

Download the Spring Conference Prospectus to view a sample of past organizations and individuals in attendance, as well as this year's sponsorship opportunities. Contact Bill Allder with any questions!