KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29: Building Connections Through Payer Programs

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29: Building Connections Through Payer Programs

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 29 2026, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews
Trudi Matthews

From Regulations To Relationships: Building Connections Through Emerging Payer Programs

Speakers: Alicia Anderson and Jessica Elliott, Kentucky REC

Healthcare is rapidly evolving from a system focused on individual services to one built on relationships, coordination, and accountability for outcomes. Emerging payer programs and CMS initiatives, including mandatory payment models, Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) requirements, Collaborative Care Arrangements, and Care Coordination Agreements, are creating new expectations for how providers work together across the continuum of care.

Join our Kentucky REC experts Alicia Anderson and Jessica Elliott as they explore recent legislative and payer developments, highlighting how stronger connections between healthcare providers, community resources, and care teams can improve patient outcomes, improve utilization, and lower the total cost of care.

Attendees will gain practical insights into the opportunities and challenges these programs present. You will learn how your organization can position itself for success in an increasingly value-based healthcare environment.

About Alicia Anderson 

Alicia Anderson, MS, is a Practice Transformation Advisor and Dyad Team Lead with the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. She has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare quality improvement, health information management, and performance improvement. Ms Anderson partners with healthcare teams across Kentucky to advance quality improvement, practice transformation, and value-based care initiatives.

Her work focuses on using data to drive quality improvement and translating complex regulatory and payer requirements into practical strategies that improve clinical performance and patient outcomes. She works closely with healthcare teams to turn performance data into actionable insights that support informed decision-making and sustainable improvement. Alicia also serves as an instructor for Ethics in Healthcare at the University of Kentucky and holds a Master of Science in Information Communication Technology from the University of Kentucky.

About Jessica Elliott

Jessica Elliott is the Lead Practice Transformation & Quality Improvement Advisor at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. Jessica is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPPS) and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS). She has over 20 years of healthcare experience, including expertise in quality improvement implementation science and regulatory policy analysis. She partners with clinicians and healthcare organizations to design and implement strategies enhancing patient outcomes, optimizing care processes, and maximizing efficiencies in the transition to value-based care.

Jessica also leads projects including HEDIS measure optimization and chronic disease grant initiatives focused on patient activation and linkages to community resources.

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29 – Keynote Speaker Cameron Mills

Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online
Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 29 2026, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

This year’s conference will feature timely sessions on quality initiatives, HIPAA and security updates, hospital promoting interoperability, AI in healthcare, and emerging topics shaping healthcare.

 

Keynote Speaker: CAMERON MILLS, LHC Group, CAMERON MILLS MINISTRIES

The Most Rarely Discussed Job in Health Care

Kentucky native Cameron Mills lived out a childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during one of the programs most successful eras. From 1994-1998, he helped lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Final Fours and three NCAA National Championship appearances. The team won two Championships, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and Utah in 1998.

Following his time at UK, Cameron founded Cameron Mills Ministries. He is a sought after speaker at conferences and events, sharing insights on the power of influence. His message focuses on everyday opportunities we have to impact others through actions, not just words.

At the same time, Cameron has also built a career in the health care industry. He has been with LHC Group since 2004, a national leader in home health and hospice services, which serves patients in 38 states. In 2019, he became Vice President and Chief Culture Officer. In this role, he encourages and supports frontline caregivers, individuals he considers heroes long before the Covid-19 pandemic brought them into the spotlight.

Cameron lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Susan, and their son Alex. Susan is a children’s book author and illustrator. She is known for her series about a world of dinosaurs with special needs.

 

Keynote Speaker: CAMERON MILLS, LHC Group, CAMERON MILLS MINISTRIES

TEAMWORK – You can’t do it alone

Kentucky native Cameron Mills lived out a childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during one of the programs most successful eras. From 1994-1998, he helped lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Final Fours and three NCAA National Championship appearances. The team won two Championships, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and Utah in 1998.

Following his time at UK, Cameron founded Cameron Mills Ministries. He is a sought after speaker at conferences and events, sharing insights on the power of influence. His message focuses on everyday opportunities we have to impact others through actions, not just words.

At the same time, Cameron has also built a career in the health care industry. He has been with LHC Group since 2004, a national leader in home health and hospice services, which serves patients in 38 states. In 2019, he became Vice President and Chief Culture Officer. In this role, he encourages and supports frontline caregivers, individuals he considers heroes long before the Covid-19 pandemic brought them into the spotlight.

Cameron lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Susan, and their son Alex. Susan is a children’s book author and illustrator. She is known for her series about a world of dinosaurs with special needs.

Save the Date! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29!

Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online

Details and Registration Coming Soon!

During our day together we’ll discuss Quality Initiatives, HIPAA, Artificial Intelligence, and more to ensure that clinicians, hospital and ambulatory administrators, and clinic staff are well prepared for the challenges of modern healthcare.

Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online

Registration Open! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23

The Campbell House, Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online

Join us for an engaging day where we share essential topics shaping healthcare today and into the future. Our agenda includes in depth discussions of Quality Initiatives, HIPAA, Hospital Promoting Interoperability, and more.

Whether you’re a clinician, administrator, or a member of healthcare staff, this event is tailored to equip you with the insights and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare.

Guest speakers will join us to present on relevant topics. Details and Agenda coming soon!

Questions? Contact the Kentucky REC Annual Conference Team at Kentucky REC. 859-323-3090.

PILL Podcast: Transforming Healthcare – Primary Plus’s CHW Program

Transforming Healthcare – Primary Plus’s CHW Program

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Brooke Perkins, Director for Community Health Worker programs at Lewis County Primary Care Center, Inc, also known as Primary Plus.

Brooke provides an in-depth exploration of their innovative Community Health Worker (CHW) program, tracing its mission, evolution, and remarkable impact. Learn how they’ve navigated challenges, gained healthcare provider buy-in, and transformed patient care workflows. Through inspiring success stories and insights into community impact, Brooke sheds light on the vital role of CHW programs in enhancing overall well-being. Tune in for a fascinating glimpse into the world of healthcare innovation and community health initiatives!

Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.

If you need assistance with healthcare quality improvement, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.