The 2013 AHIP Institute will have special significance this year, with the annual gathering taking place shortly before major components of the Affordable Care Act are activated.
About 3,000 executives from the health insurance sector and others, including providers, financial and technology industries, are expected to huddle next week in Las Vegas for the June 12-14 annual conference of America's Health Insurance Plans.
"Each year, the goal of the Institute is to provide a forum and opportunity for thousands of stakeholders from the public and private sector to connect and collaborate on the changes happening in our healthcare system," said AHIP spokeswoman Clare Krusing. "This year's Institute serves as an important starting point for further cooperation as new transformations in the healthcare system are underway."
For those arriving early, on Wednesday, June 12, AHIP has scheduled a full-day program on health insurance exchanges, which are scheduled to go live October 1, accepting new plan members for coverage starting on Jan, 1, 2014.
Additional in-depth programs will each focus on one of several topics, including tools and education for enhancing the consumer experience with health plans, business strategies for establishing payment reform and care delivery models and creating a plan for effectively positioning organizations in the new healthcare economy.
On Thursday, June 13, and Friday, June 14, the conference will offer up-to-date education and information from industry experts and thought leaders to help health insurance plans, their partners and other participants navigate the changing healthcare environment, through local initiatives in payment reform, engaging consumers, technologies or new business models, Krusing said.
Education sessions will explore how to involve health plan members, unique partnerships to advance clinical outcomes, using data and analytics to influence behavior and the role of case management.
Keynote sessions kick off with major players in the healthcare system describing how they are meeting expectations for coming changes and what it means for their business models, according to conference materials. The speakers will be George Halvorson, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permaente; David Kirchhoff, CEO of WeightWatchers; and David Lansky, president and CEO of the Pacific Business Group on Health.
Another keynote will explore frontline payer-provider innovations for transforming local care delivery, with speakers Jeffrey Brenner, MD, executive director, Camden Coalition of Health Care Providers; Tom Lee, MD, founder and CEO of One Medical Group; and Glenn Steele, MD, president and CEO of Geisinger Health System.
Wrapping up Institute 2013 will be two former governors from both sides of the political fence, former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and former Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, who will speak about their public and private perspectives on challenges and opportunities in health care facing governors.