New Perspectives from Virginia’s Agency Leaders (1.25 hours)
Danny Avula, MD | Commissioner | Virginia Department of Social Services
Laurie Forlano, DO MPH | Deputy Director, Office of Epidemiology | Virginia Department of Health
Sarah File Lineberger, MPH | HAI Program Manager | Virginia Department of Health
Tammy J. Whitlock, MSHA | Deputy Director of Complex Care and Services | DMAS

With new leaders at the helm of Virginia’s health policy agencies in the Youngkin administration, we’ll host a panel of Virginia’s top health care policymakers. They will provide updates on their agency priorities and initiatives.

Legislative Update (1 hour)
Steve Ford | Senior Vice President of Policy and Reimbursement | VHCA-VCAL
Keith Hare | President and CEO | VHCA-VCAL
Amy Hewett | Vice President of Strategy and Communications | VHCA-VCAL
Scott Johnson | Director | Hancock, Daniel, and Johnson, PC
April Payne | Chief Quality & Regulatory Affairs Officer & Executive Director of VCAL | VHCA-VCAL
Mike Reynold | Senior Vice President | McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC

VHCA-VCAL’s lobbying team and issue experts will brief you on legislation and state budget issues affecting operations in nursing centers and assisted living communities. Bills have been introduced on a variety of topics including staffing and workforce issues, liability protections, and discharge planning. The team will also discuss the latest developments related to Medicaid funding.

Virginia’s Political Outlook in 2022 (1.25 hours)
Robert Holsworth, PhD | Managing Principal | DecideSmart

Renowned Virginia political analyst Dr. Bob Holsworth joins us to share his insights on Virginia politics from the new statewide office holders, the changing leadership in the House of Delegates, and the impact of redistricting.

Perspective from Washington DC: 2022 Legislative and Regulatory Outlook (1.25 hours)
Clif Porter | Senior Vice President, Government Relations | AHCA/NCAL

Clif Porter will discuss what political leaders in our nation’s Capitol have been up to—from the pandemic response to efforts to support and regulate the long term care sector.

Finding Real Workforce Solutions (1.25 hours)
William A. Hazel, Jr., MD | Senior Deputy Executive Director | Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
Cynthia Lawrence | Director of the Office of Workforce Development | Carilion Clinic
Shirley Lefler Bazdar | Program Manager | Claude Moore Charitable Foundation

Dr. Bill Hazel will discuss initiatives to build a health care workforce pipeline in the Commonwealth. He will outline a proposal to coordinate and align the work of state agencies responsible for workforce initiatives with those responsible for regulatory and payment issues.

New Initiatives in Geriatric Mental Health (1.25 hours)
Suzanne Mayo | Director of Community Integration | Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services
Heather Rupe | DAP Specialist | Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services

Suzanne Mayo and Heather Rupe will discuss recent collaboration among DBHDS and long term care providers to address the behavior health needs of individuals in the state’s care and opportunities for future partnership.

Assisted Living: Inspection Landscape (1 hour)
Division of Licensing Operations (DOLP)
Tara Ragland | Division Director 
Edward J. “Eddie” Richardson, Jr. | Associate Director, Senior, Field Operations 
Jamie Sipe | Associate Director, Senior, Field Operations 

DSS leaders will discuss issues and trends affecting the inspection environment for assisted living facilities.

Keeping Up with COVID-19 and the Changing Regulatory Landscape (1 hour)
Dr. David Gifford | Senior Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs | American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL)

As the AHCA/NCAL chief medical officer, Dr. David Gifford continues to guide the response of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities to COVID-19 using his expertise as a geriatrician and epidemiologist. He will provide an update on the frequently changing CMS and CDC regulations and guidance, best practices for infection prevention and control, and vaccine uptake.

Update on VCAL Initiatives (1 hour)
April Payne | Chief Quality & Regulatory Affairs Officer & Executive Director of VCAL | VHCA-VCAL

April Payne will review the recent activities of the VCAL Committee and discuss current regulatory and legislative initiatives and issues affecting Virginia’s assisted living providers.

Value-Based Purchasing Program Update (1 hour)
Steve Ford | Senior Vice President of Policy and Reimbursement | VHCA-VCAL
Melissa Green | Chief Clinical Officer | Trio Healthcare, LLC
Mark Klyczek | President/CEO | Virginia Health Services, Inc.
Novel Martin | President | Parkway LTC Consulting
April Payne | Chief Quality & Regulatory Affairs Officer & Executive Director of VCAL | VHCA-VCAL 

VHCA-VCAL members who served on the DMAS Nursing Facility VBP Program Stakeholder Group will discuss the proposed metrics for the program and how it will be implemented in the coming months.