2025 HPO Agenda | AcademyHealth

This page was last updated on July 28, 2025

Monday, October 27, 2025
TIME	ACTIVITY
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30–9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions Speaker: Author, Board Member, Member, Presenter, Staff Aaron E. Carroll, M.D., M.S. President and CEO - AcademyHealth Dr. Aaron E. Carroll is President & CEO of AcademyHealth. Read Bio
9:00–10:00 a.m.	Health Policy 2025-2026: What to Expect in Uncertain Times This session will cover the 2025-206 health policy landscape and what we can expect in an increasingly unpredictable environment. Moderator: Presenter Julie Rovner Chief Washington Correspondent - Kaiser Health News Julie Rovner is Chief Washington Correspondent at KFF Health News Read Bio Speakers: Presenter Joanne Kenen Journalist-in-Residence - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Joanne Kenen is the Journalist-in-Residence at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Read Bio
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30–11:30 a.m.	How Congress Works This session reviews the congressional timetable and processes, as well as the role of congressional staff and committees with specific examples of legislation on health programs. Speaker: Presenter Rodney Whitlock, Ph.D. Vice President - McDermott+Consulting Rodney is an accomplished health care executive with more than two decades on the Hill. Read Bio
11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m.	Lunch
2:00–3:15 p.m.	The Executive Branch This session looks at the role of the White House in health policymaking and how it relates to health-focused and non-health focused cabinet-level agencies. Panelists also discuss the office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the Public Health Service agencies. Moderator: Committee Member, Member, Presenter Adaeze Enekwechi, Ph.D., M.P.P. CEO - Cayaba Care Adaeze Enekwechi, Ph.D., M.P.P. is the CEO of Cayaba Care. Read Bio Speakers: Presenter Christopher Jennings President - Jennings Policy Strategies Chris Jennings is an over three decades-long health policy veteran of the White House, the Congress and the pr... Read Bio Presenter Jennifer Young Co-founder - Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC Jennifer B. Young served as the Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the Department of Health and Human Serv... Read Bio
3:15–3:45 p.m.	Break
3:45–4:45 p.m.	Hot Topics Speaker: TBD
5:00–6:00 p.m.	Happy Hour (Optional)

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
TIME	ACTIVITY
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30–9:30 a.m.	Public Opinion and Health Policy This session looks at how the public perceives health issues and reviews recent polling data. Speaker: Presenter Ashley Kirzinger, Ph.D. Director - KFF Ashley Kirzinger is director of survey methodology and associate director of the Public Opinion and Survey Res... Read Bio
9:30–9:45 a.m.	Break
9:45–10:45 a.m.	The Role of the Courts This session focuses on the role of courts in health care, discussing the use of the legal system to regulate health care and health care delivery. The session also looks at current health care cases that have been elevated to the Supreme Court. Speaker: Member, Presenter Sara Rosenbaum, J.D. Professor Emerita, Health Law and Policy - George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., is Professor Emerita, Health Law and Policy at the Milken Institute School of Public Hea... Read Bio
10:45–11:00 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	Federal Budgeting This session presents the big picture of federal budgeting, its players, and the formal and informal budget processes, as well as how budgets influence policy and how tax cuts and budget deficits drive the policy agenda. Speaker: TBD
12:00–1:15 p.m.	Lunch
1:15–2:15 p.m.	The Role of Evidence in Policymaking This session will address the role that evidence plays in the policy process. It will explore why and when evidence is used and provide examples of when evidence successfully informed, or failed to inform, policy development in both the legislative and executive branches. Speaker: TBD
2:15–2:30 p.m.	Break
2:30–3:30 p.m.	Medicare, MA, and Health Insurance Marketplaces This session will explore issues related to Medicare and its payment and delivery system reforms, health insurance coverage, and health insurance marketplaces. Speaker: TBD
3:30–3:45 p.m.	Break
3:45–4:45 p.m.	The States' Health Policy Agenda This session reviews the key health issues facing the states, including Medicaid/CHIP, insurance exchanges, and the implementation of health care reform. Speaker: TBD

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
TIME	ACTIVITY
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30–10:30 a.m.	Information Sources for Policymaking We will begin the first half of this session with a panel discussion. After, participants will meet in small groups with each expert to learn their agency’s role in providing information and resources for decision makers in the policymaking process. Speaker: TBD
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	How to Communicate with Policy Leaders This hands-on workshop provides pointers for communicating effectively with decision-makers. Panelists will review the various vehicles for communicating your message to key constituencies, tips on developing messages and outreach strategies, the use of media to bridge research and policy, and how to become more involved in health policy and politics. Speaker: TBD
12:00–12:15 p.m.	Closing Remarks