And It’s a Wrap! Highlights from our 2019 Annual Conference

Thank you to the ANCOR members, exhibitors and sponsors who joined us in Portland, OR for our 2019 Annual Conference, Bridges to Better Outcomes! Over 600 attendees came to learn from our sessions, be inspired by the movies in our film fest and network with movers and shakers in the field. Our keynoters challenged us: to see the common beauty in all of us (Rick Guidotti); leverage artificial intelligence to make supports more intuitive and empathetic (Poppy Crum); engage with the Department of Labor on key issues (Michael Kravitz); and think strategically about playing a leadership role as the Medicaid world tilts towards value-based payments (Vikki Wachino). Among many topics, our breakout session speakers prompted us to think about: our decision-making and leadership processes; engaging with federal agencies to support individuals’ housing needs; the connection between outcomes and fiscal health; a lean system to hire DSPs; and weaving HIPAA into operations. A lot a great things happened outside of our programming, too! Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, stopped by to give remarks to attendees to our ANCOR Disability Champions PAC event. We discussed EVV and value based payments with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) staff who came all the way from Baltimore to join us. Barbara seized the helm during an ANCOR Foundation Boat Cruise. If this all sounds great, then stay tuned because next year we will be packing as much into our days at next year’s Annual Conference… in Miami, Florida!

From left to right: Vikki Wachino; Michael Kravitz; Senator Wyden (fourth from left) with Oregonian attendees at the ANCOR Disability Champions PAC event; Government Relations’ Esme Grewal with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) staffer Ryan Shanahan.