We are thrilled to share the exciting highlights from our recently concluded SPBA 2023 Hybrid Fall Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. A detailed agenda is below.
The Fall Meeting brought together our esteemed members, industry experts, and thought leaders for a series of insightful discussions, workshops, and networking sessions. The event served as a platform to exchange ideas, explore new opportunities, and strengthen professional relationships.
One of the standout features of the 2023 Fall Meeting was the inclusion of video testimonials from some of our members who attended the meeting. These testimonials capture the essence of our community's dedication and enthusiasm towards the goals and values we collectively uphold.
Click here to watch these inspiring video testimonials, which embody the diverse perspectives and passion of our community. They exemplify the strength and determination that characterize our members, reinforcing our commitment to driving progress and achieving excellence together.
Discover firsthand why attending the SPBA Meetings is a valuable experience by watching this video featuring insights from a couple of our esteemed service partner members.
Click here to view the video and hear why being a part of SPBA Meetings is significant.
Below is the detailed 2023 Fall Meeting Agenda:
SPBA Fall Meeting 2023 Agenda
September 13 - 14
In-Person and Online
Hilton Nashville Downtown
(Meeting Time is Central Standard Time)
Wednesday, September 13
1:00 – 1:25 – Welcome, Opening Announcements – SPBA Chairman Michou Reichelsdorfer; President Anne Lennan.
1:25 – 2:10 – Live Your Best Life Now! – The author of the critically acclaimed eBook, “The Happiness Book,” Mike Duffy will address resilience, building morale and success.
2:10 – 3:00 – Pharmacy Supply Chain and How to Avoid the Mark Up on Rx – With all the focus on lowering the cost of drugs, the industry has only pushed hard on one component of the supply chain. In this presentation, we will look to better understand the supply chain complexity as well as some initiatives that can be taken to build better efficiencies around the delivery of medications. Eric Yonkus, Cerpass Rx (SPBA Service Partner). Moderator: Eric Ludwig.
3:00 – 3:20 – Table discussion, rotation and sharing. Online viewers take a break.
3:20 – 3:35 – Break
3:35 – 4:20 – TPA Firm Renewal Strategies and Handling Compliance Costs – Panel of TPAs will share their ideas that have worked well over the years and how new ideas have fared over the last renewal cycle. How TPAs are handling expenses and compliance on NSA and other requirements. TPA discussion on the cost of paying vendors and passing along the cost to customers. Are members handling compliance internally or outsourcing? Panelists: SPBA Chairman Michou Reichelsdorfer and SPBA Board: Kris Smith, Richard Hardin, and Eric Schulman.
4:20 – 4:35 – Table discussion and sharing.
4:35 – 5:35 – AI and Automation: Transforming Payer Workflows – Artificial Intelligence and other technologies are positively disrupting almost every industry, and healthcare administration is no different. Learn about the capabilities of these methods and explore some real-world use cases, including how they might be leveraged to benefit your existing workflows. Patrick Bores, Smart Data Solutions (SPBA Service Partner). Moderator: Chase Donnelly.
5:40 – 6:45 – Cocktail Reception
Thursday, September 14
7:00 – 7:45 – Continental Breakfast
7:45 – 9:00 – Turning Data into Action: Using Information to Build Value and Beat BUCA Competition – This session will explore obvious and not-so-obvious information available to TPAs and how effective mining of that information can build value in client relationships and in positioning against BUCA competitors. We will explore building a TPA culture focused on collecting information and positioning with clients in a Joint Operating Committee relationship; positioning data management in the face of a less sophisticated broker/consultant; using data to prioritize plan design, network and carve-out interventions; understanding and manipulating the BUCA Achilles heels. Glenn McLellan, McLellan Consulting Services.
9:00 – 10:00 – Cell and Gene Therapy Challenges for Plans – Franklin Jancura, Berkley Accident & Health (SPBA Stop Loss Partner).
10:00 – 10:45 – RxDC Challenges and Ideas for Improving Reporting Processes – Lauren Wells, Health Care Reporting (SPBA Service Partner). Moderator: Andrew Meggison
10:45 – 11:00 – Break to move to Workshops.
11:00 – 11:45 – Workshops (first set)
- Workshop A – Stop Loss and TPA Discussion – Jessica Rozal, Symetra (SPBA Stop Loss Partner), SPBA Board Eric Schulman.
- Workshop B – Operations – Implementation Strategies in the Face of Increasing Client Complexity – This session will address the challenges of implementing a new client in the age of changes in access to providers, the number of business partners involved internally and by clients, and the increasing expectation of the TPA as an Advocate/Navigator. Basics of data gathering, setting client expectations and quality assurance procedures, integrating client business goals and project management will be reviewed. Glenn McLellan, McLellan Consulting Services.
- Workshop C – TPA CEO/President/COO – SPBA Board: Richard Mousty and Marc Paulson.
11:45 – 12:00 – Break
12:00 – 1:15 – Lunch – Note: For Emerging Professionals dedicated tables for you to network.
1:15 – 2:15 – Gag Clause, Agency, Congressional and Litigation Roundup – What impact does the Gag Clause have on TPAs and their agreements with plan sponsors? Should TPAs make the attestation on behalf of its plan sponsor clients? Proposed regulations were recently issued addressing fixed indemnity and MEC arrangements. The agencies issued FAQ 60 addressing the application of the OOP maximum rules under the ACA and OON services under the No Surprises Act. The courts are active with cases affecting the self-funded industry. Cases regarding claims overpayments and excess fees seem to have risen to the top of the dockets – requiring special attention to our claims processing practices and fee arrangements. Congressional activity on individual coverage HRAs and more. Ashley Gillihan, Alston & Bird. Moderator: Katy Green.
2:15 – 2:30 – Break to move to Workshops.
2:30 – 3:15 – Workshops (second set)
- Workshop D – RxDC Challenges. Lauren Wells, Health Care Reporting (SPBA Service Partner).
- Workshop E – How Are you Handling X In Your Firm? Come prepared to share your challenges and suggestions. Kris Encino, Carol Adams, Lori Rortvedt.
- Workshop F – Cell and Gene Therapy – Plan document legal issues and discussion. Ashley Gillihan, Alston & Bird.
3:15 – 3:30 – Break
3:30 – 4:30 – Emerging Impact of Dobbs on Employers, Employee Benefits and Healthcare – Employers, employee benefit plans, TPAs, medical providers, patients and others are struggling to understand and respond to the shifting and often ambiguous workforce, benefits, care, safety, cybersecurity, privacy and other immediate legal and practical demands and concerns fueled by the evolving federal and state litigation, regulation, enforcement, disruptions and uncertainty triggered by the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling. This session will examine the implications of the Dobbs decision for TPAs, employers and plans. Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, Esq. + Tracy Bordignon, Esq. + Elizabeth Leight, Esq.
4:30 – 5:15 – New Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Regulations – The new regulations provide more guidance to plan sponsors on what is to be included in the comparative analysis. Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, Esq. + Jennifer Berman, Esq., MZQ Consulting, Moderator, Elizabeth Leight, Esq.
5:15 – 6:00 – PBM State and Federal Legal Updates – The session will walk through PBM reform efforts, both state and federal level including current and pending legislation that will impact health plans and their benefit administrators. Possible impacts include reporting requirements, pharmacy network standards, cost share transparency, audits, anti-steering and more. Steven Boyd, PharmD, Liviniti (formerly Southern Scripts) (SPBA Service Partner).
6:00 – 7:00 – Cocktail Reception
For more information, please email us at info@spbatpa.org.