IHCA CEO + Senior Executive Leaders Conference

Iowa Health Care Association
CEO + Senior Executive Leaders Conference

June 24-25 | Downtown Des Moines, Iowa
Presented by Lee Agency

This exclusive and complimentary event is designed specifically for CEOs and senior executive leaders in the long-term care profession.

The event is invitation-only and non-transferable. 

The deadline to RSVP to this event has passed. If you would like to inquire about availability, please email [email protected].

Conference Overview + Schedule

Tuesday, June 24 | Conference + Networking Events
12:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
The River Center | 340 SW 3rd St. | Des Moines

The conference will kick off with discussions related to state and federal policy, followed by an evening social outing in downtown Des Moines.

Featured Sessions + Speakers:

  • Reception for Attorney General Brenna Bird
  • Luncheon for Speaker Pat Grassley
  • D.C. Update
    Michael Bassett, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, American Health Care Association
  • State and Federal Policy Panel
    • Michael Bassett, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, American Health Care Association
    • Matt Hinch, Principal and Director, Cornerstone Government Affairs
    • Paige Thorson, General Counsel, Iowa Health Care Association
    • Merea Bentrott, Chief Operating Officer, Iowa Health Care Association
  • Iowa Department of Management Update
    Kraig Paulsen, Director, Iowa Department of Management

Evening Networking Events:

  • Reception for Majority Leader Jack Whitver | 4:30 p.m.
  • Iowa Cubs Game and Terrace Reception at Principal Park | 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 25 | Conference
9:00 a.m. – 1:00: p.m.
The River Center | 340 SW 3rd St. | Des Moines

The second day will focus on executive-level topics including regulatory realignment, legal trends and personal safety for leaders, as well as judicial insights relevant to long-term care.

Featured Sessions + Speakers:

  • Inspections, Appeals and Licensing Realignment and Department Updates
    Larry Johnson, Jr., Director, Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing
  • A Special Address from Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen
    Susan Christensen, Chief Justice, Iowa Supreme Court
  • Health Care Executive Personal Safety
    Tom Conley, President and CEO, The Conley Group, Inc.

Bonus Session:

  • Legal Roundtable: Issues on the Minds of Long-Term Care Senior Leadership | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
    • Katie Cownie, Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP
    • Adam Freed, Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP

Schedule details are subject to change. Check back for updates.

Session Descriptions

Tuesday, June 24

D.C. Update
Michael Bassett, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, American Health Care Association (AHCA)

This session will provide insights into current national legislative activities impacting health care, including updates from CMS, the Department of Health and Human Services and Capitol Hill. Attendees will gain an overview of key threats facing the industry and workforce, along with AHCA’s strategies for engaging effectively with Congress and the administration.

State and Federal Policy Panel
Michael Bassett, SVP of Government Relations, AHCA | Matt Hinch, Principal + Director, Cornerstone Government Affairs | Paige Thorson, General Counsel, IHCA | Merea Bentrott, COO, IHCA

Join state and national experts for a timely discussion on legislative activity impacting long-term care. This panel will provide insider perspectives, policy updates and practical insights, along with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and engage directly with those at the forefront of state and federal advocacy.

Iowa Department of Management Update
Kraig Paulsen, Director, Iowa Department of Management

Kraig Paulsen, Director of the Iowa Department of Management, will share insights into the state’s strategic initiatives to maximize agency performance through financial stewardship, technology modernization and data-driven decision making. Attendees will gain a high-level overview of Iowa’s budget development and oversight process, including recent advancements in enterprise performance management and IT governance. Paulsen will also discuss how these efforts intersect with long-term care policy and what providers need to understand about Iowa’s evolving administrative and fiscal landscape.

Wednesday, June 25

Inspections, Appeals and Licensing Realignment and Department Updates
Larry Johnson Jr., Director, Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing

This session will highlight recent realignment efforts and operational changes within the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. Director Johnson will cover efforts to streamline licensing, key regulatory updates and what long-term care providers need to know moving forward.

A Special Address from Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen
Susan Christensen, Chief Justice, Iowa Supreme Court

Chief Justice Susan Christensen will share her perspective on legal and judicial matters relevant to the long-term care profession. This session will offer a unique opportunity to hear how Iowa’s judicial system intersects with issues impacting older Iowans and long-term care providers.

Health Care Executive Personal Safety
Tom Conley, President and CEO, The Conley Group, Inc.

In today’s complex environment, health care executives face growing safety risks. Security expert Tom Conley will outline real-world strategies for recognizing threats, enhancing personal safety and managing risk. This session will offer practical tools to help leaders better protect themselves and their organizations.

Legal Roundtable: Issues on the Minds of Long-Term Care Senior Leadership
Katie Cownie, Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP | Adam Freed, Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP

This session will briefly cover several current issues of interest to long-term-care owners and CEOs, including changes of ownership, heightened CMS disclosure requirements and updated OIG compliance guidance. The presentation will leave ample time for a free-flowing discussion of issues on the minds of senior leadership.

Speaker Bios

Michael Bassett
Senior Vice President of Government Relations, American Health Care Association (AHCA)

Michael Bassett is senior vice president of government relations for the American Health Care Association. He has more than 20 years of experience in federal health care policy, specializing in advocacy, policy analysis and coalition-building. Bassett previously served as a senior policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and staff director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. He holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Florida and resides in Washington, D.C. View complete bio here.

Merea Bentrott
Chief Operating Officer, Iowa Health Care Association

Merea Bentrott is the chief operating officer for the Iowa Health Care Association, overseeing the association’s legislative, executive branch, grassroots operations, growth, planning and strategic objectives. Previously, she served as policy advisor and legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Human Services and worked at the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Bentrott holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Gerontology from Iowa State University and has extensively published and presented on long-term services and supports.

Susan Christensen
Chief Justice, Iowa Supreme Court

Chief Justice Susan Christensen was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018 and has served as chief justice since 2020. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Christensen served as a district associate judge beginning in 2007 and as a district court judge from 2015. She practiced law in Harlan, Iowa, for 16 years. Christensen has chaired multiple state committees focusing on family law, child welfare and mental health. She earned her law degree from Creighton University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Judson College. View complete bio here.

Tom Conley
President and CEO, The Conley Group, Inc.

Tom Conley is president and CEO of The Conley Group Inc., headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The company provides high-level security, investigative, threat management and emergency response services. Conley retired as a senior commissioned officer from the U.S. Navy after nearly 30 years of service, specializing in law enforcement and security. During his more than 45-year career in private security, Conley has provided services to numerous high-profile clients including General Electric Corporation, Principal Financial Group, the U.S. Marshals Service, the State of Iowa, Polk County, multiple Iowa municipalities, NBC, CBS and ABC television stations, Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines Skywalk, Union Pacific Railroad, and Federal Express Corporation. He holds multiple professional certifications, earned a master’s in business leadership from Upper Iowa University, and is a certified emergency medical technician. View complete bio here.

Katie Cownie
Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP

Katie Cownie is a partner at Dorsey + Whitney LLP, specializing in health care transactions and regulations. She advises nursing facilities, hospitals, home health agencies and other providers on matters involving state licensing, Medicare and Medicaid contracting, regulatory compliance and transactional matters such as mergers and acquisitions. Cownie frequently speaks at industry conferences, addressing critical issues affecting nursing facilities and assisted living programs, such as recent enforcement actions related to nonpayment of nursing facility quality assurance assessment fees, newly enacted CMS transparency rules regarding ownership and control disclosures, the classification of multi-level care facilities as continuing care retirement communities, strategies for managing residents without a payor source, and the development of effective compliance programs. View complete bio here.

Adam Freed
Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP

Adam Freed is a partner at Dorsey + Whitney LLP, advising health care providers on regulatory and transactional matters. He represents physicians, hospitals, nursing facilities and health care trade associations, specializing in licensing, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, credentialing and Certificate of Need compliance. Freed also counsels clients on HIPAA compliance and has represented providers before the Iowa State Health Facilities Council. He is recognized for delivering strategic advice to help clients navigate complex federal and state health care regulations. View complete bio here.

Matt Hinch
Principal and Director, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Matt Hinch is principal and director at Cornerstone Government Affairs. With extensive experience in state and federal government, Hinch previously served as chief of staff to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. He also held senior positions with the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen. Hinch holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and is known for successfully spearheading significant legislative initiatives in Iowa. View complete bio here.

Larry Johnson Jr.
Director, Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing

Larry Johnson Jr. was appointed director of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing in 2019 by Gov. Kim Reynolds. He oversees a regulatory department of 1,000 employees, covering health facilities, food establishments, gaming, Medicaid fraud, professional licensing and more. Johnson previously served as Iowa’s state public defender and legal counsel to former Gov. Terry Branstad. He earned his law degree from Creighton University and a bachelor’s degree in management from Purdue University.

Kraig Paulsen
Director, Iowa Department of Management

Kraig Paulsen is the director of the Iowa Department of Management (DOM), where he oversees Iowa’s executive branch budget, performance management and IT governance. Appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds in 2021, Paulsen previously served as director of the Iowa Department of Revenue and as a state legislator, including a term as Speaker of the House. His career also includes leadership roles in supply chain and analytics at Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and service as commissioner of the Iowa Department of Transportation. Paulsen holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a law degree from the University of Iowa.

Paige Thorson
General Counsel, Iowa Health Care Association
Principal and Counsel, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Paige Thorson is general counsel for the Iowa Health Care Association and principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, bringing nearly a decade of experience in policy and government relations. Prior to her current roles, Thorson was an attorney at BrownWinick Law Firm. Previously, she served as deputy chief of staff and health policy advisor for Gov. Kim Reynolds, overseeing the governor’s policy agenda, budget planning and crisis response initiatives. Thorson earned her Juris Doctor and Health Law Certificate from Drake University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Iowa State University. View complete bio here.

Parking

River Center parking is available in Gated Lot B, with all-day exit passes provided upon arrival. Click here to view the parking map.

Presenting Sponsor

Day One Sponsors

Day Two Sponsors