Institute for International Research

As the industry spends millions on Medicare marketing and Part D sales efforts, health plans continue to search for new ways of reducing costs and optimizing care management plans to offer members competitive, robust options. However, with limited outcomes data from the implementation of the MMA, the healthcare industry must assess consumer response and act quickly to revise benefit structures and enrollment strategies to claim market share in the new Medicare arena. At IIR's 3rd Annual Medicare Advantage Congress convening January 23-25, 2006, CMS representatives, health plan executives and Medicare experts gather for the industry's first, post-implementation conference to discuss challenges and identify strategies for plan development and enrollment, competitive bidding, reimbursement and quality improvement, all with a focus on minimizing costs.

On Monday January 23rd the conference opens with four fully updated pre-conference workshops that deliver real solutions for managing the industry's biggest challenges. In the first morning workshop, Gretchen Mills, Associate Vice President, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan will lead attendees through Effective Benefit Management and Outreach Solutions for Dual Eligibles. Concurrently, executives responsible for competitive bidding gain first hand insight from Stephen Wood, Principal, Reden and Anders and Janet Carstens, Actuary and consultant on the CMS bidding project, in Optimizing Plan Performance in the 2007 Bidding Process. In the afternoon, attendees choose from two workshops; CEO of Arizona Physicians IPA, Adam Miller shares his expertise in Developing and Implementing Special Needs Plans, while seasoned Medicare marketer, Wayne Rosenberger, Senior Vice President of Health Care Markets at Harte Hanks delivers Strategies for Marketing MA, MAPD and PDP Benefits.

On Tuesday January 24th, the conference chair, Murray N. Ross, PhD, Director, Health Policy, Analysis and Research, Kaiser Permanente, Institute of Health Policy, brings the meeting to order followed by three keynote addresses offering three industry perspectives, including:

• Mark McClellan, PhD, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (invited)
• John Rother, Group Executive Officer of Policy and Strategy, AARP
• Marilyn Moon, PhD, Vice President and Director of the Health Program, American Institutes for Research

Rounding out the morning sessions are a CMS Update on Competitive Bidding and Formulary Development followed by a forum of health plan executives discussing Competitive Bidding, What Worked and What Didn't. In the afternoon, customized tracks on Beneficiary Education and Strategic Outreach and Disease Management and Provider Education Strategies offer successful case studies from leading health plans.

The final day of the Congress offers the real world experience of consultants and plan executives from Gorman Health Group, WellPoint, Inc, CIGNA Health Care and Sun Health MediSun who lend their expertise to: Strategies for Balancing Quality and Cost, Maximizing Reimbursement with Effective Risk Adjustment Practices and Operational Challenges of Part D Reconciliation. Balancing the day's sessions is a focus on CMS updates and programs, including CMS Overview of Dual Eligibles and Low Income Populations from the Administrator responsible for CMS Region IX Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and a case study of a CMS demonstration project on Integrating Delivery Systems and Financing for Dual Eligibles given by the Minnesota Health Services project lead.

Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to learn from a truly distinguished faculty and network with colleagues. Register early, as space is limited. Benefit from our special group discount – send three or more individuals and receive a 15% discount off the registration fee. Please use the registration form on the back of this brochure. Or, if you prefer, phone us at 888-670-8200 (U.S.) or 941-951-7885(Int'l), or fax us at 941-365-2507. We look forward to meeting you in Phoenix!