Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum

Where healthcare organizations in Northern Virginia network and collaborate

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On June 17, NVHPF Hosted A Discussion of Medicare Parts C and D with Chris Ritter of CMS

 

On June 17, the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum and Jim Scott, President and CEO of Applied Policy, welcomed Christina “Chris” Ritter, Deputy Director of the Center for Medicare Parts C & D, and Brittany La Couture, Vice President for Health Policy at Applied Policy.

 

The discussion covered Medicare Advantage, the Part D prescription drug benefit, drug price negotiation, prior authorization, the Health Technology Ecosystem initiative, and broader CMS priorities.

 

A recording of the event is available below.

On May 27, NVHPF Hosted

The Future of Medicare ACOs

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have become a central component of Medicare’s value-based care strategy, with 14.3 million beneficiaries now receiving care through ACO models, up from 13.7 million just a year ago. As participation grows, so do questions surrounding model structure, CMS initiatives, and the future direction of these programs across the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and Innovation Center models.

 

The Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum recently welcomed Emily Brower, President and CEO of the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS), and Sean Cavanaugh, Chief Policy Officer at Aledade, for a discussion on The Future of Medicare Accountable Care Organizations.

 

The conversation explored how the ACO landscape has evolved and where these programs may be headed next.

 

On March 19, NVHPF Hosted

The 340B Drug Pricing Program: Origins and Ongoing Questions

 

On March 19, the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum and Brittany La Couture, Vice President for Health Policy at Applied Policy, welcomed Greg Doggett, Healthcare Attorney at Powers Law; Elizabeth Linderbaum, Director of Regulatory Affairs at the National Association of Community Health Centers; and William Newton, Associate Editor and Senior Writer at 340B Report.

 

The panel explored the origins of the 340B program, current stakeholder concerns, ongoing regulatory and legislative activity, and what the future may hold.

 

A recording of the event is available below. Download a written summary here.

 

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On January 27, NVHPF Hosted

What’s Next for Medicaid

 

Moderated by Jim Scott, President and CEO of Applied Policy, the conversation featured Verlon Johnson, Executive Vice President and Government & Corporate Affairs Chief at Acentra Health, who also serves as Chair of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), and Cheryl Powell, Vice President for Health Policy at Applied Policy.

 

A recording of the event is available below. A summary will be posted here soon.

The views expressed during the discussion were those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Acentra Health, MACPAC, or any federal agency.

On December 11, 2025, NVHPF Hosted

HHS’s Section 504 Requirements: What Healthcare Organizations Need to Know

 

On December 11, the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum hosted Lauren Erickson of the Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC) for a discussion of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ updated Section 504 regulations and their implications for healthcare organizations.

 

A recording of the event is available below. Download a written summary here.

On November 19, 2025, NVHPF Hosted a Conversation with a Drug Pricing Expert

 

On November 19, the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum welcomed Dr. Inmaculada (Inma) Hernandez, Professor of Pharmacy at the University of California, San Diego, and advisor to CMS. A leading researcher on drug pricing and reimbursement, Dr. Hernandez shared insights on current federal initiatives aimed at controlling prescription drug spending and improving pricing transparency for American consumers.

 

A recording of the event is available below. Download a summary here.

On September 25, 2025, NVHPF Hosted a Conversation with Jeff Wu, Deputy Director for Policy At CMS’s Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight

 

The Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum was honored to welcome back Jeff Wu, Deputy Director for Policy at CMS’s Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO).

Wu joined Brittany LaCouture, a Vice President of Health Policy at Applied Policy, for a conversation on policy developments at CCIIO and CMS, including the status of the ACA marketplace.

A recording of the event is available below. Download a summary here.

On July 30, 2025, NVHPF Hosted Health Policy in the Headlines

With Panelists

  • Tara Bannow, Hospitals and Insurance reporter at STAT News

  • Jonah Comstock, Editor-in-Chief at pharmaphorum

Moderated by Linda Rouse O’Neill, Vice President for Health Policy at Applied Policy

Download a summary of the event here.

On May 28, 2025, NVHPF Hosted a Conversation on the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

With Panelists

  • Craig Burton, Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategic Alliances at the Association for Accessible Medicines and Executive Director of the Biosimilars Council

  • Tom Kraus, Vice President of Government Relations at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

  • Nicolette Louissaint, Senior Vice President for Policy and Strategic Planning at the Healthcare Distribution Alliance

Moderated by Linda Rouse O’Neill, Vice President for Health Policy at Applied Policy

A recording of the event is available below. Read and download a summary here.

On April 22, 2025, NVHPF Hosted a Conversation About the Future of Telehealth

 

Telemedicine use increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains an integral part of our healthcare system. However, its continued use has relied on short-term support from Congress. On April 22, Northern Virginia Health Policy and Applied Policy’s President and CEO Jim Scott welcomed Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the American Telemedicine Association, to discuss the future of telehealth.

Watch the recording below. Download a summary of the event here.

On March 25, 2025, NVHPF Hosted the Future of Rural Health

 

More than 60 million Americans live in rural areas, many of them older and facing greater health challenges than their urban counterparts. On March 25, the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum welcomed three leading voices in rural health who shared their perspectives on improving health outcomes for rural residents and what changes are needed to better support their communities.

Bill Finerfrock, co-founder and long-time Executive Director of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC); Sarah Hohman from NARHC; and Amy Elizondo from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), joined a conversation moderated by Applied Policy’s Vice President of Health Policy, Linda Rouse O’Neill.

A recording of the event is available below. Download a summary here.

On February 7, NVHPF Hosted Its First Reporters’ Panel of 2025

 

With healthcare policy poised for significant transitions under a new administration, the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum was honored to host Phil Galewitz of KFF, Maya Goldman of Axios, and John Wilkerson of STAT in conversation with Applied Policy President and CEO Jim Scott.

A recording of the event is available below. Download a summary here.

Find the complete library of NVHPF recordings on our YouTube page.