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August is here, and we’re still riding the energy from TPA Summit while gearing up for the 2026 Executive Forum (see below for a preview and save the date!).

In this month’s newsletter, we reflect on the Summit, share industry updates, and highlight what’s ahead for the HCAA community.

From the opening keynote to the final session, TPA Summit 2025 brought the self-funding community together for meaningful conversations, perspectives and connections. Whether you were a first-time attendee or a long-time member of the HCAA community, we’re grateful you chose to spend your time with us in Dallas. Your energy, ideas, and presence helped make the Summit a true success.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors, speakers, and partners, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Mark your calendars! HCAA’s Executive Forum returns February 23–25, 2026, in San Antonio, TX. This year’s theme, "Bold enough to lead. Brave enough to change," challenges us to think bigger, act courageously, and work together to shape the future of our industry.

Stay tuned for registration details, speaker announcements, and more.

In the fourth episode of HCAA’s Executive Forum interview series, John Lynn, Founder and Chief Editor of Healthcare IT Today, sits down with Ramesh Kumar, CEO and Co-founder of zakipoint Health, to explore how podcasting has become a powerful platform for knowledge-sharing in self-funding and what trends are shaping the industry’s future.

Meet the Newest Members of the HCAA Community!

Congratulations to our newest group of dedicated professionals recognized for their commitment to serving self-funded health plans! We celebrate this group as the largest ever graduating class of CSFS® designees.

Kaelyn Bahrik  

Tasha Byrd  

Brandon Cassidy  

Hannah Cotros  

Jake Eddleman  

Jeffrey Garr  

Tom Goszewski  

Robert Harrelson  

Darrin Hawkins  

Shelley Kontra  

Hayden Lassiter  

Ann Katherine Ledyard  

David Lemon  

Jonathan Lewis

Brian Luekenga  

Scott McDaniel  

Nicole Miller  

Janelle Morck  

Challis Muniz  

Christopher O'Dwyer  

Paul Pietro  

Caroline Quinn  

Jacob Raine  

Anne Robles  

Megan Schmidt  

Ashley Wells  

Melissa Young  

Michael Young  

The Certified Self-Funding Specialist® (CSFS®) designation is built for advanced professionals who are ready to deepen their expertise and stand out as trusted, strategic leaders in the field. With a newly updated curriculum and a modern, online learning platform, the CSFS program equips you with the knowledge and credibility to operate at the highest levels of the industry.

Become a part of the HCAA B2B Marketplace today!

Join HCAA's B2B Marketplace, an interactive platform connecting buyers and sellers across the self-funding sector. Established in 2021, this free online listing allows HCAA member companies to promote their products and services through branded storefronts — both to the HCAA community and the general public browsing the HCAA website. Our growing roster includes TPAs and related vendors.

For more information or to begin setting up your HCAA B2B marketplace profile, contact Jordan Lacer at Jlacer@hcaa.org.

SIIA and its payer-Coalition partners continue to engage directly with Congress and Administration officials to address growing concerns with the Federal IDR process. With providers winning 70–80% of disputes and final determinations often far exceeding the QPA, SIIA is pushing back.

The Coalition recently met with CMS to highlight abuse of the Federal Portal by a small number of providers and raised concerns over the qualifications and performance of Federal IDR entities. Additionally, we’re actively opposing new legislation that would penalize payers for delayed payments following final determinations.

Get Social with HCAA!

Here’s a brief highlight of our posts from this past month! Don’t miss out on the insights we share across X (Twitter) and LinkedIn by following our accounts!