Lunch On Your Own
Stay in the hotel and grab lunch at The Market inside the hotel, or take a short walk to the Ferry Building!
Optimizing Health Plan Contracting: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On Building Referrals, Revenue & Margins
Across the country, managed care organizations are successfully delivering treatment services to large populations and doing it in a way that saves states significant sums of money. These demonstrated savings show that value-based reimbursement and managed care arrangements arenât going anywhere. For executives, this means they must find a way to position themselves to work closely with managed care companies. And provider organizations need to move from an understanding of the key competencies required in the VBR model to tactical initiatives for implementing the talent, technology, and systems that deliver quality and value.
How? By developing relationships with the payers in your market, considering what metrics they are tied to and how you can help them to meet their performance requirements, discussing how you can align programs and services with the goals of the payers and health plans in your market, and providing data that proves your service lines can achieve both high quality outcomes and lower costs. In this crucial seminar, we will discuss:
- How to start strategic conversations with health plans
- How to confirm the foundational components of infrastructure needed for VBR are in place and demonstrate your organizationâs value in a way that will capture health planâs interest
- How to secure and optimize service agreements with health plans and implement approaches to realign service models to ensure success in a value-driven market
Rick Gutierrez, Ph.D., BCBA
Rick Gutierrez, Ph.D. brings over 20 years of clinical and operational experience to the OPEN MINDS team. His unique blend of experience has allowed him to drive impactful outcomes in the developmental disability and behavioral health fields.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Dr. Gutierrez served as Vice President, Clinical Strategy & Operations at Easterseals Southern California. In this role he oversaw the outpatient Applied Behavior Analysis provider network and Enhanced Care Management in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Gutierrez also oversaw START Crisis services, behavioral services for all residential services, negotiation and management of contracts with network providers and payers, and intake and customer service functions including revenue cycle management, benefits and eligibility, and authorization teams. In addition, he developed and monitored the implementation of a strategic plan in collaboration with the Chief Clinical Officer.
Prior to this, Dr. Gutierrez served as Regional Vice President and Director of Subcontracting also at Easterseals Southern California.
Previously, Dr. Gutierrez served as Clinical Administrator at Applied Behavioral Consultants, Inc. where he oversaw all clinical aspects of community-based behavioral health treatment for consumers in Southern California. He also monitored compliance across multiple areas of the organization, negotiated contracts with most major health plans, and led new program development. Before this role, Dr. Gutierrez served as Regional Director and Program Manager at Applied Behavioral Consultants, Inc.
Dr. Gutierrez is a certified Emotional Intelligence (EQ) trainer, licensed psychologist in California, and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). He has overseen a variety of service settings, including adult day programs, residential programs, and intensive therapy programs like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and has worked with individuals across the lifespan who have developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. He has experience managing projects aimed at enhancing service delivery, ensuring that strategic initiatives align with budgeted funding and contribute to sustainable growth. He has worked across diverse funding models, including those from the Department of Developmental Services, insurance companies, and school districts, while ensuring programs meet accreditation standards. Additionally, he has shared his expertise globally, giving numerous talks on program development, leadership, and employee retention. These combined clinical and operational skills make him a versatile leader capable of improving both care delivery and organizational performance.
He has also served as Program Director, Behavior Consultant, and Case Manager at various organizations. Dr. Gutierrez is an active member of multiple professional organizations.
Dr. Gutierrez earned his Doctorate of Philosophy from Capella University, his Masters of Science from California State University, and his Bachelors of Art from University of California. Â
Portfolio Management To Optimize Organizational Performance: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On How To Optimize, Retire & Build A Service Line Portfolio For The Future
In the current environment of changing consumer expectations and new financial models, two essential skills that all executives need to master are the ability to evaluate and modify existing service lines as well as the ability to develop new services to meet the changes in the evolving market.
In this revamped seminar, OPEN MINDS industry expert Joe Naughton-Travers will break down the process of evaluating current service lines to help answer the questions, which ones should you keep, invest in or curtail? They will also discuss the details of the finances, legacy and compliance issues that come with enhancing the service lines you already have. In addition, theyâll review real-world case studies, and the tools used in the analysis to help create a budget for new service lines, the understanding of reimbursement rates, and the units of service and staffing needed to help organizations decide if this is a viable option.
Attendees will take away:
- A multi-faceted approach for evaluating service line opportunities Â
- The tools needed to analyze current and new service lines
- Real world examples of new service line development and decision making from successful organizations
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including âWinning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,â âFive Pillars of Management Competency,â âData Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,â âSurvival of the Smartest: What is Your Organizationâs Information Literacy IQ?,â and âStrategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.â Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelorâs degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Mastersâ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
Grand Opening Of The Exhibit Hall
Join us for an unveiling of all of our great exhibitors! Unwind from the day and enjoy cocktails and hor âdoeuvres with your peers and thought leaders.
Executive Breakfast & Registration
If you havenât registered yet, check in with us at the registration desk and then enjoy breakfast in the exhibit hall!
Thought Leader Discussion
Join our keynote for an interactive discussion where you can take time to ask your own questions and continue the conversation.
Perfecting Patient Engagement & Experience From Beginning To End
Patient engagement is no longer a single touchpointâits an end-to-end ecosystem that shapes clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and long-term organizational growth. This session explores how leading behavioral health organizations are redesigning the patient journey from the first outreach to sustained recovery, with strategies that blend human-centered design, technology enablement, and trauma-informed care.
Discover how to create a customer success program through proven tactics for improving intake and navigation, enhancing the care experience across care teams, strengthening communication, and supporting successful transitions and follow ups.
Safety As Strategy: Reducing Risk For Patients & Staff
In behavioral health care, safety is more than compliance, itâs a core strategic advantage. As organizations face rising clinical complexity, workforce pressures, and heightened regulatory scrutiny, proactive safety design has become essential for protecting both patients and staff while strengthening operational resilience.
This session examines how behavioral health organizations are integrating safety into organizational strategy, from frontline practices to enterprise-wide decision-making. Participants will explore frameworks for reducing patient harm, preventing staff injury, and addressing environmental and operational vulnerabilities before they escalate into crises.
Key takeaways include:
- Evidence based risk-reduction models
- The role of culture and leadership in advancing safety, and
- The use of data, technology and cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement
Lunch On Your Own
Stay in the hotel and grab lunch at The Market inside the hotel, or take a short walk to the Ferry Building!
Apple-A-Day Giveaway
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor awayâand today, it just might keep the post-lunch slump away! Visit the exhibit hall from 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday to enter our raffle and have a chance to win an Apple product. The lucky winner will be revealed during the raffle prize drawing on Thursday, August 13, at 1:45 p.m.âdonât miss your chance to take a bite out of something big.
Integrated Supports For Dual-Diagnosis: The Convergence Of Mental Health & I/DD Services
Individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and intellectual or developmental disabilities often fall into gaps between traditionally siloed systemsâresulting in fragmented care, unnecessary crisis events, and inconsistent outcomes. As demand grows and acuity rises, behavioral health leaders are increasingly challenged to design coordinated, person-centered models that meet the full spectrum of needs for this population.
This session explores emerging best practices in integrating mental health and I/DD services across clinical, community and residential settings. Presenters will highlight innovative models that blend behavioral health expertise, trauma-informed care, and care coordination to deliver comprehensive, consistent, and culturally responsive services.
Attendees will learn:
- Implications for the workforce in providing comprehensive care
- The funding and regulatory considerations, and
- Data-sharing strategies and partnerships that drive care for dual-diagnosis populations
An Update On Innovative New Payer Programs
Join our payer panel to hear the latest in innovative programs that top health plan industries are implementing today. This series will feature different payers from across the nation at each 2026 event.
Private Equity Unpacked: Balancing Innovation, Profit & Mission
Private equity continues to play a role in shaping the behavioral health landscapeâbringing capital for expansion, technology, and innovation, while raising questions about sustainability, quality and mission alignment. This session offers a clear and candid look at the dynamics of private equity in behavioral health. Panelists will consider the pros and cons of private equity investment, and the implications it has had on certain programs across the nation, including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA).
Participants will gain a balanced perspective to help them evaluate potential partnerships, strengthen their strategic posture, and ensure that financial objectives support the organizationâs mission and well-being of the individuals they serve.
Executive Networking Reception
End your day by unwinding with your peers, colleagues, thought leaders, and vendors. Join us in the exhibit hall and enjoy a cocktail and hors dâoeurvres!
Executive Breakfast
Start your day off right with breakfast, served in the exhibit hall. Take this time to speak with our great exhibitors and talk to peers about what youâve heard this week!
Thought Leader Discussion
Join our keynote presenter for an interactive discussion where you can take time to ask your own questions and continue the conversation.
From Assessment To Treatment: What AI Brings To Todayâs Clinicians
Artificial Intelligence is at the top of everyoneâs minds lately, and the health care industry is no exceptionâfrom streamlining assessments to enhancing clinical decision-making and expanding access to personalized treatment. Yet the questions remain in understanding which AI innovations truly support clinicians instead of replacing them, how AI can be implemented responsibly, and what are the safeguards needed to maintain trust and quality.
This session provides some clarity to the mystifying state of AI in health care and explores practical, ethical, and strategic considerations for health care executives. Presenters will highlight emerging tools that reduce administrative burden, strengthen diagnostics, support risk identification, optimize care pathways, and improve patient engagement.
Building High-Performing Teams Through Effective Clinical Supervision
Examine how organizations can elevate clinical supervision from a compliance requirement to a strategic driver of excellence. As work environments are marked by rising acuity, escalating documentation demands, and persistent workforce shortages, clinical supervision can be a lever for strengthening staff performance, improving retention and ensuring high-quality care.
Presenters will explore evidence-based supervision models, coaching techniques, and frameworks for cultivating professional growth and accountability.
Participants will leave with:
- Strategies for enhancing supervisory skills that empower clinicals at every level
- Lessons to transform team culture and ultimately improve outcomes for both staff and patients
- Discussions on how supervisors can support diverse teams, reduce burnout, reinforce treatment models and create safe environments where staff can thrive
Lunch On Your Own
Stay in the hotel and grab lunch at The Market inside the hotel, or take a short walk to the Ferry Building!
Raffle Prize Drawing
Donât miss the much-anticipated raffle drawing at 1:45 pm and come see if youâve won any of the great prizes provided by our generous sponsors! (Must be present to win!)
Driving Outcomes For High-Needs Youth: Innovations In Foster Care Services
Youth in foster care with complex behavioral health needs often face fragmented services, frequent placement disruptions, and limited access to specialized supports. As acuity rises and systems straom under workforce and funding pressures, organizations are being challenged to rethink how they deliver coordinated care.
Presenters will explore emerging models that integrate behavioral health, child welfare, education and community supports to build stability, and reduced reliance on higher levels of care.
Attendees will learn:
- Actionable strategies to enhance clinical effectiveness, support caregivers and foster families
- Advancements in wraparound care coordination and in home stabilization
- The use of data to drive accountability and improve long term outcomes
Closing Keynote
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S. is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its chief executive officer, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field â and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Ms. Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement, rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms â with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Ms. Oss served as an executive with a nationally managed behavioral health organization, responsible for market development, actuarial analysis, and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Ms. Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided Congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Ms. Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include the examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns, development of provider rate structures for government entities, creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.