Buy Tickets

Subscribe to BHB Events

Be the first to hear about upcoming events and networking opportunities from Behavioral Health Business.

SUBSCRIBEBUY TICKETS

Event Details

Hours
October 22  |  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm CT    |  Networking Reception
October 23  |  8:00 am - 4:00 pm CT    |  Conference Program
October 24  |  8:00 am - 12:00 pm CT  |  Conference Program

The BHB INNOVATE Conference will bring together some of the brightest minds in early-stage behavioral health care to discuss the future of mental health, substance use disorder (SUD) and autism treatment services. 

This event will offer entrepreneurs, C-suite leaders and investors unparalleled insights into the latest trends, groundbreaking strategies and success stories driving the industry forward, with discussion topics including scaling new businesses, emerging technology, virtual care delivery models and more. In between sessions, attendees and sponsors will have the opportunity to network with up-and-coming providers, active investors and pioneering startups.

In 2025, the BHB INNOVATE Conference will be co-located with the BHB INVEST Conference.

2025 Conference Agenda
Coming Soon

Networking Reception

Opening Remarks

Session Coming Soon

Networking Break

Founders' Forum: Insights from Behavioral Health Trailblazers

Lunch & Networking

Shifting to Value - Creating a Winning Network Model for Behavioral Health Providers and Payers - Sponsored by UpLift

5:00 - 7:00 PM

9:00 - 9:15 AM

9:15 - 9:30 AM

10:00 - 11:00 AM

9:20 -10:00 AM

11:00 - 11:15 AM

12:00 - 1:00 PM

After a record-breaking year in behavioral health M&A in 2021, the question going into 2022 was could it possibly last. Especially with inflation, rising interest rates, and the unrest In Ukraine. Tapping into our proprietary transaction database and in-depth conversations with strategic and financial buyers alike, we’ll answer this question and discuss which segments may be hot, which ones may be cooling, and what we expect over the next 6-12 months.

1:00 - 1:30 PM

Track C

From Startup to Success: Scaling Early-Stage Behavioral Health Ventures

Measuring What Matters: Demonstrating Outcomes for VBC Success

Value-Based Care for Specialized Populations

mark lamb cio caretrust
Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Julia Bernstein
Chief Operating Officer Brightside Health

Learn about the challenges and opportunities facing health care REITS as they pursue investments in the behavioral health space, along with the criteria today’s leaders are using to evaluate potential deals.

Leading operators, lenders and investment bankers share perspectives on the intellectual and developmental disabilities market, including why the industry is moving into the home, and how companies are positioning themselves for success.

Substance use market investments continue to take flight as digital and traditional players scale up their businesses. Learn how they are positioning themselves for growth and further investment in 2023 and beyond.

Networking Break

2:00 - 2:30 PM

Ned Carlson
CEO in Residence
Varsity Healthcare Partners

As M&A in behavioral health continues to accelerate, Polsinelli’s Behavioral Health Law Group will discuss some of the top legal issues that can make or break your next behavioral health transaction.  Drawn from some of the most prominent behavioral health transactions over the past year, this is a session you will not want to miss!

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Erikka Taylor
Chief Medical Officer Arise

christopher brengard ceo mindpath

Dexter Braff
President
The Braff Group

In this opening keynote panel, behavioral health founders from across the space will share their experiences overcoming obstacles to build successful mental health, addiction treatment and autism therapy companies. The discussion will offer a window into their forward-looking strategies, insights and vision as they navigate an ever-evolving behavioral health landscape.

Interested in Speaking?

BHB events provide an opportunity for industry executives to share their knowledge and expertise with our audiences. Submit your contact information if you’re interested in learning more about speaking opportunities.

Become A Speaker
Thank You To Our Sponsors

Dr. Taft Parsons III
VP & Chief Psychiatric Officer
CVS Health

christopher brengard ceo mindpath

Sonia Priscilla Garcia 
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
Amae Health

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Wendy Oliver-Pyatt
Co-Founder, CEO, Chief Clinical Officer, Within Health

Session Coming Soon

Dr. Hoda Bastani, MD MPH
Vytalize and 
former ACMO 
Johns Hopkins Health Plan

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Jason Washburn
Chief Clinical Officer, Owl
Chief Psychologist, Northwestern University

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Executive Connect

As part of the Executive Connect program, qualified executives from behavioral health providers or operators may register for free and participate in a set number of meetings with pre-screened vendors at the event. 
A refundable deposit is required to register and is refunded if you attend the required meetings at the event.

LEARN MORE

The 3 Things Operators Must Know to Succeed in Behavioral Health - Sponsored by Wellsky

Track A

Track B

Track C

The Dos and Don’ts of Value-Based Contracting

11:00 - 11:30 AM

As M&A in behavioral health continues to accelerate, Polsinelli’s Behavioral Health Law Group will discuss some of the top legal issues that can make or break your next behavioral health transaction.  Drawn from some of the most prominent behavioral health transactions over the past year, this is a session you will not want to miss!

Beyond the Pilot: Keys to Sustainable Payer-Digital Behavioral Health Partnerships

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Katherine Suberlak
Sr. VP Population Health
Oak Street Health

Behavioral Health in VBC Primary Care Models

Track A

Track B

Track C

Understanding Value Through Measurement-Based Care: A Roadmap for Successful Implementation of Value-Based Care - Sponsored by Greenspace Health

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

As M&A in behavioral health continues to accelerate, Polsinelli’s Behavioral Health Law Group will discuss some of the top legal issues that can make or break your next behavioral health transaction.  Drawn from some of the most prominent behavioral health transactions over the past year, this is a session you will not want to miss!

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Stephen Smith
Co-Founder & CEO NOCD

Feast or Famine: Trends in Digital Behavioral Health Investing

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Eric Meier
CEO
Owl

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Pamela Greenberg 
CEO
ABHW

Track A

Investing in Behavioral Health-Focused Employee Assistance Programs

2:30 - 3:00 PM

AI in Action: Real-World Solutions to Top Care Delivery Challenges

Lauren Conaboy
VP of National Policy
Centerstone

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Simon Weisz
CoFounder & President
Greenspace Health

Rose Bromka, COO, Boulder Care

Ryan Rhodes
Director, Provider Transformation Complex Health CareSource

Dr. Yavar Moghimi
Chief Psychiatric Medical Officer
AmeriHealth

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Evans Rochaste
Founder & CEO    Re
Klame

mark lamb cio caretrust

Kyle Talcott
Founder & CEO
UpLift

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Drew McCartney
CEO
Praesum

mark lamb cio caretrust
Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Bill Harlan
Dir. of Clinical Programs & Strategy
Point32Health

Seth Zuckerman
Chief Business Officer
Upward Health

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Dr. Benjamin R. Nordstrom
Chief Medical Officer
Behavioral Health Group

Solome Tibebu
Founder & Host 
Going Digital: Behavioral Health Tech

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Michelle Guerra LMHC, NCC
Clinical Programs Manager Health Care Services
Premera Blue Cross

Dr. Lori Ryland
Chief Clinical Officer
Pinnacle Treatment Centers

October 22 - 24, 2025   Nashville, TN

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will BHB INNOVATE be held?
The BHB INNOVATE Conference will be held on October 22 - 24, 2025 at JW Marriott Nashville. INNOVATE will be co-located with BHB INVEST.

Which ticket type should I purchase?
Provider tickets are for owner, operators, and providers of behavioral health services. Vendor tickets are for vendors and professional firms providing products, services and capital to the behavioral health industry.

What is the refund policy?
For all tickets, no refunds are available within 45-days of the event. No exceptions.

My company or organization owns or is an active investor in a provider. Which ticket type can I purchase?
If your organization owns or invests in a provider or providers in this space, your firm is classified as a private equity investor. If you wish to get the provider pricing, you would need to use that organization's email system/domain to register for the ticket to qualify as a provider. No exceptions.

How do I contact the organizer?
Email us at [email protected].

Are there kosher meals or other dietary options at the event? 
Please email events-healthcare@wtwhmedia.com for more information. Please note, we may not be able to accommodate dietary restrictions within 30-days of the event.

For an up-and-coming behavioral health business, securing a pilot with a payer partner is Step 1. Step 2 – and the more difficult goal – is turning that pilot into a sustainable partnership. With perspectives from both the provider and payer sides, this panel will explore that process and offer keys to what works – and what doesn’t.

While behavioral health providers and payers both say they’re eager to move toward value-based care, the two parties aren’t always on the same page. During this panel, attendees will hear about the biggest dos and don’ts for value-based care contracting.

Behavioral health is increasingly being woven into primary care models, and the provider groups at the leading edge of value-based care are placing it front and center within their risk-taking strategies

In this panel, attendees will hear from entrepreneurs who have successfully launched and grown a behavioral health business. Speakers will share their insights on market positioning, operational scalability, funding strategies and more, providing actionable guidance for aspiring founders and stakeholders in the behavioral health ecosystem.

Measurement-based care is the lifeblood of value-based payment, but identifying what measures are critical isn’t always so simple. This panel will continue the conversation regarding outcomes and payment, with speakers offering their takes on what factors matter most.

To improve health equity and fill gaps in care, a growing number of behavioral health organizations are shaping their business models around targeted patient populations. This panel will explore that trend in a value-based care context.

Track B

Track A

The United States is grappling with a critical behavioral health crisis. In response, a vast majority of large employers (94%) have invested in expanding mental health coverage and support services for their workforce, as reported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Recognizing the urgent need for accessible and affordable mental health care, many employers are partnering with digital health companies to provide their employees with innovative solutions. This panel brings together leading experts to explore best practices for fostering successful collaborations between employer organizations and mental health technology companies.

Track A

Track B

Track C

Right-Sizing Autism Care: Aligning Outcomes with Payment

Breakout Sessions

9:30 - 10:00 AM

As M&A in behavioral health continues to accelerate, Polsinelli’s Behavioral Health Law Group will discuss some of the top legal issues that can make or break your next behavioral health transaction.  Drawn from some of the most prominent behavioral health transactions over the past year, this is a session you will not want to miss!

Investment Perspectives on Value-Based Care in Behavioral Health

Yagnesh Vadgama
VP of Clinical, Care Services & Autism
Magellan Health

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Joshua Baker
SVP of Strategy & Development
Hightop Health

Colin Davitian
Chief Executive Officer
Kyo Autism Therapy 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
mark lamb cio caretrust

Hui Cheng
Vice President
Town Hall Ventures

mark lamb cio caretrust

 Value-based care is shaping the health care investment strategies of venture capital and private equity firms alike. This panel will look out how and why that’s the case, with a focus on behavioral health.

Successful value-based care models are able to respond and adapt to patient needs. In this panel, attendees will hear from providers on how they’ve built fully integrated care delivery models to thrive in value-based care frameworks.

Several industry challenges have slowed value-based care adoption within the autism treatment space. Some providers and payers have made progress, however.

Becoming a One-Stop Shop: Service Diversification as a Value-Based Care Pillar

December 10, 2024

Networking Reception

4:00 - 6:00 PM

March 13, 2024

Networking Break

10:00 - 10:30 AM

Track A

Track B

Track C

The Power of Peers, Non-Clinical Support Roles in Value-Based Care

Breakout Sessions

11:00 - 11:30 AM

As M&A in behavioral health continues to accelerate, Polsinelli’s Behavioral Health Law Group will discuss some of the top legal issues that can make or break your next behavioral health transaction.  Drawn from some of the most prominent behavioral health transactions over the past year, this is a session you will not want to miss!

Learning from Failure: What Does (And Doesn’t) Work in VBC+SUD

Substance use disorders (SUDs) present immense challenges for all health care constituents. In this panel, providers and payers will discuss what works and what doesn't work in implementing value-based strategies in SUD care.

Behavioral health companies have lagged behind physical health providers when it comes to implementing EHRs. But new legislation may open the door for providers to adopt the technology. At the same time, behavioral health is at the cutting edge of many digital health initiatives. In this panel, providers will discuss the role technology plays in collecting outcomes data for value-based care.

Health systems, providers and payers are recognizing the power of peer-support and non-clinical roles in behavioral health care. This panel will examine such models and offer insight on how they fit into value-based care discussions.

How Technology Is Accelerating Value-Based Care Adoption

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Mark Peterson
CEO
Nystrom & Associates

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Natalie Schneider  
CEO & Founder
Fort Health

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Charlie Sposato
VP of Product Innovation
BrightView Health

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview
Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Kim Newell Green MD
Co-Founder & CMO
Flourish Labs

Ankit Gupta
CMO
Bicycle Health

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Katherine Hobbs
Founder & CEO
Author Health

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Colin LeClair
CEO
Connections Health

8:30 - 9:30 AM

Breakfast & Networking

Track A

Track B

Track C

1:30 - 2:00 PM

Track A

Incubating Innovation: Taking Behavioral Health Care to the Next Level

Balancing Care and Capital: Leveraging Revenue Integrity in Behavioral Health Organizations - Sponsored by NextGen

Whole Person Care and Risk Sharing Models in Behavioral Health Treatment - Sponsored by Prosperity

Track B

Track C

10:30 - 11:00 AM

Breakout Sessions

Track A

Tackling Staffing and Reimbursement Challenges: The Role of AI-powered Automation in Successful Revenue Cycle Management - Sponsored by Thoughtful

Harnessing AI in Behavioral Health: Personalization, Efficiency, and the Future - Sponsored by Sunwave Health

Provider Shortage: Can Listening to Other People's Therapy Sessions be Clinically Effective? - Sponsored by Meomind

Track B

Track C

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Damayanti Dipayana 
CEO
Manatee

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Krista Boe
Chief Clinical Officer
Acorn Health 

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Stacy DiStefano
CEO
Consulting for Human Services

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Nikole Benders-Hadi M.D.
CMO
Talkspace

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Melissa Reilly MBA, JD
CGO
Evernorth Behavioral Health

Sandeep Acharya
Co-founder and CEO 
Octave

christopher brengard ceo mindpath

Shrenik Jain
Founder & CEO
Marigold Health

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview
Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Jay Taylor
CGO
Brave Health

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Scott Rodney 
Payroll & Benefits Manager, CPP bartaco 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Alethea Varra 
SVP of Clinical Care
Lyra

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Dana Foglesong
National Sr. Dir. of Recovery & Resiliency Services 
Magellan Healthcare

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Alex Katz
Founder and CEO
Two Chairs

 You likely know that behavioral health M&A was down substantially in 2023.  So, the question flashing brightly is will it come back?  How long will it take? What does the trendline look like regarding valuations?  And as value based care continues to gain traction, will it begin to influence the who, what, why, and how much of behavioral health M&A?

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Matt Miller
Chief Growth and Development Officer Connections Health Solutions

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Paul Trivette
CSO
Cedar Recovery

Staffing and reimbursement are major challenges faced by healthcare providers today. In the current dynamic healthcare environment, hiring and retaining top-quality talent for efficient RCM operations is critical. This panel will discuss how AI and Automation offer innovative solutions to handle these complexities efficiently.

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Kathrynne Johns
CFO
Allegiance Mobile Health

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Alex Zekoff
CEO
Thoughtful

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Bobby Guy
Shareholder & Attorney
Polsinelli

Carrie O'Connell
VP of Clinical Strategy
WellSky

Dr. Jenna Glover 
Chief Clinical Officer
Headspace

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Elie Levy
Founder & Co-CEO
Sunwave

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Dr. Brian Wind
Chief Clinical Officer 
Regard Recovery/JourneyPure

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview
Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Dylan Ross, PhD
Head of Clinical
Blueprint

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Sri Velamoor
President & COO    NextGen Healthcare

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Javier Favela
VP, Integrated Care Solutions  NextGen Healthcare

When it comes to digital health investing, it’s feast or famine for behavioral providers, driving some startups to make tough choices. In this panel, attendees will hear from a mix of behavioral health providers and investors to better understand the venture capital outlook for 2025 and beyond.

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Rob Pahlavan 
Partner
Healthcare Foundry

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview
Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Sushant Gupta
Co-Founder & CEO
Meomind

Chris Cavazos
Former Chief of Operations at Humana Wellness, Advisor, Meomind

Stigma and provider shortage are the biggest barriers to increasing access to mental healthcare. We will discuss a new, scalable modality of treatment - listening to other people's therapy sessions - and compare its outcomes to traditional forms of therapy.

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Adam Middleton
Partner
The Viability Company

Succeeding in the evolving behavioral health market means overcoming ever changing obstacles. Knowing how to work with payers to identify and deliver on the measures they care about, understanding transparency in healthcare and CMS regulations that impact your organization’s profitability and livelihood, and how to navigate the inequitable distribution of healthcare are all critical to your organization’s success. Join our session as our panelists dive into each of these three topics and share how your behavioral health organization can succeed as behavioral health care delivery transforms.

Michelle Mullany 
CEO
Prosperity

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Ruby Mehta, LCSW  
Head of Behavioral Health Cityblock

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Greg Keilin
Chief Strategy & Growth Officer
Prosperity

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT
Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Laura Gomez Cadena
Venture Capital Associate
Healthworx

Ticket Prices
Provider - $600*
Vendor - $1500*

Non-Profit - $600

*Early bird tickets are available in limited quantity. Once these tickets are sold out, prices will revert to the standard rate, and early bird pricing will no longer be offered or honored.

Location: Le Meridien Arlington, 1121 19th St N, Arlington, VA 22209

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Stephen Smith  
Co-founder & CEO
NOCD

Andrew DiGiacomo 
Director of Provider Partnerships 
Evernorth Behavioral Health

Chad Smith, CEO, Brightview

Melanie Dallas
CEO
Highland Rivers Behavioral Health

Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

This panel aims to explore the significant impact of AI on improving patient care, enhancing operational efficiency, and maintaining rigorous compliance within the behavioral health sector.

Payers, health systems and pharma companies have recognized the pressing need to address behavioral health, and they are actively exploring innovative solutions to enhance the quality and accessibility of behavioral health services. Audience members will learn from a diverse group of industry insiders on how they incubate new mental health, addiction and autism treatment innovations at their institution.

christopher brengard ceo mindpath

Robert Krayn 
CEO and Co-Founder
Talkiatry

VIEW ATTENDEE LIST

Become A Sponsor

We provide sponsors an intimate setting to promote their brand and develop relationships  with industry movers and shakers.

Learn More
Thank You To Our Sponsors

December 11, 2024

Evans Grenier
Vice President
Questa Capital

Location
JW Marriott Nashville, 201 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203