Speaker 2025

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Afton Cissell

United States House of Representatives
Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Washington, DC
  • 20-D. Medicare Advantage: New Year u2026 New Direction?

    • Tuesday, April 08, 2025

    11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Medicare Advantage: New Year u2026 New Direction?

    Last year brought significant changes to Medicare Advantage, which became the primary coverage choice for nearly 34 million Medicare beneficiaries. In response to this growth, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated reform efforts that greatly affected beneficiaries’ access to services, provider payments, and healthcare delivery patterns. More changes are anticipated for the coming year. A new Congress and CMS administrator will likely introduce a new vision for Medicare and Medicare Advantage that will impact beneficiaries living with chronic illnesses, those using hospice services, and individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Join this session to hear from policymakers and pundits about anticipated changes for 2025 and whether those changes will align with LeadingAge’s advocacy agenda.

Scott Code

LeadingAge
Vice President, CAST
Washington, DC
  • 1-A. The Role of Virtual Reality in Aging Services

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    The Role of Virtual Reality in Aging Services

    Virtual reality (VR) technologies create a computer-generated environment that immerses headset-wearing users in their simulated surroundings. Since the 1950s, VR has powered experimental theater productions, flight simulators, and video games. Now, it’s making an impact in senior living communities. Residents use VR to enjoy virtual travel, social connections, and engaging activities. VR training sessions help frontline caregivers develop empathy, enhance their caregiving skills, and boost their confidence. Even rehabilitation departments recognize that VR-powered therapy sessions can help older adults maintain mobility and independence. This session will take you on a tour of all the possibilities VR holds for your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore VR’s ability to create more interactive, supportive, and person-centered experiences for residents and team members while elevating care to a new level.

Marc Cohen

University of Massachusetts; Boston Campus Gerontology Institute
Co-Director, LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston
Boston, MA
  • 4-A. New Research: Do Medicaid Payments Cover Care Costs?

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    New Research: Do Medicaid Payments Cover Care Costs?

    Medicaid is the primary payer for nursing home care, covering over 60% of all residents on a typical day. Setting nursing home reimbursement rates too high can lead to excess profits at taxpayers’ expense. Yet, nursing homes need appropriate reimbursement to invest in nursing staff and other quality improvement initiatives. This session will provide new information on the relationship between Medicaid nursing home reimbursement rates and reported care costs. Presenters will share findings from their independent assessment of Medicaid reimbursement and the costs associated with Medicaid-reimbursed nursing home care. Their setting-by-setting analysis, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, revealed that the average nursing home receives only 82 cents in reimbursement for each dollar it spends providing care to a Medicaid recipient.

Kirsten Cone

Givens Estates
Executive Director
Asheville, NC
  • 8-B. Best Practices and Pitfalls of CEO Transitions

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

    Best Practices and Pitfalls of CEO Transitions

    No matter how carefully an organization plans for a CEO transition, the process of changing leaders often brings with it an unsettling sense of urgency and uncertainty. During this session, an executive search consultant will help ensure your next CEO transition runs smoothly. Learn about recent trends in CEO continuity planning and effective onboarding strategies. Gain insights to help you address awkward situations that may arise during the CEO search, including when a valued internal candidate is not selected for the executive position or the board becomes overly involved in the management of the organization. Recently appointed CEOs and board members will be on hand to discuss best practices and pitfalls of CEO transitions.

Linda Couch

LeadingAge
Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
Washington, DC
  • 5-A. Lobby Day Bootcamp: Become an Advocacy Champion

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Lobby Day Bootcamp: Become an Advocacy Champion

    Lobby Day is a key component of LeadingAge’s annual Leadership Summit. It offers LeadingAge members a unique opportunity to meet with congressional lawmakers and their policy staff, discuss critical issues affecting providers of aging services, and advocate for policy changes that better support older adults. This session will give you the tools you need for successful Lobby Day visits. Presenters will review LeadingAge’s policy priorities, explain how to navigate Capitol Hill, and brief you on what to expect when you arrive in congressional offices. You’ll also learn how to communicate policy messages effectively, build relationships with lawmakers, and follow up with them once you return home. Designed for beginners and seasoned advocates alike, this session will prepare you to be an advocacy champion during Lobby Day and throughout the year.

Arthur Cox

NewAldaya Lifescapes (formerly Cedar Falls Lutheran Home)
Board Chair
Cedar Falls, IA
  • 8-B. Best Practices and Pitfalls of CEO Transitions

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

    Best Practices and Pitfalls of CEO Transitions

    No matter how carefully an organization plans for a CEO transition, the process of changing leaders often brings with it an unsettling sense of urgency and uncertainty. During this session, an executive search consultant will help ensure your next CEO transition runs smoothly. Learn about recent trends in CEO continuity planning and effective onboarding strategies. Gain insights to help you address awkward situations that may arise during the CEO search, including when a valued internal candidate is not selected for the executive position or the board becomes overly involved in the management of the organization. Recently appointed CEOs and board members will be on hand to discuss best practices and pitfalls of CEO transitions.

Tyler Cromer

ATI Advisory
Principal
Washington, DC
  • 20-D. Medicare Advantage: New Year u2026 New Direction?

    • Tuesday, April 08, 2025

    11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Medicare Advantage: New Year u2026 New Direction?

    Last year brought significant changes to Medicare Advantage, which became the primary coverage choice for nearly 34 million Medicare beneficiaries. In response to this growth, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated reform efforts that greatly affected beneficiaries’ access to services, provider payments, and healthcare delivery patterns. More changes are anticipated for the coming year. A new Congress and CMS administrator will likely introduce a new vision for Medicare and Medicare Advantage that will impact beneficiaries living with chronic illnesses, those using hospice services, and individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Join this session to hear from policymakers and pundits about anticipated changes for 2025 and whether those changes will align with LeadingAge’s advocacy agenda.

Sarah Daly

LeadingAge New York
Director of Government Affairs
Latham, NY
  • 21-D. Double Duty: Advancing Policy Goals through Media Engagement

    • Tuesday, April 08, 2025

    11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

    Double Duty: Advancing Policy Goals through Media Engagement

    The media can be a powerful force in shaping the opinions of the various audiences that providers of aging services seek to influence. Most providers focus their media-relations efforts on reaching consumers and potential employees. Yet, successful outreach to a third audienceu2014elected officialsu2014can yield numerous benefits for providers and the individuals they serve. This session will help you leverage public relations tactics to garner press coverage of policy issues, promote potential solutions, and attract the attention of policymakers who can implement those solutions. This type of media outreach requires a special touch, so you’ll want to take notes as session presenters reveal their strategies for making media activities serve u201ddouble dutyu201d by elevating your brand while advancing your policy goals.

Kevin Davis

Phoenix Performance Partners
Executive Coach
Brighton, MI

Hannah Dean

Cascade Manor, Inc.
Board of Directors
Eugene, OR
  • 14-C. Welcoming Residents to Your Board: What You Should Know

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    3:30 – 4:45 p.m.

    Welcoming Residents to Your Board: What You Should Know

    As consumer expectations evolve, many senior living residents want to play meaningful roles in governing their organizations. Residents can contribute valuable skills and perspectives to an organization’s board of directors, but their board membership raises serious questions about conflicts of interest, representation, and governance dynamics. How can boards effectively include residents while safeguarding the organization’s long-term health? This session will explore the complexities of resident participation on governing boards. Presenters will discuss how to vet and nominate residents for board positions. They will also answer questions about whether resident board members should serve as officers or recuse themselves from decisions about budgets or rent increases. Join this session to gain thoughtful insights and strategies to help your board navigate these nuanced considerations.

Dusanka Delovska-Trajkova

Ingleside
CIO
Rockville, MD
  • 6-B. Unlock the Power of Data Analytics

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

    Unlock the Power of Data Analytics

    Imagine using data analytics to anticipate your organization’s staffing needs, deploy staff efficiently, or pinpoint burnout risks and solutions. Consider the advantages of employing predictive analytics to identify residents with health risks so you can use proactive interventions to improve outcomes and lower costs. Fortunately, these technological advances aren’t a distant dream. This session will demonstrate that they are rapidly becoming a strategic necessity for providers facing mounting workforce and care-related challenges. Presenters will help you understand how your organization can harness its data to stay competitive and responsive to the needs of older adults. Join this session to discover how data analytics can help you tackle critical issues in care delivery, optimize resource allocation, and meet emerging operational demands.

Rachel Dolin

House Ways and Means Committee
Professional Staff, Minority, House Committee on Ways and Mean
Washington, DC
  • 10-B. Policy Update: Medicare Home Health and Hospice

    • Monday, April 07, 2025

    1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

    Policy Update: Medicare Home Health and Hospice

    2024 was a big year for the home health and hospice sectors as LeadingAge and policymakers from both parties began serious discussions about the value of reforming Medicare’s hospice benefit and elevating the value of home health. Staff members from Capitol Hill offices and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will use this session to discuss what’s next for hospice and home health. Discover how benefits for both programs might evolve and how current legislation could affect providers of aging services. Explore the growth of palliative care, the likelihood of a Medicare Advantage hospice u201ccarve-in,u201d home health payment reform, and initiatives designed to improve program integrity. Presenters will share information about advocacy and engagement opportunities designed to help you participate in hospice and home health conversations.