Health Care Affordability Week of Action
Health Care Affordability Symposium
July 20, 2026 | Washington, DC | 11:30 AM to 2 PM
On Monday, July 20, Families USA hosted an in-person Health Care Affordability Symposium, which featured bipartisan speakers including experts from Capitol Hill, Administration officials, think tanks, and consumer and community advocates.
The event called attention to America’s long-standing health care affordability crisis that has left millions of families and patients struggling to afford care.
Thank you to our speakers, funders, partners, and all attendees for joining us for this event.
As Congress considers new proposals to oversee hospital prices, Medicare Advantage plans, and other policies, now is the time to advance an affordability agenda that will take on unchecked corporate greed — the root cause of this crisis.
![](https://www.familiesusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/SophiaT-AlecA_Speaker-Graphics_Social-Symposium-Invite_-1200-x-1200-px-1.png")
Symposium Agenda
11:00 AM
Doors OpenNetworking, lunch available
11:30 AM
Welcome and Opening RemarksDeborah Bachrach, Board Chair, Families USA
Anthony Wright, Executive Director, Families USA
11:45 AM
Keynote AddressNamrata Uberoi, Executive Director, Healthcare Cost and Affordability, West Health
12:00 PM
Fireside ChatAlec Aramanda, Principal Deputy Director, Center for Medicare, CMS
Sophia Tripoli, Senior Director of Health Policy, Families USA
12:30 PM
Panel Introductory RemarksNatasha Murphy, Director Health Policy, Center for American Progress
12:35 PM
Panel: Addressing Costs and Affordability in Medicare Advantage & Drug PricingAfton Cissell, Chief of Staff, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-TX-37
Rushika Fernandopulle, Board Member, Families USA, Moderator
Dory Finney, Health Policy Advisor, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY-14
Brendan Rose, Government Affairs Director, AARP
1:10 PM
BreakCoffee, tea served
1:15 PM
Panel Introductory RemarksCynthia Fisher, Chairman and Founder, Patient Rights Advocate
1:20 PM
Panel: Solutions to High Hospital PricingBenedic Ippolito, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Member, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)
Hannah Berner, Senior Policy Advisor, Senator John Hickenlooper, D-CO
Max Seltzer, Health Policy Director, Senator Roger Marshall, R-KS
Alexandra Spratt, Vice President of Health Care, Arnold Ventures, Moderator
Jen Taylor, Senior Director of Government Relations, Families USA
1:55 PM
Closing RemarksSophia Tripoli, Senior Director of Health Policy, Families USA
*Additional speakers to be announced
TAKE ACTION
Week of Action
Americans are facing an affordability crisis, with millions forced to make impossible choices between paying for health care and other basic needs. Families USA knows now is the time to advance an affordability agenda, which is why we are holding a Health Care Affordability Week of Action.
Digital Day of Action
Join Families USA and other advocates on Tuesday, July 21 for our digital day of action!
Use #LowerHealthCareCostsNow and share the content in our digital toolkit to highlight the need for real action to address the affordability crisis.
TUESDAY: Digital Day of Action
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Hill Days
Families USA will be meeting with Members of Congress to advocate for action on legislation to advance health care affordability. We highly encourage partners and advocates to also request meetings with your Members. Our affordability agenda below can serve as a guide for your Member conversations:
Sponsors
