Health Action 2010 Tentative Workshop Schedule

Thursday, January 28 

Workshops I
10:45am-12:15pm

What's Happening in Long-Term Services? Reports from the States
States are a critical source of innovation in providing long-term services and supports (LTSS). This session takes a look at what’s going on in select states, including implementation of Money Follows the Person demonstrations.

Medicare after Health Reform
The rhetoric around Medicare during the health reform debate has been intense, and at times inaccurate. Come sort out what's true and what's false about where Medicare fits into health reform. There are a number of important changes coming to Medicare--learn how they will help beneficiaries and what new advocacy opportunities they present.

Hitting the Ground Running: The Basics of Private Insurance and New Market Reforms
Many health reform provisions that will take effect the earliest are new protections for private insurance consumers. This workshop presents an overview of these changes and reforms that will come later. It also discusses the role of state governments, insurance departments, and advocates in implementing private market reforms.

Closing the Gap: Health Reform and Communities of Color
Health reform will play a significant role in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. How will communities of color be affected? We’ll take a closer look at provisions that address disparities, discuss the overall impact on communities of color, and strategize how advocates can make health reform work for their communities. 

Green Light Go: Streamlining Enrollment
Health reform will mean that millions of low- and moderate-income people become newly eligible for Medicaid or health insurance tax credits. Now, we just need to figure out how to get them enrolled. Using state experiences from other public programs for low-income people, this workshop will explore options for making enrollment easy and seamless for consumers. 

More than Just a Card?
Health reform will expand Medicaid coverage to millions of Americans, but how will the newly covered get the care they need? This workshop will explore the challenges of making sure that health insurance is a true gateway to health care services for low-income people.

Implementation Challenges Roundtable: Post-Reform Grassroots Organizing
Health care reform brought many new faces to our coalitions and organizations. A key challenge in 2010 will be keeping people engaged. Join us for an open discussion about how to keep all of your grassroots networks – new and old – active during implementation process and the 2010 elections.

Health Reform and Long-Term Services: What's in It, and Where Do We Go from Here?
Health reform includes some important provision that can expand access to home- and community based services and that lay a foundation for broader reform of long-term services and supports (LTSS).  This session looks at LTSS in health reform and where to go from here.

The Next Act for Medicare Advantage
The Medicare Advantage program will change in the coming years, because of laws passed by the previous Congresses, changes in Administration policy, and of course, new health reform legislation. These changes should slow the privatization of Medicare, and they will likely affect beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans. Come discuss what we can expect and how to help beneficiaries get the best coverage possible.

The Way We Pay: The Role of Consumers in New Health Care Payment Models
State and federal reforms involve more than expanding coverage. New payment models can change health care, making it more effective and efficient. Hear from experts about the new payment models that are emerging across the country.

Beyond Health Care: Strategies for Promoting Health Equity
Health care is critical to reducing disparities, but many other factors influence health, such as access to fresh food, quality housing, and safe neighborhoods. As we move to reform our health care system, what about health, wellness, and prevention? This session will highlight programs and opportunities that focus on a broader definition of health and aim to promote health equity.

Getting Closer: Finding and Enrolling Uninsured Children
In September 2009, CMS awarded $40 million in new federal money to states and community-based organizations to find and enroll uninsured children in Medicaid and CHIP. This workshop will explore which children remain eligible for coverage but are still uninsured, as well as the tools and tactics that advocates are using to identify and enroll them.

Medicaid after Health Reform
Health reform includes a significant expansion of Medicaid to millions of uninsured low-income people. This workshop will delve deeper into what states must do to cover these individuals, including the timeline for the expansion, new federal matching rates, and coordination with the new health insurance tax credit program.

Story Banking 101: True Grit--Reaching the Public with Real Health Care Stories
This workshop is designed for advocates who have little to no experience in story banking. Learn the basics of collecting and organizing consumer stories, conducting interviews, and making your story bank a trusted resource for local reporters and elected officials

Click to Communicate: Reach Out Using Internet Advocacy
Throughout the battle for health reform, many groups took advocacy to a new level by using the Internet as an innovative way to communicate and do outreach and fundraising. Learn how you can develop and use online advocacy to influence state and federal leaders and reach out to other advocates. Includes how to use social media, how to expand your list, and how to develop innovative campaign strategies. 

Friday, January 29

Health Reform and Expanding Home- and Community-Based Services in Medicaid
Health reform includes incentives for states to expand home- and community-based services (HCBS) in Medicaid. This workshop takes a closer look at those provisions and what they mean for states, for people who need HCBS, and for advocates seeking to expand HCBS access.

SHIPs and Policy: Helping Medicare Beneficiaries
This workshop is designed to showcase the increasingly visible roles that State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) play in informing policy. It will discuss a range of public education and policy activities undertaken by state SHIP directors that have resulted in improvements to Medicare, thereby improving access to care. 

The Devil is in the Details: The Exchange, Subsidies, and Benefits Packages
A central feature of health reform is the "Exchange"-- a new marketplace where individuals and employers will be able to buy quality, affordable coverage. This workshop presents the details of how the exchange will work, who gets subsidies for coverage, and which benefits plans in the Exchange must cover.

Getting Your Message Out: Strategies for Advancing Health Equity
This workshop will explore different channels of communication that you can use to advance the health equity agenda and strategies for reaching out to the media, elected officials, and your constituents.

Battling the Budget Axe
Over the past year, state fiscal crises have deepened, and advocates have found it increasingly difficult to keep their Medicaid and CHIP programs intact. In many states, there is nothing else to cut, and it's time to find some revenue. This workshop will discuss ways to maintain these programs that have worked in the past, and it will explore creative ways to find new revenue to prevent deep cuts to health and other social service programs in the coming legislative sessions.  

Don't Look Back! Building a Health Care Campaign in the Post-Reform World
Join a roundtable discussion with advocates from across the country on how to initiate post-reform advocacy and media strategies in your state. This is your chance to think through how to strengthen your coalition for enrollment or create earned media and public education strategies around implementation.

Looking Past Health Reform: A View from Capitol Hill
Although health reform eclipsed nearly all other issues last year, there are many other vital health issues that still must be addressed. In this workshop, key congressional staffers will address the status of other important health policy issues (e.g., health care disparities, long-term services and supports, and paid sick leave), as well as where we may see congressional action in the coming years. 

Women and Health Reform: Where We Landed and Where We Go From Here
Health reform addresses many of the challenges women face in our broken health care system. Yet enacting reform that meets women's needs has seen both highs and lows. This workshop will examine what women gain in health reform, what they have lost, coverage of reproductive health services, and implementation issues at the state and federal levels that are of concern to women. We will also consider the issues that were not addressed in health reform.

Getting Help to Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries
The array of programs that are targeted at dual eligibles and other low-income Medicare beneficiaries has changed substantially in recent years. This year, important changes take effect that will make it easier to qualify for Medicare Savings Programs the Part D low-income subsidy. Health reform legislation promises more changes in the future. How can we make existing programs work better, and what further changes are needed? 

State Opportunities in Health Reform
Whether your state has already enacted reforms or is starting from scratch, federal reform provides immediate funding opportunities for states. Come to this workshop to learn about the opportunities for your state to start (or continue) expanding coverage. We will also discuss state flexibility within health reform and what it might mean for your state.

The Federal Government’s Role in Addressing Disparities in Health
A new Administration presents an opportunity to focus national attention on the issues facing communities of color.  Come meet representatives from federal agencies responsible for working with communities to address disparities and advance health equity.

The Brave New World: CHIP in 2010
A year after President Obama signed the CHIP Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) into law, states have made significant progress in increasing health coverage for children. But health reform may mean big changes for children's coverage. Come hear from national experts about what health reform means for low-income children.

In the Trenches: Capitol Hill View on Health Reform
Over the past 18 months, staffs of key congressional committees have spent hundreds of hours working on the details of health reform legislation, and their work continues. This workshop will feature key committee staffers, who will share their reflections on the last year and their opinions on where things are headed. Given the nature of congressional scheduling, we were not able to confirm speakers by the time this program went to print -- but top insiders on each committee have committed to joining us!

Cutting through the Static: Media Tips for Getting Your Message Heard
Are you new to communications and media relations? Learn the basics about how to reach out to and engage your local and state media. This workshop will focus on how and when to pitch; the importance of messaging, media lists, and relationship building; and the proper use of statements, releases, advisories, letters to the editor, and op-eds.

Saturday, January 30

Life in the Fast Lane: Express Lane Eligibility
States are beginning to experiment with new ways to enroll uninsured children in Medicaid and CHIP by "piggy-backing" on applications and information gathered by other programs. CHIPRA helped this along by giving states a new option to streamline enrollment for children, "Express Lane Eligibility." This workshop will highlight state progress and lessons learned on state Express Lane initiatives to date. 

Senior Advocacy Networks: Building Succesful Models
This workshop is designed to discuss various state models for senior advocacy networks. It will provide an overview of the composition and role of various senior advocacy networks, particularly in light of health reform implementation, and it will highlight several state models, including those that use State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) as a resource.

Helping Your Neighbors: Consumer Assistance Programs
Consumer assistance programs provide critical support to individuals and families who need help navigating the health coverage system. Hear from established consumer assistance programs about how you can help your state or city start a program, and how health reform provides new opportunities for doing so.

American Indian Health Policy: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
American Indians and Alaska Natives experience some of the most significant health disparities of any population in the United States. This workshop will discuss the state of Indian health care today, key provisions in health reform that will address these disparities, and how these changes will be implemented in Indian country.

But Will States Opt Out?
As national health reform becomes a reality, advocates may quickly realize that holding on to the gains we've made is just as challenging as it was to get them in the first place. This workshop will provide an overview of opposition efforts aimed at derailing health reform and discuss strategies that advocates can use to keep health reform implementation on track.

Making Consumer Voices Heard: A Brainstorming Session
This is your chance to brainstorm best practices and learn how other states have pushed their consumer stories into the public eye. We’ll cover specific tools such as video, audio, photography, and Web pages. Share your experience and ideas around getting public attention for your consumer stories.

Fundraising Strategies for 2010: Thrivin' & Survivin'
Join a roundtable discussion among advocates discussing diverse strategies for keeping your organization surviving and thriving in 2010. It will include discussions of individual fundraising, online strategies, special events, and tapping small business resources.