News
RISE West 2023: Key takeaways on member engagement, RADV audit prep, and health equity
This year’s annual conference featured more than 80 speakers and 30 sessions on timely topics, such as tips to overcome barriers to member engagement, how to prepare for RADV audits, and how to incorporate health equity into your plan’s quality measure performance. Check out 18 takeaways from the conference sessions.
5 quotes that made us think at RISE West 2023
It was an incredible three days of learning and networking at RISE West 2023 in Dallas. Here are five quotes we will remember from this year’s keynote and various panelists.
Live at RISE West 2023 Day 2: Insight into care needs for veterans who have physical or invisible wounds, MA members explain what they like—and don’t like—about their plans
The final day of the main conference began with two highly anticipated panel discussions featuring three veterans from the Wounded Warriors Project and six Medicare Advantage members.
Live at RISE West 2023 Day 1: OIG on managed care compliance, inspiration from an NFL legend, and leadership predictions on health care landscape changes
It’s our biggest RISE West conference yet with a record-breaking number of more than 750 attendees and 84 sponsors who have gathered in Dallas for our annual Medicare Advantage senior leadership conference. Here are highlights from this morning’s sessions with Megan Tinker, chief of staff at the Office of Inspector General (OIG); National Football League great LaDainian Tomlinson; and a leadership panel on positioning your plan for success.
Countdown to RISE West 2023: Top 5 reasons we can’t wait to head to Dallas
Look at what we have in store and why we are so excited about the upcoming, annual three-day event at the brand-new Omni PGA Frisco Resort.
RISE West 2023 preview: Wounded warriors to share their health journeys, suggestions to improve care for veterans
RISE is proud to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project to bring RISE West 2023 attendees this special panel made up of U.S. military veterans who will share their stories of personal triumph, leadership advice, and thoughts on how organizations can help provide veterans with better access to care. The panel discussion will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 30, the final day of the RISE West 2023 conference.
RISE West 2023: What’s new at the must-attend event for senior leaders
As always, attendees of the annual Medicare Advantage senior leadership conference can expect top-notch content, speakers, and extended networking opportunities. But check out what we’ve added to elevate this years’ experience when we gather August 28-30.
OIG official, NFL Hall of Famer to headline RISE West 2023
RISE has confirmed the first two speakers for the annual event, which will take place August 28-30 at the Omni PGA Frisco in Dallas.
6 quotes on leadership—and life—from RISE West 2022 keynotes
The keynote presentations at RISE West 2022 offered lessons on leadership as well as strategies on how to live a better life. If you were unable to attend the annual conference in Los Angeles, here are six quotes that may inspire you in your personal and professional lives.
Key takeaways from RISE West 2022
The three-day annual event included four pre-conference workshops and two days of general and concurrent track sessions that addressed risk adjustment strategies, quality, compliance/regulatory updates, payer/provider alignment, and how to achieve health equity and address the social determinants of health for the aging population. Below are highlights from select sessions.
Live from RISE West 2022: Day one
RISE West attendees are abuzz with excitement as we all gather at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown for two days of learning and networking.
RISE West 2022: 5 ways to make the most of your experience
RISE West is just days away, so we’ve gathered everything you need to know to maximize your experience in Los Angeles.
RISE West 2022 track preview: Payer/provider alignment
In this article we look at the RISE West 2022 sessions planned as part of the payer/provider alignment track at the annual RISE West conference, September 1-2, in Los Angeles.
RISE West 2022 track preview: Compliance/regulatory updates
In this article we look at the RISE West 2022 sessions planned as part of the Compliance and Regulatory Updates track at the annual RISE West conference, September 1-2, in Los Angeles.
RISE Radio Episode 12: RISE West 2022 panelists on the most pressing policy issues facing health plans this year
Five panelists who will speak about health policy at the upcoming RISE West 2022 conference join us for the latest episode of RISE Radio, our podcast series that focuses on issues that impact our three communities: Quality & Revenue; Member Acquisition & Experience; and Social Determinants of Health.
RISE West speaker Osato Chitou previews panel session on empowering women in health care and why both men and women need to hear the discussion
During the special breakfast session that kicks off the second day of RISE West 2022 in Los Angeles, a panel featuring four Black women in health care leadership positions will discuss their career paths and what needs to change in the industry to further promote women across all sectors.
RISE West 2022 track preview: Quality and the intersection of risk adjustment, quality, and population health
In this article we look at the RISE West 2022 sessions planned as part of the Quality track and the Intersection of Risk Adjustment Quality, and Population Health track, two of the scheduled tracks to take place at the annual RISE West conference, September 1-2, in Los Angeles.
RISE West 2022 preview: What's planned for the risk adjustment strategies track
In this article we look at the sessions planned as part of the risk adjustment strategies track, one of the scheduled tracks to take place at the annual RISE West conference, August 31 - September 1 in Los Angeles.
RISE West 2022 announces keynote, special presenters
The premier Medicare Advantage senior leadership conference will take place September 1-2, with pre-conference workshops on August 31, in Los Angeles. Here’s a look at the presenters who will take the main stage.
CMS Star Ratings alert: Two highly-weighted HOS measures removed from 2022 and 2023 calculations due to COVID-19
In an August 5 memo to all Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, the agency announced that the COVID-19 public health emergency significantly impacted the validity of measures related to physical and mental health currently used in the Star Ratings.
RISE West 2021 spotlight: Precon workshops to address HCC coding and documentation, risk adjustment, member engagement and provider education
Learning will take place at RISE West even before the main conference begins.
Justice Department joins MA fraud lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente
The government has intervened in False Claims Act lawsuits against Kaiser Permanente affiliates for submitting inaccurate diagnosis codes for risk-adjusted payments to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Mary A. Inman, a partner in the whistleblower practice group at Constantine Cannon, which is representing one of the whistleblowers, will take a deeper look at the case as part of a RISE West session on lessons learned from whistleblower-litigated False Claims Act cases.
RISE West 2021 Session Spotlight: Current and future telehealth efforts
COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of telehealth services. But what does the future hold? RISE West will explore innovative approaches to telehealth efforts during a panel discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 1, the first day of the main conference. We talked to Andy Ellner, M.D., one of the panelists ahead of the hybrid event, about Firefly Health, a virtual primary care practice established in 2016.
RISE West 2021 Session Spotlight: Payer experiences in provider engagement
Provider engagement is a key theme at this year’s RISE West, a hybrid event that will take place live in Colorado Springs and via livestream August 30-Sept. 2. In this article we talk to Jeslie Jacob of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, one of the panelists at the session on payer experiences in provider engagement.
Sneak peek at RISE West 2021: 5 hot topics on the agenda at this year's hybrid event
RISE West 2021 will bring together senior leaders from Medicare Advantage health plans, commercial marketplace sponsors, Part D health plans, providers groups, pharmacy benefit managers, and accountable care organizations to discuss the hot topics facing the industry. We talked to four of the 50 speakers about their sessions to learn what attendees can expect at this year’s hybrid event, which will take place live in Colorado Springs and virtually via livestream August 30-September 2.
RISE West 2021: 4 sessions, speakers you don’t want to miss at our upcoming hybrid event
Check out the keynotes and officials who have joined our blockbuster roster of more than 50 speakers and 30 sessions for RISE West 2021. The hybrid event will take place August 30-September 2 both live in Colorado Springs and virtually via livestream. This article spotlights four of the can’t-miss sessions.
World-renowned performance psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr to share the most important factor in achievement, life satisfaction at RISE West 2021
Join RISE for a special presentation with Jim Loehr, Ed.D., co-founder of Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, who will offer insights into his 30-plus years of propriety research and training of elite performers, including Olympic gold medalists, military Special Forces, hostage rescue teams, surgeons, and Fortune 500 CEOs to achieve sustained high performance.
Live from RISE West 2020: Day One Recap
The first full day of RISE West 2020 is on the books and what a day we had! Co-chairs Ana Handshuh, principal, CAT5 Strategies, and Dave Meyer, vice president, risk adjustment and quality, Cigna, surprised us by joining the conference remotely but live from Nashville. The two (who could give Kelly and Ryan a run for their money as talk show hosts) showed us what a hybrid approach to live conferences looks like and gave us a sneak peek at what hotel guests can expect when they travel again (wrapped hand sanitizer and a television remote in plastic).
Countdown to RISE West 2020: What you need to know to make the most out of your virtual experience
Learn more about the interactive virtual sessions and activities we’ve planned for RISE West 2020, which will take place Sept. 9-11. RISE West is just a few days away. If you’ve already registered for our live-streamed event, we’ve compiled the highlights, so you make the most out of scheduled sessions and networking opportunities. Don’t worry if you haven’t registered yet. It’s not too late to take advantage of our special virtual rates. Not sure if the program is right for you? Read on to learn about the sessions, networking, exhibit hall, and fun activities that are in store for you.
Video interview: Jefferson Health's Dr. Stephen Klasko on the pandemic of the future and what the health care delivery landscape will look like
In this 10-minute video with RISE, Stephen Klasko, M.D., MBA, president and chief executive officer, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, provides a glimpse into what a global pandemic would look like in 2030 based on what we’ve learned during the COVID-19 public health emergency of 2020. Klasko, will be the closing keynote at RISE West 2020, a live-streamed virtual event that will take place Sept. 9-11. During his fireside chat, he will provide insights into how COVID-19 has affected the health care landscape as well as tips for payers and providers to navigate the changes and prepare for the future.
RISE West 2020 to shine a spotlight on member engagement during new preconference workshop
COVID-19 has made member engagement more important than ever before. In this article, RISE talks to three of the facilitators of RISE West’s upcoming preconference workshop that tackles the need for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to double down on member engagement in the second half of 2020. 
The virtual three-hour workshop will take place at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Sept. 9, the day before the two-day live-streamed main conference. To learn more about this growing focus area, RISE interviewed the three preconference workshop leaders about why member engagement is an organization-wide effort, the impact of COVID-19, challenges and opportunities, and what attendees can expect to learn at the virtual session.
The long-term effects of COVID-19 on health care: Part 2 of a video interview with John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Part 2 of our interview with John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA, professor of public health practice, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who will be a featured speaker at RISE’s upcoming virtual event, RISE West 2020, Sept. 9-11. McDonough, a former member or the Massachusetts House of Representatives and former senior advisor on national health reform for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, will offer his predictions on what the 2020 election results may mean for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and the Affordable Care Act at RISE West on Sept. 10, the first day of the main conference.
The 2020 election's impact on health care: Part 1 of a video interview with John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA, professor of public health practice, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will be a featured speaker at RISE’s upcoming virtual event, RISE West 2020, Sept. 9-11. McDonough, a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and former senior advisor on national health reform for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, will offer his predictions on what the 2020 election results may mean for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and the Affordable Care Act at RISE West on Sept. 10, the first day of the main conference.
RISE West Keynote Dr. Marc Milstein on the importance of a good night's sleep to manage stress and protect your mental health
Marc Milstein, Ph.D., a scientist and researcher on health and happiness, will be a keynote speaker at RISE West 2020 in September. In this article, RISE talks to Milstein about his upcoming presentation and how American adults can get a better night’s sleep amid worries of COVID-19. If you have been tossing and turning at night since March, you aren’t alone. The shelter-in-place orders and physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had a negative impact on the quality of people’s sleep, says Milstein, pictured. “Some people get more sleep, but the quality is down and it’s important to talk about. Sleep isn’t just rest. Sleep is a time when we consolidate our memory and make our memories stronger. It’s also a time when we cleanse our brains and get rid of toxins and waste,” he says.
NCQA Q&A session added to RISE West 2020
RISE is pleased to announce that Frank Micciche, vice president of public policy and external relations for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), will be a featured speaker at the RISE West 2020 virtual event Sept. 9-11. Micciche will take part in a fireside chat that addresses quality and Star ratings at 12:30 p.m. Friday, the second day of the main conference. The Q&A session will explore industry shifts, CAHPS, Star ratings, health plan feedback, and the implications of using telehealth on quality metrics.
RISE West 2020 to shine a spotlight on SDoH cross-sector community paramedic program
Chief Derek Bergsten of the Rockford, Ill. Fire Department talks to RISE ahead of the RISE West virtual summit, where he will share the success of a collaborative social determinants of health (SDoH) program that has reduced emergency department visits, ambulance runs, and hospital admissions. Like many communities across the United States, Rockford, Ill. had a problem with a small group of residents who regularly called 911 for ambulance transport or showed up at the emergency room. Often called ER superusers, super-utilizers, or frequent flyers, these familiar faces typically had multiple health challenges and relied on the local hospital for care.
RISE West 2020 goes virtual: Sneak a peek at this year's agenda and speakers
The live-streamed virtual event will take place Sept. 9-11 and features presentations from leading experts in risk adjustment, quality performance, documentation, HCC coding practices, member engagement, payer-provider collaboration, and social determinants of health. Take a look at the sessions we’ve planned.
3 takeaways from RISE West 2019 on provider engagement, payer-provider collaboration, and the real reason seniors choose MA plans
SAN DIEGO—More than 450 attendees gathered at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego for RISE West 2019 to learn about payer/provider collaboration, leadership, and the member experience. Below are takeaways from select sessions: Seniors reveal star ratings are not a big factor in plan choice Nine seniors participated in a focus panel moderated by Kathleen Ellmore, managing director of Engagys, to provide insight into their experiences with the Medicare and Medicare Advantage markets. One of their biggest reveals may be a bit discouraging for health plans that have worked hard to achieve a 4- or 5-star rating: The number of stars didn’t factor into their decision to pick a plan
RISE West 2019: Keynote presenters inspire with leadership lessons, problem-solving strategies
SAN DIEGO —Among the highlights of RISE West 2019: An amazing story of survival and heroics during our nation’s darkest day; a new way of thinking about health care innovation; and tips to change behavior to enrich the member experience. Here’s a sampling of the keynote presentations.Richard Picciotto, retired NYC fire department chief, kicked off RISE West 2019 with a gripping first-hand account of his heroic efforts to evacuate thousands from the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11. His remarkable story was even more poignant as he recounted it on the day before the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.