Agenda
Get a sneak peek at RISE National 2026
At RISE National 2026, handpicked industry experts will provide the guidance, training, and education you need to navigate today’s evolving health care landscape with confidence. Several concurrent sessions and pre-conference workshops are already confirmed ... explore the anticipated session themes, focus areas, and workshop formats. This year, your all-inclusive ticket gives you access to every session, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of learning and networking.
Monday - March 23, 2026
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Womens Day
Information Desk Open
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Womens Day
Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Workshop Registration
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Workshop A: Risk Adjustment Practitioner
- The essentials of and differences between Medicare Advantage, Commercial and Medicaid risk adjustment
- Understanding how risk scores are calculated
- Understanding the different payment models, and how plans are paid
- Provider engagement strategies that will impact your risk adjustment initiatives
- Member engagement and SDOH
- Risk adjustment vendor selection and management
- Strategies for ongoing, thorough vendor management
- Initial steps for preparing for a RADV
- Which staff is essential to oversee your RADV audit prep?
- Staying ahead – key items to monitor well in advance of an actual audit
- The future of risk adjustment – what you need to know to stay ahead of changes
Speaker
Laura Sheriff
Healthcare Expert
Speaker
Susan Waterman
Trainer, Director, Risk Adjustment at Baylor Scott & White
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Workshop B: Advanced HCC Auditor
With the switch from V24 to V28 and unprecedented scrutiny on the work we do in Risk Adjustment now is the time to consider attending our always popular HCC Coding for Accuracy workshop!
If you are responsible for the coding, auditing, analytics, or financials of your program you can’t miss this discussion! Join us for an introduction to best practices, the opportunity to work through case examples, and to share experiences with your peers. This workshop will zero-in on regulatory compliance while teaching you how to optimize the accuracy of the information gathered and submitted at the practice level. You will also learn about the way charting is often done, how to overcome “disconnect” with the clinicians and how their typical charting practices and EMRs can create significant problems, and how RADV views documentation in contrast with the way clinicians were taught and EMRs were built initially.
Please note: Attendees are encouraged to bring questions to pose to our expert workshop facilitators and to the table for the group. We provide your workbook which includes copies of the slide deck. You will not need your coding manuals, but most people take notes on their laptop or tablet.
You will learn the answers to:
- How will the transition to V28 impact your organization? We will provide an overview of the financial overlay – HCC codes mapping to risk adjustment scores
- Why is Clinical Documentation Integrity more important than ever? Join us to discuss A single coding and documentation process for Risk adjustment
- How challenging is accurate coding? You will have the opportunity to review real life examples of accurately coding from various portions of the encounter.
- Why are providers burning out? Learn about the clinical documentation barriers clinicians and practices face.
Speaker
Donna Malone
AAPC Approved Instructor, AHCCA, RAP, Director Risk Capture – Population Health at Mass General Brigham
9:10 AM
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
Womens Day
Keynote Address
Womens Day: Leading in the Aftermath: Post-Crisis Trauma-Informed Leadership
When crisis strikes, leaders face the immense challenge of guiding their teams through uncertainty while addressing the trauma the workforce is experiencing. Whether you’re navigating the aftermath of a critical event or preparing for future challenges, this session covers the concepts and practical strategies to allow organizations to respond compassionately but effectively to critical incidents.
Speaker
Katharine Manning
Author of The Empathetic Workplace at President of Blackbird DC
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:10 AM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Reflective Moment
Pause, ponder, and power up! Take ten minutes to jot down your key takeaways, exchange insights with fellow attendees, and turn your reflections into an action plan you can use immediately.
10:10 AM
10:10 AM – 11:00 AM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Championing Access: One Woman’s Mission to Change Healthcare
At the age of nine, Chanda Hinton’s life was forever changed. Through her lifelong experience navigating the world with a long-term physical disability, Chanda has made it her mission to empower others to make systematic change, but as importantly, to encourage individuals with a disability to advocate for their own body.
- Learn from Chanda’s inspiring journey navigating the world with a long-term physical disability and how it shaped her advocacy
- Gain insight into strategies for creating systemic impact and advocating for meaningful healthcare reform
- Learn how individual advocacy can transform lives and inspire legislative and organizational change
Speaker
Chanda Hinton
Executive Director at Chanda Center for Health Chanda Plan Foundation
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:10 AM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Reflective Moment
Pause, ponder, and power up! Take ten minutes to jot down your key takeaways, exchange insights with fellow attendees, and turn your reflections into an action plan you can use immediately.
11:10 AM
11:10 AM – 11:30 AM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Networking Break
11:30 AM
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Leveraging YOU: Turning Personal Perspective into Professional Power
- Discover how your background, identity, and lived experiences shape the way you approach challenges, innovate, and lead
- Learn how your individual lens directly influences patient care, organizational culture, and healthcare outcomes
- Build strategies to champion your unique perspective unapologetically as an asset to your team and organization
Speaker
Jennifer Sarrett
Founder at Disruptive Inclusion
12:30 PM
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Networking Lunch
12:30 PM
12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Workshop D: Doing More with Less: Lean Methodologies and Project Management in Healthcare
Healthcare organizations are under more pressure than ever to deliver high-quality outcomes with limited resources. This interactive workshop will give attendees the chance to roll up their sleeves and apply lean methodologies and project management techniques directly to real-world healthcare challenges.
Through exercises, group discussions, and hands-on tools, participants will leave with practical strategies they can implement right away.
- Practice applying lean principles to identify inefficiencies and maximize value
- Use project management strategies to navigate policy shifts, staffing challenges, and resource constraints
- Walk away with templates, frameworks, and actionable takeaways to keep your organization agile and resilient
1:15 PM
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Fireside Chat
2:00 PM
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Roundtable Discussions – Choose Your Own Adventure!
Participate in two facilitated 25-minute roundtable discussions and deep dive with peers on timely topics in the industry.
- Wellness and Self-Care for Long-Term Goals: recharge and strategize! Explore practical ways to sustain your energy, focus, and career ambitions.
- Elevate Your impact: share insights and tactics to build your brand and navigate career transitions with confidence.
- How to Lead in an AI World: Discuss how AI is reshaping decision-making, team dynamics, and organizational strategy.
- Eliminating the Fear of Failure: learn how to turn setbacks into growth and embrace opportunities without hesitation.
Instructor: Natasha VanWright RN, SVP Clinical Operations, Belong Health
- I Am a New Leader, What Do I Need to Know?: get essential tips for thriving in new leadership roles and inspiring your team.
- I Am a Seasoned Leader, Now What?: explore strategies for mentoring, sustaining influence, navigating change, and balancing your priorities.
- Caregiver Generation: Employee Perspective: share solutions for managing teams balancing caregiving and workplace responsibilities.
- Finding a Board Seat: learn how to find mission-driven board opportunities that enrich your career and purpose.
3:00 PM
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Networking Break
3:20 PM
3:20 PM – 4:15 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: The Power of the Ask: Gain Hands-On Negotiation Skills
- Learn proven techniques to negotiate salary, promotions, resources, and opportunities with clarity and poise
- Engage in role-play exercises designed to simulate real-world negotiation challenges
- Leave with a personalized toolkit of strategies to apply to your next negotiation
4:15 PM
4:15 PM – 4:25 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Reflective Moment
Pause, ponder, and power up! Take ten minutes to jot down your key takeaways, exchange insights with fellow attendees, and turn your reflections into an action plan you can use immediately.
4:25 PM
4:25 PM – 4:30 PM
Womens Day
Womens Day: Closing Remarks
4:30 PM
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Welcome Cocktail Reception – All Conference Attendees Invited
Let's kick off the mega Medicare Advantage event of the year! All attendees are invited to join us in the exhibit hall for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and face-to-face networking. We will have a color-coded system in place to allow attendees to self-select and display their comfort level for interacting with peers.
Tuesday - March 24, 2026
7:30 AM
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Main Conference Registration
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Opens
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks
10:45 AM
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
11:15 AM
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Track 1: Risk Adjustment and Program Integrity
A Year in Review Under the V28 Model: Transforming Risk, Quality, and Care Delivery
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Track 4: AI Automation and Data Strategy
The Transparency Imperative: Building Trust Through Connected, Auditable Data Ecosystems
- Discover how real-time data connectivity across clinical, claims, and social sources creates transparent audit trails that support appropriate risk score capture and withstand regulatory scrutiny
- Learn from MA plans that have reduced RADV risk while improving risk score accuracy through comprehensive data transparency initiatives
- Understand how to build privacy-preserving data infrastructure that enables both prospective interventions and retrospective validation, ensuring every HCC is supported by accessible, verifiable documentation
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Track 3: Value-Based Partnerships and Provider Alignment
Transforming Healthcare Data Acquisition: A Blueprint for Building Payer-Provider Collaboration to Achieve Chart Retrieval Goals
- Accelerate retrieval timelines through cross-functional collaboration
- Reduce provider burden and strengthening payer-provider integration
- Drive cost reduction and efficiency with intelligent technology
- Deliver transparency and demonstrating measurable ROI
12:00 PM
12:00 PM – 12:55 PM
Networking Lunch in Exhibit Hall
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Track 2: Stars, Quality and Member Outcomes
Elevating Engagement: How Payers and Providers Are Reimagining Member Experience for 2026 Star Success
- Explore how payers and providers are adapting to the evolving weighting of experience in the Star Ratings formula
- Discuss practical approaches for aligning clinical outcomes and member engagement strategies
- Learn how organizations are building systems that listen, connect, and deliver equitable, value-based care
Speaker
Laura Cooley
PhD, Editor-in-Chief at Journal of Patient Experience
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Track 4: AI Automation and Data Strategy
Harnessing AI to Transform RADV Audit Readiness, CDI, and HEDIS: Driving Accuracy, Compliance, and Quality Outcomes
- RADV (Risk Adjustment Data Validation) Audit Readiness: Learn how AI-powered chart reviews uncover missing or unsupported codes to reduce audit risk, support compliant revenue recapture, and strengthen regulatory adherence.
- CDI (Clinical Documentation Improvement): Discover how AI-driven, real-time chart review guides providers to close documentation gaps, improve coding accuracy, and optimize HCC capture of patient complexity.
- HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set): Understand how AI automates measure abstraction from structured and unstructured data to proactively close care gaps, elevate HEDIS scores, and improve STAR ratings.
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
RISE Innovation Theater 2
Physician-Led Programs: Driving Quality and Sustainability
- See how physician-led programs ensure quality care while meeting risk adjustment standards
- Explore how to use data and metrics to guide performance, improve compliance, and support patient outcomes
- Understand how building strong, clinically sound programs today positions providers for long-term success regardless of policy changes
- Learn from examples like early dementia screening programs that improve detection and patient support.
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Track 3: Value-Based Partnerships and Provider Alignment
Shifting to the left: Comprehensive In-Year Gap Closure for Risk and Quality
- Build comprehensive patient profile: Leveraging multiple data sets and implementing strategies from pre-visit to post-visit to help build comprehensive patient profiles at the point of care.
- Enable shift to value-based care: Implement programs and best practices to help providers navigate through the shift to value-based care and boost provider education year-over-year, assisting your team to stay up to date on the latest strategies.
- Mitigate risk and improve documentation: Evaluate and refine your tactics for effective documentation specificity gap closure using various care modalities, such as pre-visit, concurrent, in-office and in-home approaches to facilitate complete and accurate documentation and be prepared for CMS/HHS/OIG audits.
Speaker
Arati Swadi
MBA, Vice President of Risk Adjustment at Optum
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
RISE Innovation Theater 1
The Netflix Effect in Population Health: Hyper-Personalized Journeys for Better Outcomes
- Recognize the limitations of standardized population health programs and why personalization is now essential
- Explore how data-driven segmentation, AI, and consumer-inspired strategies can be used to curate hyper-personalized “health playlists” to create more compelling education, outreach, and care management strategies
- Evaluate success through metrics that capture clinical outcomes, engagement and satisfaction
1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
2:15 PM
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Track 4: AI Automation and Data Strategy
Activate Real-time EHR Integration to Enable Concurrent Risk Adjustment Accuracy and Improve Care Management
- Reduce administrative burden within your providers' workflow
- Streamline prior authorization efficiency
- Improve RADV preparedness and risk score accuracy
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
RISE Innovation Theater 1
Kickbacks in Medicare Advantage: The New Enforcement Frontier
- Explore why DOJ and OIG are intensifying scrutiny of kickback schemes in Medicare Advantage
- Examine major settlements and court rulings that are shaping compliance expectations
- Evaluate the role of insurance brokers and brokerage firms in alleged kickback schemes
- Identify proactive steps plans and providers can take to avoid violations and strengthen compliance programs
Speaker
Max Voldman
Partner at Whistleblower Partners LLP
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
RISE Innovation Theater 2
Medicaid in Transition: Policy Shifts, Vulnerable Populations, and the Path Ahead
- Examine how the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and new government rules could reshape Medicaid and its connection to Medicare Advantage
- Discuss the latest developments on Medicaid work requirements and the implications for managed Medicaid plans
- Explore how new legislation and federal initiatives around AI will influence care delivery, compliance, and oversight
- Consider the unique needs of individuals aging into Medicare from Medicaid and how to better support some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Track 3: Value-Based Partnerships and Provider Alignment
Unpack the strategies behind successful value-based care models. Hear how plans and providers are aligning incentives, sharing data, and collaborating to close care gaps, improve cost-efficiency, and deliver better health outcomes across diverse populations
3:10 PM
3:10 PM – 3:55 PM
RISE Innovation Theater 1
Bridging Benefits: Strengthening Coordination Between VA and Medicare Advantage
- Explore how VA and MA plans can collaborate to improve the veteran care experience
- Understand where veterans’ benefits and MA coverage intersect
- Share strategies for accurate coding and risk capture across both systems
- Identify opportunities to build a more seamless path forward for veteran populations
3:10 PM – 3:55 PM
RISE Innovation Theater 2
Risk Mitigation and Coding Accuracy: Getting it Right the First Time
- Master best practices to meet CMS scrutiny and ensure precise diagnosis coding
- Identify vulnerabilities early and implement proactive strategies to reduce compliance risks
- Build stronger partnerships with providers to align on coding accuracy and streamline claims submissions
- Understand how accurate coding and effective collaboration drive compliance and organizational success
4:05 PM
4:05 PM – 5:05 PM
Interactive Roundtables
Select from Different Presentations Spotlighting Health Care’s Most Influential Technology and Solution Gurus Presenting Tools to Elevate Your Plan’s Initiatives.
Pull up a chair and settle in for this unique opportunity to select three interactive, speed-networking type presentations featuring the latest technologies and solutions for boosting your plan’s risk, quality and data management endeavours. A bell will ring three times within this special 60-minute session, alerting you to transition to the next roundtable of your choice.
5:05 PM
5:05 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception in Exhibit Hall
Join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and face-to-face networking with peers.
Wednesday - March 25, 2026
7:30 AM
7:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Exhibit Hall Open
7:30 AM
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Help Desk Open
9:15 AM
9:15 AM – 9:20 AM
Day Two Welcome Remarks and Day One Takeaways
10:20 AM
10:20 AM – 10:50 AM
Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
11:35 AM
11:35 AM – 12:15 PM
From Metrics to Meaning: What Members Want from Health Plans in 2026 and Beyond
In this powerful panel, we hear directly from members and caregivers about their experiences navigating health plans, providers, and support systems. Panelists will share what builds (and breaks) trust, what meaningful engagement feels like, and how healthcare organizations can move from transactional encounters to lasting relationships.
- Understand member perspectives on communication, access, trust, and care coordination
- Explore how lived experiences shape engagement, adherence, and satisfaction
- Identify actionable ways health plans and providers can co-create systems that support whole-person health and improve outcomes
Speaker
Laura Cooley
PhD, Editor-in-Chief at Journal of Patient Experience
12:15 PM
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Track 1 — Risk Adjustment & Program Integrity
Dive into the latest CMS policy updates, RADV audit changes, and evolving risk adjustment models. Learn practical approaches to accurate documentation, compliance, and program integrity while protecting revenue.
- RADV audit readiness & case studies
- Documentation best practices & HCC capture
- Upcoding risk management & operational controls
- Encounter data validation and submission processes
Track 2 — Stars, Quality & Member Outcomes
Explore practical strategies to improve Star Ratings, HEDIS®, and member outcomes—centered on care coordination, member experience, and EHO4All initiatives.
- Improving CAHPS, HOS, and pharmacy measures
- Member experience design and operations
- Quality improvement case studies with measurable results
- EHO4All-aligned approaches to reduce disparities
Track 3 — Value-Based Partnerships & Provider Alignment
Unpack how plans and providers align incentives, share data, and collaborate to close care gaps and improve cost-efficiency and outcomes.
- Designing successful value-based contracts
- Data-sharing & interoperability in payer-provider partnerships
- Risk-sharing models and provider enablement
- Strategies to scale across diverse markets
Track 4 — AI, Automation & Digital Health Innovation
See how AI, predictive analytics, automation, and digital tools are reshaping Medicare Advantage operations and member engagement.
- Predictive models for risk stratification and outreach
- Workflow automation for coding, appeals, and care management
- Digital engagement tools that improve adherence and satisfaction
- Real-world deployment case studies and vendor insights
Track 5 — From Regulation to Real-World Practice
Bridge policy and execution: turn the latest regulations into operational playbooks, avoid pitfalls, and find competitive advantage.
- Translating CMS guidance into day-to-day operations
- Compliance program design and change management
- Case studies: successful implementations and lessons learned
- Cross-functional alignment: clinical, compliance, and operations
Innovation Theaters — In the Exhibit Hall
Short, high-impact presentations in the heart of the exhibit area. Focused demos, headset-enabled sessions, and practical takeaways.
- Future of Medicare Advantage: market forces, innovation, and preparing for the next wave of disruption
- Hot Topics & Emerging Trends: flexible sessions responding to breaking policy and regulatory updates
- Headset Format: for distraction-free listening and high attendee engagement
Pre-Conference Workshops
Deep-dive, instructor-led training available before the main conference. Choose the format that fits your team's needs:
- 3–4 hour workshops — focused tactical training and toolkits
- 6 hour workshops — full-day intensive skill-building sessions
- Women in Leadership Day — a dedicated full day of leadership, mentorship, and practical development
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