Health Action 2012 Tentative Workshop Schedule

Thursday, January 19

Workshops I
10:45am-12:15pm

Making the Premium Tax Credits Work
Providing affordable coverage is the cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act, but the law's premium tax credits could make or break this goal. Learn about key areas where federal advocacy is needed and what you can do in your state to ensure that the premium tax credits work for consumers.

Benefit Design with the Consumer in Mind
Developing Essential Health Benefits packages is a concern for advocates in 2012. Wellness programs and value-based insurance design could improve health but could also pose great risks if not implemented fairly. Explore how to implement benefit design in a consumer-friendly way.

Getting Integration Right for Dual Eligibles
Initiatives to integrate Medicare and Medicaid coverage for dual eligibles are sprouting up around the country. Can these efforts fulfill their promise of improving care and lowering costs? What are the risks for beneficiaries? Get the latest on national and state developments.

Health Equity beyond the Insurance Card: Making Access Real in Underserved Communities
The Affordable Care Act will provide health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.  However, in many underserved communities, coverage may not automatically translate to access to timely, high-quality care. This workshop will explore how factors like place and language can compromise access.

Sharing across States: The Latest on Story Banking
For years, advocates have used personal stories to humanize health care issues for the media and elected officials. Hear advocates share what they’ve learned about collecting and disseminating stories, aligning this work with other goals, and incorporating tools like videos and social media.

Click to Communicate: Online Advocacy and Engagement 101
Many groups use the Internet to influence policy, engage activists, and reach new audiences. Learn best practices for growing your list, cultivating it to take action, and conducting effective online campaigns.  We’ll also discuss using Facebook and Twitter as part of a comprehensive online strategy.

Cutting through the Static: Media Tips to Get Your Message Heard
New to communications? Learn the basics of engaging local and state media. We'll 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.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Creating Consumer-Friendly Enrollment Systems by 2014
Implementing the Affordable Care Act is underway, and it’s time to buckle down and create systems and resources that get people covered. Hear from national and state experts about best practices, strategies, and opportunities for creating consumer-friendly enrollment systems.

Million Dollar Questions: Key Issues in Establishing Exchanges
Come discuss how to determine which entities should perform critical exchange functions, how to finance exchanges, how exchanges can select health plans to ensure value for consumers, and other implementation issues.

Defending Medicaid at the State and Federal Levels
No crystal ball needed: Medicaid will be under attack again in 2012. The federal deficit and state budget woes will continue to put pressure on Medicaid. This workshop looks at what's on the horizon for 2012 (and beyond) and what advocates can do to protect Medicaid.

The Basics of Health System Reform
Health care in the U.S. is highly fragmented. The Affordable Care Act takes significant steps to promote greater care coordination. This workshop will cover the basics of system reform and educate advocates on how to ensure that reforms are implemented in a consumer-friendly way.

Advancing Health Equity at the Community Level: Models for Community Empowerment
The health reform law invests in expanding coverage and in improving health at the local level, which is particularly important for communities of color. This workshop will showcase models and best practices that help people and communities actively engage in improving their own health.  

Running an Issue-Based Campaign in an Election Year
This will be an interactive discussion about the key elements (online and offline) necessary to cut through the noise and run an effective issue-based campaign in 2012. We'll draw on the experiences of panelists and participants to address challenges and best practices for elevating health care issues in your state.

Lawyers, Votes, and Message
The Supreme Court will rule on the Affordable Care Act this spring, and state initiatives to undo the law keep popping up. What’s at stake, and what can we do about it? Come learn more about these threats to health reform and how we can push back effectively.

Friday, January 20

Helping Lower Income People Get the Best Possible Coverage: Basic Health and Medicaid Expansions
Though they'll get additional help, people with incomes slightly above 133 percent of poverty may have high out-of-pocket costs in 2014, and they may also need help with continuity of care and coverage. Come discuss the pros and cons of establishing a Basic Health program, expanding Medicaid, or taking other action to protect low-income consumers.

Mobilizing Key Constituencies Online: Driving the Drumbeat and Inciting Action
This workshop will help you more effectively reach key constituencies online, with an emphasis on communities of color.  We’ll discuss strategies for using Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to go deeper and reach influentials and key audiences in your state.

Supporting Health Advocacy and Reform in 2012 and Beyond: Foundation Perspectives
Senior officers from leading foundations will discuss how they're supporting health reform, trends in funding health care advocacy, and expectations for the future. The workshop will cover foundation involvement in efforts across both "red" and "blue" states and the different challenges they raise.

Health System Reform and Vulnerable Populations
Vulnerable populations will benefit from delivery system and payment reforms that encourage care coordination. Advocates can help ensure that implementation of such reforms works for these groups. This workshop will discuss state reform efforts and important consumer protections.

Reining in the Industry
The Affordable Care Act provides new tools to rein in insurer profits, review premium increasess, help people appeal coverage decisions, and protect consumers from abuses. Explore best practices in these areas and the next frontiers, including how to control rising health care costs.

Medicare in the Fiscal Crosshairs
In this time of fiscal austerity, Medicare is a frequent target. Will Medicare be converted to a voucher system? And what is premium support, anyway? Learn how different proposals would affect current and future generations of beneficiaries.

501(c)(3) v. 501(c)(4) Online and Offline Activities in an Election Year
In 2012, the stakes are higher than ever, and tax-exempt nonprofit groups should continue to educate and advocate. This session will explore election cycle dos and don’ts for online advocacy (blogging, Twitter, Facebook, email) and offline advocacy (forums, debates, voter registration).

The Oral (Health) Argument: Why Dental Health Care is Essential for Children and Families
Oral health is essential to overall health. Yet many low- and middle-income families lack access to dental care. We'll discuss oral health as an important part of health generally, oral health care in the Affordable Care Act, and what states can do to improve residents' dental care.

Crossing the Finish Line on Exchanges: A Strategy Session
Many advocates are already pros when it comes to knowing what a consumer-friendly exchange should look like. The hard part is making it a reality! This workshop will discuss strategies for getting an exchange that works for consumers up and running in your state.

Navigators and Consumer Assistance Programs
People need help navigating coverage options and problems, and that will continue in the exchanges. Hear how your state can best ensure consumers get help with enrollment, premium assistance, and appealing health plan denials, and how to get solid funding for assistance programs.

Medicaid and Long-Term Services: What’s Happening in Washington and the States
This session will look at where we are with new opportunities to expand Medicaid home- and community-based care, as well as what’s happening in states related to managed care for long-term services.

Building the Base of Health Reform Advocates in Communities of Color: Lessons from the Field
Communities of color will benefit enormously from health reform, but their engagement in defending and implementing the law is not as high as it could be. Come hear community advocates share successful strategies and best practices for mobilizing at the neighborhood level.

Crafting your Message: Balancing the Health Care Drumbeat with State Implementation [Closed to the Press]
In 2012, advocates need to continue educating the public on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act while fighting against Medicaid cuts and for consumer-friendly implementation. This roundtable will discuss how to continue the drumbeat for the health reform law, avoid public confusion, and conduct effective implementation campaigns. (Attending "Cutting through the Static: Media Tips to Get Your Message Heard" before participating in this workshop is strongly recommended.)

Governors' Views: Reflections and Predictions from State Capitols
Over the past year, state legislatures have grappled with tough issues, from budget cuts to health reform implementation. This workshop will feature key staffers from the NGA and NCSL, who will share their reflections on 2011 and predictions for 2012.  

Saturday, January 21

Enrollment Enters the 21st Century: How Technology Is Modernizing Health Coverage
The Affordable Care Act modernizes how Americans will apply for, enroll in, and renew health coverage. And state and national groups are already using new technology to facilitate outreach and enrollment. Come hear about some of the innovative tools already in use.

SHOP Exchanges: Making Them Work for Workers
This workshop will address the proposed exchange regulations and issues to consider when building a small business exchange. Come hear about lessons learned from existing exchanges and about state advocates partnering with business to move forward in difficult political climates.

Prescription Drug Policy Update
This session will discuss leading issues in prescription drug policy, including how to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for consumers and public payers. We will also examine emerging federal prescription drug policy issues for 2012.

The Politics of Medicare
In this election year, Medicare is sure to become a political football. This session will help advocates sort through the rhetoric and respond effectively so that people with Medicare can understand what’s really at stake this year.

Spreading the Word on Health Reform: Ensuring Those that Need It Know the Facts
The Affordable Care Act will help many people. Unfortunately, misinformation about the law is rampant, including among people of color. This workshop will outline messages and dissemination tactics that will help inform groups of color and other key constituencies about the law's benefits.

What Women Want: Messaging on the Affordable Care Act
This workshop will discuss how to talk to women about health reform, drawing on lessons from polling and on-the-ground experience, and we'll discuss models and tools you can use. Learn from the women who created the "Being a Woman Is Not a Pre-Existing Condition" campaign.