2025 Washington Representatives Retreat

November 20 – 21, 2025
Graduate by Hilton Annapolis
Annapolis, MD

DRAFT AGENDA

Thursday, November 20

9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.                  Registration Open

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                   Welcome and Meeting Overview

                                                        Remarks by:
                                                     • Randall Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
                                                     • Kimberly Beer, Senior Vice President, Policy & External Affairs, National Health Council

11:30 – 12:30 p.m.                         OBBBA Implementation and the Health Care Safety Net 
                                                       With significant changes on the horizon for the nation’s health care safety net, patient organizations must be ready to
                                                       help states and patients navigate an evolving system. This session will explore strategies to strengthen partnerships
                                                       among safety net providers, insurers, and state agencies to ensure patients continue to receive the care and support
                                                       they need.

                                                       Moderator:
                                                    • Kelly Brantley, Independent Consultant
         
                                                    Panelists:
                                                    • Stephanie Krenrich, SVP, Policy & Government Affairs, Advocates for Community Health
                                                    • Brian Webb, Director of Health Policy & Affairs, National Association of Insurance Commissioners
                                                    • Shannon Attanasio, SVP, Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy, Medicaid Health Plans of America

12:30 – 1:10 p.m.                           Networking Lunch Break

1:10 – 2:10 p.m.                             Advocacy in Dynamic Conditions: Strategies for Progress
                                                       The familiar levers of influence—Hill briefings, comment letters, and agency meetings—no longer guarantee impact.
                                                       As political polarization and institutional distrust redefine how evidence and values compete, advocates are rethinking
                                                       what progress looks like and how to achieve it. This session brings together leaders from health policy, public
                                                       engagement, and environmental advocacy to explore what is working now. Panelists will share practical lessons on
                                                       navigating today’s policy ecosystem and offer perspectives on what a more durable model of advocacy could look like
                                                       in the years ahead.

                                                   Moderator:
                                                    • Shion Chang, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs & Policy, National Health Council 

                                                   Panelists:
                                                        • Haley Payne, Associate Principal, Avalere Health; Author, The Weekly Jab
                                                    • Jaclyn Levy, Senior Director, Advocacy and Government Affairs, Outdoor Industry Association
                                                    • Gene Kimball, Founder, Grow Together Marketing

2:15 – 3:00 p.m.                            Using Patient Stories and Data Effectively
                                                        Patient stories have the power to shape policy, drive research, and build trust. This session will explore innovative ways
                                                        to elevate patient voices in advocacy and policymaking. Attendees will hear updates on NHC’s story collection efforts,
                                                        learn about initiatives that use patient narratives to highlight the value of research, and gain practical insights from
                                                        NHC patient organizations on how they are strategically using stories and data to advance their policy goals.

                                                    Moderator:
                                                     • Leah Poffenberger, Senior Manager, Communications, National Health Council
                                                   
                                                    Panelist:
                                                     • Lauren Drew, Senior Director, Congressional Relations, National Kidney Foundation
                                                     • Dylan Simon, Senior Director of Policy, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases
                                                     • Elaine Dalpiaz, Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, National Alliance for Caregiving
                                                     • Shree Thaker, Director, Communications & Partnerships, Amputee Coalition 

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.                            Break

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.                             Advocacy in Action
                                                       Formerly known as “Show and Tell,” this annual session offers NHC members a chance to share successes, challenges,
                                                       opportunities, or questions with their peers. Each presentation will be 3–5 minutes, creating a fast-paced and
                                                       engaging exchange of ideas. Attendees interested in presenting should sign up during registration.

                                                   Moderators: 
                                                   • Ashlie White, Senior Director of External Affairs, American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
                                                   • Allen Pinn, Policy, Manager, National Health Council

4:15 – 5:00 p.m.                           Medication Access and Affordability
                                                       Access to affordable medications remains a complex and pressing policy challenge. This session will cover key
                                                       developments impacting drug pricing and access, including updates on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Most
                                                       Favored Nation (MFN) proposals, direct-to consumer sales, shortages, and tariffs. The discussion will highlight how
                                                       patients and their organizations can shape and respond to these evolving issues.

                                                   Moderator:
                                                   • Kimberly Beer, SVP, Policy & External Affairs, National Health Council

                                                   Panelists:
                                                   • Pam Traxel, SVP, Alliance Development and Philanthropy, ACS-CAN
                                                   • Christine Harhaj, Deputy Vice President, Advocacy & Strategic Alliances, PhRMA
                                                   • Karin Hoelzer DVM, PhD, Senior Director, Patient Advocacy, BIO
                                                   • Amy Sonderman, Senior Director, Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, USP

5:00 p.m.                                      Adjourn for Evening Activities

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.                          Sip, Savor & Socialize: An Evening of Elevated Networking
                                                       Join us for a dynamic networking reception designed to foster meaningful connections. Mingle with fellow
                                                       attendees while enjoying a variety of food stations, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a fully hosted open bar. Whether
                                                       you’re deepening existing relationships or creating new ones, this evening promises great conversation and
                                                       delicious bites.                                            

Friday, November 21
8:00 – 1:15 p.m.                            Registration Open

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.                          Networking Breakfast

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.                        Putting Patients First: The NHC OBBBA Navigation Project
                                                       Implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) will require coordinated action across the entire health care
                                                       ecosystem—from patient organizations and states to federal agencies and health plans. This interactive session will
                                                       showcase the NHC’s Patients First: OBBA Navigation Project, an initiative designed to help patient groups and
                                                       partners understand the implications of the law, exchange strategies, and develop practical engagement tools to
                                                       protect health care coverage and access.

                                                   Moderator:
                                                   • Kelly Brantley, Independent Consultant

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.                        Break

10:15 – 11:00 a.m.                         Looking Ahead: End of 2025 and 2026 Health Care Policy
                                                       Amid today’s challenges, looking ahead is essential for effective advocacy. In this session, a panel of seasoned patient
                                                       advocates will identify emerging policy issues and priorities expected to shape the health care landscape through the
                                                       end of 2025 and into 2026, helping attendees prepare for what is next.

                                                   Moderator:
                                                   • Jennifer Dexter, VP, Policy, National Health Council

                                                   Panelists:
                                                   • Jason Harris, VP, Government Relations & Advocacy, National Psoriasis Foundation
                                                   • Laura Friedman, VP, Regulatory Affairs, American Diabetes Association
                                                   • Emily Feltren, Senior Director, Federal Policy & Advocacy, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
                                                   • Laura Weidner, Chief Advocacy & Government Relations Officer, Epilepsy Foundation of America

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.                          The View from CMS
                                                       Leadership from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an overview of current priorities and
                                                       initiatives that affect patients and the organizations that represent them. The discussion will explore opportunities for
                                                       collaboration and ways to strengthen partnerships to advance shared goals.

                                                   Speaker:
                                                    • Stephanie Carlton, Deputy Administrator and Chief of Staff, CMS

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.                Administration Action, Legality, and Impact

                                                  Moderator:
                                                   • Allen Pinn, Manager, Policy, National Health Council

                                                  Panelists:
                                                  • Mara Youdelman, Director, Federal Policy, NHeLP 
                                                  • Joel McElvain, Senior Legal Advisor, Democracy Forward

12:05 – 12:55 p.m.                       Closing Keynote: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation
                                                      Join us for an insightful keynote with one of the nation’s leading experts on misinformation. She will share research-
                                                      based, practical strategies to help advocates counter false narratives and communicate effectively with policymakers
                                                      and the public in today’s complex information landscape.

                                                  Speaker:
                                                  • Renée DiResta, Associate Research Professor, Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy

1:00 – 1:15 p.m.                            Concluding Remarks

                                                  Remarks by:
                                                  • Kimberly Beer, SVP, Policy & External Affairs, National Health Council