Join us live, in-person at this employee benefits conference in Washington, D.C. for exceptional education on more than just employee benefits. As important, is the insurance periphery, including funding models, Rx transparency and HR priorities. Our engaging and accredited Annual Forum will be presented by expert faculty, delivering usable guidance for these symbiotic HR and Finance situations:
Self Funding Deep Dive: Financial, Operational & Strategic Insights for Employers
This panel discussion will bring together experts in benefits strategy, finance and risk management to break down what employers need to know about transitioning to, or optimizing, a self-funded health plan. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how self funding works, how to evaluate organizational readiness, and how to manage the financial and compliance responsibilities that come with greater plan ownership. Through real-life examples and candid discussion, the panel will explore costcontainment opportunities, riskmitigation strategies and the operational shifts that HR & Finance leaders should anticipate when adopting a self-funded approach. Expert panelists include CFO Jeff Litwin with ACE and employee benefits VP, Ray Kim with Corporate Synergies. Moderated by Alexis Holdcroft, Corporate Synergies.
Attendees will be able to:
- Explain the core components of a self-funded health plan and how they differ from fully insured arrangements.
- Identify key financial and operational considerations HR & Finance teams must evaluate before moving to selffunding.
- Understand riskmitigation strategies, including stoploss coverage options and claims management approaches.
- Recognize common pitfalls and misconceptions employers face when exploring self-funding and how to avoid them.
- Assess whether selffunding aligns with their organization’s goals, employee population and longterm costmanagement strategy.
Is seeing believing? TrumpRx, FTC Rulings & the Transparency Push in Pharmacy
The pharmacy world is changing fast as new efforts push for accountability and transparency. In this session, Dr. Tim Sullivan, pharmacist and managing director of Optum Advisory, examines whether these efforts can meaningfully reshape the drug pricing system or whether opacity will persist beneath new layers of regulation. Attendees will gain clarity on how TrumpRx, FTC enforcement and federal transparency rules may influence pricing power, PBM contracting, plan sponsor responsibilities and patient affordability in the coming years.
Attendees will:
- Understand how TrumpRx and recent transparency efforts may influence the price patients pay and how medications are accessed.
- Identify how new federal actions, including FTC oversight, could change PBM practices and the way employers manage their pharmacy benefits.
- Recognize how greater transparency may affect decision making for patients and plan sponsors as the system continues to evolve.
2026 is the Year for HR Optimization
Join us for an engaging session where HR pro, Amanda Freudenthal, will explore the shifts reshaping talent, technology, and operations—and why this year offers a unique opportunity to streamline HR systems, elevate employee experience, and drive measurable efficiency. Get ready for practical insights you can implement immediately and create a more personalized employee experience. Participants will:
- Understand how emerging shifts in talent, technology and HR operations are creating new opportunities to optimize processes in 2026.
- Identify practical strategies that streamline HR systems and enhance organizational efficiency in measurable ways.
- Learn how to use modern tools and data insights to elevate the employee experience and support more personalized workforce interactions.
- Explore methods for improving integration across HR functions to reduce friction points and strengthen overall operational performance.
- Gain actionable steps you can implement immediately to modernize HR practices and drive meaningful impact throughout the employee lifecycle.
Expand your horizons, learn, network and earn CE credits with powerful benefits–forward strategies. VIEW THE AGENDA >>
