Axios is bringing together a heavyweight roster of health care executives, government officials, and innovators for its second annual Future of Health Summit, a day devoted to mapping how the industry is being reshaped by new technologies, policy shifts, and market forces.
The lineup spans the full spectrum of modern health care. Bristol Myers Squibb's Chris Boerner, who chairs the industry's main trade group PhRMA, will sit alongside federal regulators including Dr. Mehmet Oz, who runs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Tom Engels, administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. Both Republican and Democratic voices will be represented, with Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas and Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont expected to weigh in on policy directions.
Beyond the traditional pharma and hospital corridors, the summit reflects how health care boundaries are blurring. WHOOP, a company tracking health data through wearable technology, will have Emily Capodilupo present its perspective on research and analytics. David Goldhill, founder of Sesame, brings the angle of direct-to-consumer health services that bypass traditional insurance. Weight Watchers' CFO Felicia DellaFortuna represents the intersection of wellness and corporate America.
The agenda also pulls in voices from emerging sectors. Jon Mahrt, leading Optum Rx, embodies the consolidation trend in pharmacy benefits. David Marin from the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association signals the ongoing tension between drug manufacturers and middlemen in the supply chain. Caryn Seidman Becker of CLEAR illustrates how health verification and identity technology is becoming embedded in everyday transactions.
Consumer-facing health and advocacy also have seats at the table. Elaine Welteroth, author and media personality, brings her platform work in health equity. Olivia Walton's focus on maternal and child health policy highlights the persistent gaps in underserved communities. Chef Johanna Hellrigl adds a food and environmental lens, sitting on the board of the Environmental Working Group.
The summit's timing matters. Health care spending continues to accelerate, regulatory uncertainty looms, and new business models are eating into traditional revenue streams. Convening this mix of stakeholders signals that no single player controls the conversation anymore.
Author James Rodriguez: "When you can pack both a CMS administrator and a direct-to-consumer health startup founder into the same room, you're watching an industry that doesn't know which way is up."
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