2025 Call for Papers Guidelines - 2025 State HIT Connect Summit (April 30-May 2)
Section 1: Key Dates, Deadlines, Submission Link
Section 2: Overview, Track Descriptions
Section 3: Abstract Evaluation Criteria
Section 4: Rules of the Road, FAQs
Section 5: Contact information
Section 1: Key Dates, Deadlines, Submission Link
Section 2: Overview, Track Descriptions
2025 State HIT Connect Summit (In-Person ONLY), April 30th-May 2nd
Modernization Strategies for a Connected HHS Ecosystem
Federal rule-making has further established the foundations for standards-based data exchange and introduced guardrails for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. CMS Streamlined Modular Certification further aligns Medicaid systems investments with program and beneficiary outcomes.
The next phase of HHS ecosystem transformation will be driven by states' ability to leverage interoperability, AI, and automation to drive collaboration and coordination across HHS agencies and other stakeholder groups. By providing case workers and administrators across the ecosystem with the tools and data they need in real-time, they can deliver on the promise of whole-person care.
Naturally, some states are leaning in more aggressively than others to pilot emerging technologies in different areas. However, all states are set to benefit from these technologies as they mature and are more widely adopted. Cultivating the right data, technology talent, and partnerships will prove critical in supporting these modernization programs.
The 2025 State HIT Connect Summit will explore cutting-edge pilots in different vertical application areas and at the enterprise level, providing key insights into the potential for driving overall ecosystem transformation.
The 2025 meeting is the 15th annual State Healthcare IT Connect Summit. The conference has grown and evolved into an important national venue for public and private sector thought leaders to share ideas and benchmark implementation strategies of State Health IT Systems.
2025 Tracks Include:
Track 1: MES Procurement, Implementing Modularity, Outcomes-Based Transformation
Track 2: Interoperability, Data Analytics & Population Health
Track 3: Enterprise Data, Delivering Person-Centered Care across HHS
Track 4: Program Integrity, Privacy & Security
Track 5: State Marketplace Reform, Managed Care Optimization
Track 6: AI & Automation Adoption, Emerging Technologies
Cross-Cutting Agenda Themes: Actionable Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Certification, Consumer Data Access, Data Quality, Evolving Procurement Approaches, Harnessing Innovation, Health Equity, Interoperability, Outcomes, Organizational Development, Program & Business Metrics, Program Responsiveness/Agility, Public Health Modernization, Security, and Privacy, SDoH.
Who Will Attend: We anticipate 1000+ attendees (breakdown as below) & 50+ state and territory teams at the 2025 program.
● Federal Agencies (ONC, CMS, NIH, SAMHSA, DOD, VA, SSA): National Coordinator, Deputy Director, Policy Director, Technical Director, Interoperability & Standards, IT & Analytics, Project Management
● State Medicaid: Director, Health Reform, CMOs, COO, CSOs, E&E, MMIS, MES, Provider Relations, Analytics, PHM, Sustainability
● Human Services: Director, CIOs, Analytics, E&E, Transformation, Program Leadership
● Public Health: Director, Medical Officer, Health Officer, Epidemiologist, Informatics, Immunization
● Health Insurance Exchanges (HIX): CEO, Executive Director, CIO, CSO and MIS
● Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) / SHDOs (State Health Data Organizations): CEO, Executive Director, CIO, CSO, Analytics and MIS
● Commercial Payers, Health Systems, Medical Groups: CMIOs, Director HIE, Informatics, PHM, Care Coordination
● Solution Providers/Integrators: CEO, VP Public Sector, VP Sales, Director HIE / HIX, Project Director, Account Manager
2025 Tracks Include:
Track 1: MES Procurement, Implementing Modularity, Outcomes-Based Transformation
Track sessions will focus on MES modernization efforts, from procurement and implementation to ongoing maintenance and operations (including legacy system modernization).
● Assessing modernization approaches (legacy vs modular approach)
● Evolving contractual approaches (including KPIs with financial outcomes in the negotiated contract with vendors)
● Evolving PMO, oversight, and governance of MES procurements
● Evolving procurement approaches (exploring faster, more efficient procurement vehicles)
● Harnessing innovation whilst minimizing vendor risk in your modernization programs
● Implementing EVV
● Managing multi-vendor/multi-module environment
● MES certification of public health
● MES planning, alignment to transformation roadmap
● Migrating legacy applications to the cloud
● Optimizing testing for a multi-vendor environment
● Operational reporting and metrics
● Organizational change management/development
● Outcomes-based certification, program & business metrics
● Outcomes metrics for new and legacy systems
● Streamlined modular certification
● T-MSIS (reducing burden and increasing transparency)
● Unwinding readiness of State systems
● Vendor engagement strategies for optimal outcomes
Track 2: Interoperability, Data Analytics & Population Health
Track sessions will focus on state investment in interoperability initiatives to both meet federal requirements, and actionable analytics to support improved policy decision-making and care coordination for the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
● Addressing health equity with integrated data
● Actionable analytics for coordinated care
● Behavioral Health
● CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule
● Data visualization
● HIE (Health Information Exchange), State Medicaid partnership
● Interoperability (FHIR, and new CMS Requirements)
● Operationalizing TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework Common Agreement)
● ONC HTI 1, ONC HTI 2
● Reducing homelessness
● SDoH (Social Determinants of Health)
● Substance Use Disorder, PDMP
Track 3: Enterprise Data, Delivering Person-Centered Care across HHS
Track sessions will focus on the state strategies to leverage integrated data in order to deliver person-centric services across the HHS enterprise, including coordination with external providers, and CBOs (Community-Based Organizations).
● Addressing the social needs of a community
● Beneficiary engagement
● Building prevention models with integrated data
● Driving program responsiveness, and agility with integrated data
● Eligibility automation for Unwinding of the PHE
● Enterprise data models (new approaches to data lake)
● Implementing EMPI, MPI
● Integrated service delivery
● Leveraging integrated data for person-centric outcomes
● Leveraging news sources of data to streamline eligibility and enrollment
● State data governance models (reducing organizational boundaries)
Track 4: Program Integrity, Privacy & Security
Track sessions are divided into 2 main sub-topic areas.
Program Integrity: sessions focusing on the role of technology, and data sharing in supporting state program integrity initiatives.
● PI Implications for Federal Unwinding
● State fraud trends, opportunities for collaboration
● Data sharing and program integrity
● Implementing cost avoidance strategies vs pay and chase
● Third-party Liability (TPL) outcomes, designing a solution for the maximum state value
● Managed Care program integrity oversight
● Optimizing provider investigations through data sharing, analytics
Privacy and Security: sessions focusing on data privacy, and security within and across state agencies and their stakeholder partners.
● Cybersecurity strategies
● Data Privacy for SUD
● Data Privacy for behavioral health
● OAuth, FHIR security, interacting with TEFCA
● Patient Consent Strategies
Track 5: State Marketplace Reform, Managed Care Optimization
Track sessions will focus on the role of SBMs (State-Based Marketplaces), in supporting a seamless coverage experience for beneficiaries transitioning in and out of Medicaid coverage, as well as how states are leveraging data, and technology to collaborate with payers and improve the performance of their managed care programs.
● Addressing equity, CMS Proposed Rule: Medicaid Program; Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services
● Closing gaps in MCO, and VBC arrangements
● Data analytics to drive policy change, community-based services
● Effective coordination between Medicaid, exchanges for seamless coverage
● Implementing SBMs (State-Based Marketplaces)
● Marketplace Reform
● MCO collaboration
● Care management strategies
● Quality measurement, effective communication of results
Track 6: AI & Automation Adoption, Emerging Technologies
Track sessions will focus on state strategies to harness AI & automation, emerging technologies. Exploring vendor innovation, the scaling of pilot projects to provide efficiencies and improve time to value, and ROI in new and emerging technology categories.
● Artificial intelligence (AI)
● Automation Strategies
● Avoiding bias in your AI implementation
● Embracing and scaling innovative technologies
● Embracing and scaling innovative technologies
● Machine Learning (ML)
● Integrating Innovation across the HHS Ecosystem
● Trustworthy AI Adoption
Section 3: Abstract Evaluation Criteria
● Speaking Proposals will be evaluated along the following criteria by members of our Program Planning Advisory Board.
● Will the topic/data included in the proposal be appropriate/timely (in the context of current and pending legislation, regulations, and technology) at the conference dates (April 23-25, 2025)?
● Does the proposal include valuable/practical insights relevant to the topic (will there be sufficient education/data presented around states implementing technology and lessons learned)?
● Are end-users (Medicaid, HIE, Payer, Federal etc) presenters included and taking a prominent role in the presentation? (end-users should lead presentations, vendor representation should be in the background)
● Are these insights supported by guidelines or models that can be used by attendees to better manage projects and/or implementations?
● Multiple Perspectives. Does the proposal include multiple/diverse perspectives on the topic?
● Originality. Has the material been presented elsewhere where attendees may have been present? The topic is likely to be covered in a few venues prior to April.
● Experience. Do proposed speakers have sufficient experience to support the topic?
● Product/vendor commercials are avoided?
*Although there is no official word count limit, 3-400 words is the optimal submission length for submitted speaking proposals.
Section 4: Rules of the Road, FAQs
Abstract Grading Process: Submitted abstracts are graded through our state representative program advisory board for acceptance onto the program according to the abstract grading criteria above. Abstracts that receive a high score are contacted to discuss the session details prior to being 100% accepted onto the meeting agenda.
Speaker Confirmation: Whilst we understand that it can be difficult to 100% confirm speakers to travel to present at the conference, please do check in with included presenters regarding their intent, and availability to be at the conference in person as part of your abstract submission preparations. We will check in with all accepted abstract coordinators regarding state team availability before allocating a session on the program.
Speaker registration: All session speakers are required to register to attend the meeting. Government, HIE, HIX, Payers, and Providers are able to access complimentary registration/State HIT Connect Community membership. Vendors, Consultants are required to register for the annual meeting, and will also be provided with an annual membership to the State HIT Connect Community.
Merged abstracts: When multiple abstracts on a topic are provided with positive input through our grading process, we may select to merge abstracts into a single session and evolve the format to a panel group with multiple state speakers, and projects represented. In this scenario, the vendor representative may or may not be included in the session panel group. This will be clearly communicated as part of the abstract acceptance process.
Section 5: Contact Information
Please email any questions regarding the abstract submission, and evaluation process to Rob Waters, Program Director, State HIT Connect, at robw@healthcareitconnect.com.
2025 Call for Papers Guidelines - 2025 State HIT Connect Summit (April 30-May 2)
Download the full 2025 Call for Papers Guidance Document here>> (including comprehensive details as per the breakdown below).
Section 1: Key Dates, Deadlines, Submission Link
Section 2: Overview, Track Descriptions
Section 3: Abstract Evaluation Criteria
Section 4: Rules of the Road, FAQs
Section 5: Contact information