The NY Alliance is proud to share dates for the 7th Annual Data, Finance & AI Virtual Summit taking place on September 17 & 18, 2026.

This event will showcase a series of webinar presentations covering a diverse range of subjects related to leveraging artificial intelligence and other technological advancements in fields such as data, financial sustainability, the financial state of the OPWDD service delivery system, and various other relevant areas.

Agenda

September 17: 10:10am-12:45pm

10:10am-10:15am
Opening Remarks
Michael Seereiter, President & CEO, NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation

10:15am-11:15am
Concurrent Sessions

AI Strategy: A Road Map for Readiness to Implementation
Raymond Baxter, CISSP, PMP, CISA - Director | Cybersecurity | IT, Risk & Compliance, Forvis Mazars LLP
Allan Blum, CPA, Partner, Forvis Mazars LLP

While some companies are just starting to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), others that have already adopted generative AI assistant tools might be evaluating their next move. Agentic AI systems involve multiple AI agents working together across end-to-end workflows, coordinating tasks, decisions, handoffs, and monitoring within defined guardrails. This session will focus on steps leaders can take as they move from planning to execution in the next phase of AI. We will discuss: -AI strategy works when it connects business outcomes, data foundations, operating models, and AI governance. -Time gaps between ambition and readiness -A short, step-by-step road map can help reduce "pilot purgatory" and prioritize use cases with measurable return on investment.

Person Centered Care Starts with Respect
Masha Itedjere, IDD Clinical Director, Access Supports for Living
Bella Rehberg, IDD Quality Outcome Coordinator, Access Supports

This presentation explores how person-centered interactions between staff and the individuals they support lead to better outcomes. Participants will examine how everyday actions listening, offering meaningful choices, and building positive relationships demonstrate respect. The presentation also reviews evidence linking person-centered practices to reduced use of restrictive interventions, including physical SCIP procedures. When staff focus on understanding individual needs and building trust, situations are less likely to escalate. In addition, participants will learn about the connection between respect and positive outcomes identified through CQL POMS. Respect is not only a core value of person centered care-it is a key driver of positive outcomes.

11:15am-11:45am
Break

11:45am-12:45pm
Concurrent Sessions
CFR and Operational Dashboards in Action: Managing Costs, Reimbursement, and Future Rate Changes
Koren Chen, Forvis Mazars

As providers prepare for either continuation of rate rebasing and the possibility of future rate reform, understanding the drivers behind reimbursement has never been more important. This session will demonstrate how organizations can leverage CFR data that built into dashboards that compare actual costs to reimbursement, identify financial opportunities and risks, and evaluate the potential impact if a future year becomes a new base year for rate setting. The session will also explore how dashboards can help uncover organizational priorities, assign accountability, and present meaningful information to executives, department leaders, and operational managers in a clear, readable format that supports informed decision-making and long-term financial sustainability.

Microsoft Copilot for New York CFR Filers: Practical AI Adoption with Governance and Privacy Built In
Jaime Rapps, CPA, Partner, Not-for-Profit & Healthcare, Grassi Advisors
Hassan Khan, Technology Consulting Partner, Grassi Advisors

This session gives New York State CFR-filing provider agencies — OPWDD, OMH, OASAS, and SED-funded nonprofits — a practical, governance-first look at where Microsoft Copilot can reduce administrative burden in the workflows that surround cost reporting, funder communication, and board oversight, and how to adopt it without putting protected data at risk. Attendees will leave able to: Understand what Copilot is, what it is not, and where it fits inside existing Microsoft 365 workflows — including the line between drafting support and the executive, compliance, and financial judgment that must stay with people; Apply practical prompts to real agency work: email and inquiry triage, CFR-season document and schedule preparation support, variance and financial narrative drafting, board and finance committee packet summaries, grant and contract narratives, and plain-language summaries of State regulations, guidance, and rate-setting policy; Protect the organization by recognizing privacy, security, and permission risks before broad rollout — approved-tool rules, data that may never be entered into AI workflows (individual/consumer records, HR, PHI), SharePoint/Teams/OneDrive permission hygiene, and mandatory human review of any output touching funders, regulators, or auditors; and Start with a simple four-phase adoption roadmap and governance checklist covering readiness, governance, pilot, and scale.

September 18: 10:00am-10:15pm

10:00am-10:15am
Opening Remarks & Vendor Showcase
Michael Seereiter, President & CEO, NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation

10:15am-11:15am
Concurrent Sessions
The OPWDD Data Dashboard
Kelly Stangle, NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

In this session, NYS OPWDD will give a guided tour to the dashboards, tips and tools to using the dashboards to view the data you're interested in and more!

Information Coming Soon!

11:15am-11:45am
Break

11:45am-12:45pm
Concurrent Sessions
Closing the Loop: How Data Becomes Actions
Brittany Miske, Vice President of Healthcare Management & Quality Officer, Care Design NY

Healthcare organizations often struggle to turn data into meaningful action. This presentation highlights two complementary strategies: preventable, recurrent inpatient/ER support and member-facing health promotion outreach. RHIOs ADT data is used to identify individuals with repeated acute care utilization, guide review, and interdisciplinary intervention. Preventive care outreach uses PSYCKES and internal quality data to identify high-risk members, address screening gaps, and improve adherence through community member outreach & subsequent education. Together, these efforts create a closed-loop system where data drives timely, person-centered action to improve outcomes and quality of life.

AI Learning Community
Information Coming Soon!

Thank you Summit sponsors!