08/26/2026: 2026 Ohio Health Policy Summit

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.
Program: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center
100 Green Meadows Dr S.
Lewis Center, OH 43035

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio will host the third annual statewide Health Policy Summit on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center, Ohio (17 miles from downtown Columbus).

The theme this year is "Meeting the Moment: Using Data for Policy Progress." The Summit will draw insights from HPIO’s 2026 Health Value Dashboard to focus attention on the factors that drive population health and healthcare spending and build momentum for policy priorities that lead to improved health and well-being for Ohioans.

The Summit builds on HPIO’s mission to inform data-driven policymaking that improves health, health equity, and the value of healthcare spending in Ohio.

Plenary sessions

Opening Plenary: Catalyzing policy progress through data and evidence

Given the highly charged policymaking environment, trusted data and evidence is needed now more than ever. As policymakers consider addressing such challenges as healthcare access and affordability, they will need to understand what works in order to make the most informed decisions.

This keynote address will explore how highlighting evidence can catalyze informed policymaking. The presentation will also outline resources that are available to state policymakers and others to use in responding to federal policy changes or in strengthening program effectiveness.

Keynote: Alex Spratt, JD, Vice President of Health Care, Arnold Ventures

Closing Plenary: Working together to improve the health of all Ohioans

HPIO’s 2026 Health Value Dashboard found that Ohioans continue to live less healthy lives and spend more on healthcare than people in most other states. To improve health and well-being in the state, Ohioans will need to work together to adopt policy initiatives that address the many factors that influence health.

This closing plenary session will explore how there are evidence-informed strategies to improve health in Ohio and how focusing on Ohioans with the greatest barriers to health will lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Keynote: Ray Bignall II, MD, FAAP, FASN, Chief Equity Officer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Breakout sessions

Drawing on insights from the 2026 Health Value Dashboard, the Summit will celebrate Ohio’s progress, spotlight persistent challenges and focus discussion on shared solutions that can move the state forward on the many factors that shape health and well-being.

Breakout sessions will focus on data and evidence, child well-being, mental health and healthcare affordability. Participants will learn about evidence-informed strategies emerging from the latest data trends. Speakers will examine what the data means for policy and practice and consider options for aligning resources and decision-making toward improvement.

Healthcare access and affordability

State solutions to rising healthcare costs: A roadmap for Ohio

Moderator: Sabrina Corlette, JD, Research Professor, Founder, and Co-Director, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy Center on Health Insurance Reforms

Panelists:

Brian O'Rourke, PhD, MA, Healthcare Policy Analyst, Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Rep. Meredith Craig (R-Smithville), Ohio House of Representatives, District 77
Molly Mottram, Director of Healthcare Policy, Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Mental health and economic conditions

Taking mental health supports upstream: The role of social connection and economic stability

Moderator: Jennifer Lloyd, MSPsy, Assistant Director, RecoveryOhio, Office of Governor Mike DeWine

Panelists:

Rose Frech, Chief External Affairs Officer, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health
Christine Happel, MSW, LSW, Assistant Director, Age-Friendly Innovation Center
Briston Mitchell, Director of Workforce Development, Urban League of Southwest Ohio

Child health and well-being

Child health and well-being in Ohio: Progress made and priorities ahead

Moderator: Rep. Andrea White, Chair of the House Children and Human Services Committee, Ohio House of Representatives

Panelists:

Kara Wente, Director, Ohio Department of Children and Youth
John Stanford, JD, PhD, State Director, Children’s Defense Fund Ohio
Nick Lashutka, President & CEO, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and CEO, Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety
Randy Leite, PhD, Executive Director Emeritus, Appalachian Children’s Coalition

Data and evidence

Back to the evidence: Strengthening public trust through transparency and data

Panelists:

Kara Ayers, PhD, Associate Director, University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Lynanne Gutierrez, Esq., President & CEO, Groundwork Ohio
Tazeen Ahmed, MPH, MCHES, Senior Program Coordinator, Montgomery County ADAMHS Board

Register now!

Registration is open through Aug. 21, 2026

For questions about the Summit or assistance with cancelling or transferring a registration, please contact Alana Clark-Kirk (aclarkkirk@hpio.net)

Reasonable Accommodations: If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please indicate your need on your registration form. HPIO will work with the venue to provide reasonable and necessary accommodations.

Continuing Education (CE): This program will be submitted to the National Association of Social Workers and The Supreme Court of Ohio for 4.25 continuing education credits. Individuals signing up to receive CE will need to sign in and sign out at the registration table, and complete an evaluation to receive credit. Failure to do so will result in no credits being awarded. Refunds are not issued for failure to comply with the requirements.

Cancellation Policy: The last day to cancel registration for a full refund is July 31, 2026. Cancellations received between July 31, 2026 and Aug. 12, 2026, will be issued a partial refund of 50% of the purchase price. Cvent’s processing fee is non-refundable for all cancellation dates and registration types. Cancellations made after Aug. 12, 2026, are ineligible for a refund. If you opted to pay with a check and cancel your registration between July 31, 2026 and Aug. 12, 2026, and have not remitted payment, you will be required to submit a $100 cancellation fee, and an invoice will be emailed to you. Those paying with checks who cancel their registration between August 12 and August 26 will be required to remit $200 or the full cost of registration as a cancellation fee, and an invoice will be emailed to you. Those paying with a check who cancel and do not pay the cancellation fees will be required to pay in advance for any future HPIO events.

Hotels

The venue has a hotel on site. There are no room blocks or reservation codes for the hotels. For more information and to book a room, use the button below.

Hotel info & booking