RISE’s first multi-day, in-person conference since before the pandemic was one of its largest conferences. The National Conference welcomed and featured a record-breaking 1,800 attendees, 130 speakers, and 175 sponsors at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs from March 6th to March 8th. The event was packed with special presentations, interactive roundtables, specialized concurrent sessions in five tracks, and networking events over cocktails. The conference was opened by Ellen Wofford, founder, and CEO of Rise. She noted the recent release of CMS’s Advance Notice and Final Rule. She said,

“Our industry is on the verge of the most significant regulatory and compliance changes in the past decade. This year’s RISE National conference is focused on addressing those changes to help you negotiate the uncertainty we’re all facing.”

RISE National is the number one trusted source for all things Medicare Advantage, crossing a variety of topics and themes from risk adjustment and quality to member experience and social determinants of health. Each year, it welcomes thousands of Medicare Advantage professionals from health plans, health care providers, and health care technology organizations to hear best practices, join hands-on workshops, and benchmark with peers on the latest regulatory changes, technology trends, and revenue generating strategies.

Many speakers enlightened the audience with their vision. They included Dr. Sahar Yousef and Professor Lucas Miller, who spoke on how to boost productivity and performance. Both neuroscientists gave tips on getting as much done as humanly possible by optimizing time and strength and increasing productivity by 25 percent.

On day 2, Dr. Wendy Swanson spoke on Health Care and Rapidly Changing Technology. She talked about the intersection of healthcare and technology. She also said that science fiction from our childhood is now collapsing into reality. She said the inclusion of AI is essential in healthcare, but it must empower humans and not cost them their jobs.

The most inspiring keynote address of the conference was by brothers, Brent and Kyle Pease, who have participated in the Ironman Championship, and the Boston Marathon and are members of the US paralympic team; inspired the crowd with their bond and accomplishments that many would consider impossible. Kyle was born with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy that affects his movement and posture. But that didn’t stop him from embracing, enjoying, and taking up challenges.