2025 HHAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Full Schedule

8:30am MDT

Welcome Remarks

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:30am - 8:45am MDT

Summit Room

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:30am - 8:45am MDT
Summit Room

Breakout Session

8:30am MDT

Lead Your Evolution

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MDT

Summit Room

In the realm of organizational leadership, one truth reigns supreme: while change is inevitable, true evolution is a deliberate choice.

In a world where chaos and uncertainty abound, leaders must possess the vision and resilience to guide their organizations through the evolving landscape. Evolving isn’t merely adapting to change; it’s about actively pursuing growth and improvement in every facet of our existence.

By embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and development, leaders can foster a culture of continuous evolution within their organizations. In today’s fast-paced world, complacency is not an option. Leaders must constantly strive to push boundaries, learn from past experiences, and chart a course towards a brighter future.

Through captivating storytelling and the iconic “Evolution of Dance,” this keynote delivers a powerful message: while everything may change, true evolution requires intentionality and action. It’s time to embrace the journey of evolution and lead with purpose and determination.

Speakers

Judson Laipply

Owner of Evolution of Dance, Evolution of Dance

Judson Laipply is an enigma wrapped in an anomaly contained inside a quandary. Combining comedy and content, laughter and learning, energy and engagement Judson gives his audiences both instant joy and lasting impact. He’s been seen on the Today Show, Ellen, Oprah, GMA, and more... Read More →

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MDT
Summit Room

Opening Keynote

8:30am MDT

Lead Your Evolution (Overflow Room)

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MDT

Elevate Room

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MDT
Elevate Room

Overflow

10:00am MDT

Networking Break with Exhibitors

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT

Summit Foyer

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT
Summit Foyer

Break

10:45am MDT

Homecare Employment: New Administration, same concerns

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT

Ascend

With a new administration taking over, DOL and EEOC enforcement priorities may shift. Recent court decision, such as Texas v. DOL and Ryan LLC v. FTC have resulted in federal regulations regarding salary basis of payment and noncompete agreements being struck down. These changes impact employers’ efforts to comply with FLSA, Title VII and other employment laws. Homecare providers will continue to face challenges when trying to comply with these laws. This session will review recent trends, court rulings, as well as, other changes and common compliance issues, including employee classification, workplace harassment, travel time and other issues. We will then discuss compliance strategies to assist providers to maintain compliance.

Speakers

Robert Markette

Attorney, Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C.

For almost 20 years, Robert W. Markette, Jr., CHC, HCS-C has focused his practice on representing home health, hospice, private duty and DME providers in all aspects of their operations. With more than a decade of experience in working with the these industries, Robert has developed... Read More →

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Ascend

Breakout Session

10:45am MDT

Technology- The Use of Technology for Better Efficiency & Patient Care

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT

Discover

SOFTWARE PRESENTATION - Utilizing technology to work more efficiently with better more timely patient care and survey readiness with use of AI staffing, scheduling, HR credentialing platform called SOLI HealthCare Solutions for home health and hospice.

Speakers

Jayme Holcombe

DPT / CEO, Alpine Therapy Services, LLC

Jayme attended Young Harris College in Georgia on a tennis scholarship, graduating in 2000 with an Associates of Allied Health. In 2003, she graduated from North Georgia College & State University with a Bachelors in Biology and Pre-Med degree. Jayme spent three years between her... Read More →

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Discover

Breakout Session

10:45am MDT

The Future of Employee Benefits at Net Zero Cost!

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT

Summit Room

This session offers an in-depth look at innovative Health Management Plans, designed to enhance both employee well-being and employer financial performance. Attendees will gain valuable insights into a fully insured, fixed indemnity health plan that provides tax-advantaged, pre-payroll claim payments to employees for participating in approved wellness activities — an approach that saves employers money, increases employees’ take-home pay while improving health outcomes all at no additional out-of-pocket costs.

The program outlines a comprehensive, virtual care model supported by industry-leading partners. Features include DNA-powered preventive genomics testing, behavioral health support, nationwide telemedicine access, at-home lab testing kits, prescription benefit programs, and personalized coaching — creating a truly integrated healthcare experience.

This session will explore the compliance framework under IRC Section 125, payroll integration for streamlined administration, and economic models having substantial positive financial impact to employers through FICA savings. Also highlighted are real-world implementation timelines, support structures, and communication strategies that ensure high employee engagement and plan participation.

Ideal for owners, executive directors, and business leaders. This curriculum empowers attendees to offer impactful, modern healthcare solutions that drive measurable value. Whether your goal is boosting retention, improving population health, or generating financial efficiencies, this session delivers a roadmap to success.

Speakers

Jeff Mitchell

Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Fueled Growth Partners

Jeff Mitchell is a seasoned business executive with over 30 years of leadership across diverse industries. A proud alumnus of the University of Utah, bachelor's degree in accounting, and successfully passed the CPA exam. Jeff has served as CFO for multiple companies, including four... Read More →

Tuesday May 20, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Summit Room

Breakout Session

12:00pm MDT

Lunch Break

Tuesday May 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT

Summit Foyer

Tuesday May 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
Summit Foyer

Meal

1:00pm MDT

Maximizing Growth and Security through Payer Diversification

Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT

Summit Room

In today’s shifting healthcare landscape, home care agencies must adopt resilient strategies to thrive. Maximizing Growth and Stability through Strategic Payer Diversification offers a practical and insightful look at leveraging third-party payers like VA and Medicaid to drive sustainable growth. This session will equip leaders with the tools to understand payer dynamics, mitigate financial risks, and enhance profitability. Attendees will learn specific methods to streamline operational processes, evaluate payer benefits, and set targeted growth goals tailored to their agency's needs. Designed to provide both strategic insights and practical steps, this presentation empowers home care providers to build stronger, more diversified revenue streams while elevating care quality.

Speakers

Joe O'Rouke

Regional Account Executive, Paradigm Senior Services

As a Regional Account Executive at Paradigm, Joe focuses on making home care agencies more efficient and service oriented. Based in New York City, he helps agencies optimize their revenue cycles and reduce administrative burdens. Passionate about connecting with industry peers, he... Read More →

Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT
Summit Room

Breakout Session

1:00pm MDT

Medicare Audits: Considerations for Responding to Payer Audits.

Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT

Ascend

Home health and hospice scrutiny continues at a high level. Providers are subjected to a myriad of audits – TPE, RAC, MAC, UPIC and more. Providers need to be prepared to respond to audits and the results of those audits. Provider’s need to be prepared to respond to ADRs to ensure claims are not denie merely for lack of a response. More importantly, providers need to be prepared to appeal demands from Auditors. This is crucial, as the provider’s response to the first and second leves can significantly impact litigation in front of the ALJ. This session will review the audit and appeals process. We will then address processes and considerations for responding to recoupment demands, including the use of consultans, when to involve counsel, and addressing extrapolations. We will also addresss some compliance efforts designed to identify and prevent issues prior to an audit.

Speakers

Robert Markette

Attorney, Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C.

Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT
Ascend

Breakout Session

1:15pm MDT

HCPF Happenings

Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm MDT

This session will go over the OCL Priority Projects and general updates about PDN, LTHH, and IHSS. We will cover some hot-topics and frequently asked questions.

Speakers

Christine Merriman

Paul Hutchings

Amanda Smith

Erin Thatcher

Office of Community Living

Tuesday May 20, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm MDT

Breakout Session

2:15pm MDT

Networking Break with Exhibitors

Tuesday May 20, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm MDT

Summit Foyer

Tuesday May 20, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm MDT
Summit Foyer

Break

3:00pm MDT

Trends and Insights into Deficient Practice

Tuesday May 20, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Summit Room

Trends and Insights Into Deficient Practice, most frequently cited regulations and some insight into avoiding future deficient practice.

Speakers

Erica McClurg

Manager of homecare and hospice programs, CDPHE

Erica McClurg has been a dedicated member of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) since 2011, where she began her journey as a Surveyor-Trainer-Supervisor in the Nursing Facilities branch. In January 2022, she advanced to the role of Home Care and Hospice... Read More →

Tuesday May 20, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Summit Room

General Session

3:00pm MDT

Trends and Insights into Deficient Practice (Overflow Room)

Tuesday May 20, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Elevate Room

Tuesday May 20, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Elevate Room

Overflow

4:30pm MDT

Networking Reception

Tuesday May 20, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MDT

The Great Divide

Tuesday May 20, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MDT
The Great Divide

Reception

8:30am MDT

A National Update on Care at Home Legislation and Policy

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am MDT

Summit Room

Legislation, regulation, and reorganizations – come to hear about the latest happenings in Washington DC that impact care at home! This session will touch upon relevant Congressional and Administration actions that impact home health, hospice, palliative care, private home care, and Medicaid home and community-based services.

Speakers

Damon Terzaghi

Senior Director, National Alliance for Care at Home

Damon Terzaghi has spent his career working in programs that support older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Currently, Damon is Director of Medicaid Advocacy at the National Association for Homecare and Hospice (NAHC). At NAHC, Damon is responsible for establishing... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am MDT
Summit Room

Opening Keynote

8:30am MDT

A National Update on Care at Home Legislation and Policy (Overflow Room)

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am MDT

Elevate Room

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am MDT
Elevate Room

Overflow

9:45am MDT

Network Break with Exhibitors

Wednesday May 21, 2025 9:45am - 10:15am MDT

Summit Foyer

Wednesday May 21, 2025 9:45am - 10:15am MDT
Summit Foyer

Break

10:15am MDT

Medicaid in the News

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Ascend

Washington is considering legislation that could significantly change the Medicaid program. Yet a lot of the policies are convoluted and poorly understood. Learn about discussions to limit Medicaid spending – such as per capita caps, work requirements, provider taxes - everything else that is happening in the Medicaid program that could impact you.

Speakers

Damon Terzaghi

Senior Director, National Alliance for Care at Home

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Ascend

Breakout Session

10:15am MDT

Most Frequent Survey Findings

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Summit Room

Speakers

Ariel Taylor

Sr. Provider Outreach & Education Specialist, CGS Administrators, LLC

Ariel’s role is to educate and aid HHH providers and partners with their billing and technical needs. Ariel has a rich Medicare background as she has over a decade of experience in various roles as a CGS representative. Her most recent role as a Home Health and Hospice Insurance... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Summit Room

General Session

10:15am MDT

Most Frequent Survey Findings (Overflow Room)

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Elevate Room

Speakers

Ariel Taylor

Sr. Provider Outreach & Education Specialist, CGS Administrators, LLC

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Elevate Room

Overflow

11:15am MDT

Transition Break

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:15am - 11:30am MDT

TBA

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:15am - 11:30am MDT
TBA

Break

11:30am MDT

CGS is here to Save The PAY! -Billing and documentation review done the right way

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Summit Room

The purpose of this session is to increase the home health and hospice agency’s awareness of the most up to date Medicare documentation requirements. Participants will also engage in discussion of the top home health medical review denial reasons and documentation tips for denial prevention and receive reminders concerning available resources offered by CGS.
Additionally, this session will keep home health agencies informed of Medicare updates and the latest regulations impacting their billing practices. Participants will also engage in top billing errors and resolutions discussion and receive reminders concerning available resources and self-service tools offered by CGS.

Speakers

Ariel Taylor

Sr. Provider Outreach & Education Specialist, CGS Administrators, LLC

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Summit Room

Breakout Session

11:30am MDT

Embracing the Strengths Based Education Mindset: How to Foster Real Life Skills through Empathy

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Discover

This session will focus on the power of the strengths-based mindset and mindful empathy in providing in-home care. We will discuss how to help build real-life skills, like math, self-advocacy, creative thought processing, and adopting others' opinions, through a lens of radical accountability and community-based education that challenges the norm of long-established healthcare practices.

Speakers

Thomas Wilson

Owner-Operator, R&H Creative Advocacy and Storytelling

Thomas R Wilson is a professional Advocate, Writer, Consultant, Business Owner, and Sensory Friendly Event Specialist. His work is centered around an empathic and person-first mindset that works to empower and uplift community voices. His work is inspired by his own personal experiences... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Discover

Breakout Session

11:30am MDT

Medicaid Class B Roundtable

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Ascend

Review and discussion of the main regulatory, financial and operational challenges currently faced by Medicaid Class B agencies in an interactive round table format, as well as an overview of initiatives taken by the home care association and its member companies to address these issues. The session will provide an opportunity for participants to voice their concerns and issues that they are confronted with when running a Class B agency.

Speakers

Alik Kassner

Co-Managing Partner, Alpine Homecare, LLC

Alik Kassner, is a Co-Managing Partner in one of Denver's largest non-medical, family-owned home care companies. Alik holds a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Toronto and following a twenty year career in banking with stops in Düsseldorf, St.Petersburg, Toronto... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Ascend

Breakout Session

12:30pm MDT

Lunch

Wednesday May 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm MDT

TBA

Wednesday May 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm MDT
TBA

Meal

1:30pm MDT

HOPE Assessment

Wednesday May 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Ascend

Presentation explores a strategic approach for hospice agencies to successfully transition from the Hospice Item Set (HIS) to the Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment, as required by CMS. Attendees will learn key implementation strategies including staff training, EHR integration, quality assurance measures, and enhancing patient and family engagement. The session will address operational, financial, and regulatory impacts, offering practical solutions to ensure compliance, improve patient care, and maintain financial stability.

Speakers

Janell Solomon

Director of Compliance, Sangre de Cristo Hospice, Palliative, Community Care

Janell realized hospice was her passion in 2011. In a few short years with Sangre de Cristo Community Care, she has gone from IT Technician to EMR System Administrator and now has become the regulatory and compliance expert as the Director of Compliance. Janell supports all 6 agency... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Ascend

Breakout Session

1:30pm MDT

What Dementia Teaches Us: An Empowering Practical Session

Wednesday May 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Discover

We often hear that people with dementia are aggressive, or they lose their selfhood, or they will forget those who love them. But this session invites us into a different perspective – to see the ability, agency and purpose of those individuals living with dementia. We'll discuss 4 topics: insights from research; methods to maintain (and sometimes improve) abilities; common dementia impacts and how to work through them; and best practices from Memories in the Making how to assist individuals to create art.

Speakers

Brenda Gurung

National Director of Memory Care, Kisco Senior Living

Brenda Gurung (she/hers) is a Montessori-credentialed dementia specialist with 16 years of experience in senior living, specializing in behavioral expressions, communication, and caregiving methods. She is the National Director of Memory Care for Kisco Senior Living. Recognized as... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Discover

Breakout Session

2:30pm MDT

Networking Break with Exhibitors

Wednesday May 21, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

Summit Foyer

Wednesday May 21, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm MDT
Summit Foyer

Break

3:00pm MDT

HHAC Lobbyist & Communications Team

Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT

Summit Room

HHAC Lobby Team Eliza Schultz, Alan Morse and Elisabeth Rosen will provide a legislative update of the 2025 session as well as discuss what can be expected budget wise heading into 2026.

Speakers

Elizabeth Rosen

Lobbiest, Association

Elisabeth Rosen began lobbying before the Colorado General Assembly in 2004 as an associate for Brandeberry-McKenna Public Affairs. There she learned to take pride in high professional standards and integrity in representing clients. In 2010 Rosen started her firm with great success... Read More →

Eliza Shultz

Lobbyist, Association

Eliza is a Colorado native and founded SchultzPA in July of 2016 after five years with the Hickenlooper Administration. Eliza is well respected by the Governor, as well as the Lieutenant Governor (LG), senior staff, cabinet members, legislators and lobbyists. She has served multiple... Read More →

Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Summit Room

General Session

3:00pm MDT

HHAC Lobbyist & Communications Team (Overflow Room)

Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT

Ascend

Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Ascend

Overflow

4:00pm MDT

Conference Wrap up & Closing Remarks

Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm MDT

Discover

Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm MDT
Discover

Breakout Session