NCQA Health Innovation Summit 2026

Quality in healthcare means that every person receives the right care at the right time, every time. 

This year’s Health Innovation Summit theme—Quality’s Next Chapter—reflects our commitment to advancing digital quality, modernizing measurement, reducing burden and embedding equity into everything we do—in partnership with clinicians, health plans, systems and communities.

The summit brings together healthcare quality leaders—from payers and providers to technology partners and policy stakeholders—to focus on what matters most: better strategies, measurable results and partnerships that move quality forward.

The summit experience is designed to help you
Innovate. Connect. Empower.

Why Attend

The Health Innovation Summit is built for healthcare leaders seeking practical solutions—not just theory. You will leave with proven approaches, strategies and connections to help advance your quality initiatives. 

  • Build Relationships That Advance Quality
    Connect with leaders shaping quality standards and care delivery at scale—relationships that support collaboration beyond the summit.
  • Learn What's Working from Those Doing the Work
    Hear directly from peers and experts who are successfully advancing digital quality, equity-centered care, and data-driven improvement across plans, systems and communities.
  • Get Results You Can Apply Immediately
    Take home actionable frameworks, real-world cases, and implementation insights you can use to improve quality performance, modernize measurement and reduce reporting burden—starting now.

Whether this is your first summit or you are returning, you will leave with new perspectives and connections that move your work forward.

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  • “I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the NCQA Summit. The networking opportunities were invaluable, and I especially appreciated how accessible the NCQA team, including surveyors and the president, were throughout the event. Even attending alone, I felt welcomed and included.”
    Donna Hodge
    Accreditation Manager, Alliance Healthplan
  • “Great sessions, great presenters, positive atmosphere and a great way to connect with vendors, old friends, former bosses, and employees. Networking and learning. The summit was very well organized, and the location was nice too.”
    Jacqueline Collins
    Senior Director, Quality Improvement, CareSource

What's new for 2026

This year’s Summit introduces new program features that make it easier to find relevant sessions, build skills and connect with quality-minded peers.

Targeted Content, Aligned to Your Role

Four clearly defined content tracks make it easier to find sessions that align with your responsibilities and priorities.

Spend time engaging with ideas you can put into practice.
 

Expanded Networking Designed for Real Connection

Two evening receptions and peer-to-peer discussions create more opportunities to exchange ideas, share challenges and build relationships with others doing similar work.

These experiences are designed to support meaningful, practical connections.

Hands-On Education & Training Opportunities

Optional co-located education and training sessions offer practical tools and approaches to strengthen compliance, support teams and improve outcomes.

(separate registration required)
 

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

We are thrilled to feature this phenomenal group of dynamic health care leaders at the 2026 Summit.
 

JD
Corporate Director, Quality Health Equity
AmeriHealth Caritas
RRT, RN, BSN, CCM
President & Chief Executive Officer
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN
MD
CEO
St. Thomas Community Health Center
MD, MBA
Incoming President and CEO of NCQA
MD, MPH, MBA
Consultant
Veritas Healthcare Insights
MD, MBA
President and CEO
SCAN Health Plan
MS
Director of Clinical Informatics
St Thomas Community Health Center
MD, MPH, FACP
Chair, Department of Medical Informatics
OU/TU School of Community Medicine
MD, PhD
Director
Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy
Executive Director
National Association of Medicaid Directors
Partner
Transformation Capital
MD
Chief Medical Officer
CCBH
MD
Chief Medical Officer
Notable
President
NCQA
MD, PhD
Principal
The Overhage Group
PhD, MHSc
Global Leader for Population Health
Amazon Web Services
MD
Senior Vice President & Chief Health Officer
Oracle Health
MD
VP of Integrated Care
Cityblock Health
MS CIPCT
AVP – Population Health & Value Based Care
MultiCare Connected Care

CONTENT HIGHLIGHT

Choose Your Track. Build Your Agenda.

Four content tracks make it easier to find sessions aligned with your role and priorities.

Care Delivery

Examine care models and operational strategies that strengthen coordination, close quality gaps and improve patient outcomes.

Health Plan

Learn how health plans use accreditation, ratings and performance measurement to guide improvement and meet regulatory expectations.

HEDIS® and Digital Quality

Review implementation approaches, reporting practices and digital quality methods that improve accuracy and reduce manual burden.

Health IT/Technology

Explore how data infrastructure, interoperability and AI-supported tools enable quality measurement, reporting and care delivery.

Each track includes keynotes, workshops and peer sessions. You can attend across tracks to build an agenda that matches your goals.

Agenda at-a-glance

The Summit opens Sunday evening with a keynote. Plan to attend all four days to participate in the full program.

Sunday, October 4

8:00 AM
Sponsor & Exhibitor Registration Opens

10:00 AM
General Registration Opens

1:00 PM– 4:00 PM
 Education training
(separate registration required)

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Attendee site tour

4:30 PM
Opening Remarks
+ Keynote Session

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Health Innovation Pavilion Grand Opening Reception

Monday, October 5

7:00 AM

Registration and Pavilion open

7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast

7:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Spotlight Presentations in Pavilion

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Keynote Session

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Concurrent Sessions

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Wellness Break 

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Networking Lunch in Pavilion

12:30 PM –1:30 PM
Quality Conversation Luncheon

2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Concurrent Sessions

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Coffee & Convos 
Poster Session, Meet the Expert, Peer-to-Peer Conversations

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Networking Reception

Tuesday, October 6

7:00 AM

Registration and Pavilion open

7:00 – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast

7:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Spotlight Presentations in Pavilion

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Keynote Session

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Concurrent Sessions

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Wellness Break 

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Networking Lunch in Pavilion

12:30 PM –1:30 PM
Quality Conversation Luncheon

2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Concurrent Sessions

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Coffee & Convos 
Poster Session, Meet the Expert, Peer-to-Peer Conversations

4:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Keynote Session

Wednesday, October 7

7:00 AM

Registration and Pavilion open

7:00 – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast

8:45 – 10:00 AM
Keynote Session

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM
 Concurrent Sessions

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
 Concurrent Sessions

Schedule subject to change and continuously updated.

Sponsors

  • “Plenary sessions and smaller group sessions.”
    Carlo Teano
    Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer, Attest Health Care Advisors
  • “The silent theater 20 minute sessions were a neat addition. They were easy to merge into lunch and quick enough to have quick but good information. We also enjoyed the conference layout. It was easy to navigate.”
    Autumn Bowden
    Data Analyst, Stigler Health and Wellness Center
  • “I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the NCQA Summit. The networking opportunities were invaluable, and I especially appreciated how accessible the NCQA team, including surveyors and the president, were throughout the event. Even attending alone, I felt welcomed and included.”
    Donna Hodge
    Accreditation Manager; Alliance Healthplan
  • “Great sessions, great presenters, positive atmosphere and a great way to connect with vendors, old friends, former bosses, and employees. Networking and learning. The summit was very well organized, and the location was nice too.”
    Jacqueline Collins
    Senior Director, Quality Improvement, CareSource