How AI Supports Enhancements for Payer-Provider Collaboration

Denny Brennan is Executive Director and CEO of the Massachusetts Health Data Consortium (MHDC), where he leads one of the nation’s most established multistakeholder collaboratives dedicated to advancing health data policy, standards, and innovation. With more than 35 years of experience spanning academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, health plans, life sciences, and government stakeholders, Denny brings a unique systems-level perspective to some of healthcare’s toughest challenges.

Under Denny’s leadership, MHDC has served as a trusted convener, driving consensus and progress on key issues such as interoperability, data governance, and prior authorization automation. His work emphasizes the power of multistakeholder initiatives (MSIs) in translating health IT policy and standards into real-world change, especially in complex areas like administrative simplification.

Denny’s background includes strategic and financial planning, formation of risk-bearing entities, payment and reimbursement reform, and health IT strategy—making him well-positioned to speak on the intersection of technology, policy, and operations. He holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Master’s in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Karen Iapoce, Vice President of Government Programs at ZeOmega, has 30+ years’ experience in strategic healthcare. Over the years, her titles have ranged from RN to Senior VP of Clinical Operations and Director of Government Solutions. Karen is a clinical leader, trainer, and liaison experienced in driving innovations in quality, products, metrics, revenue, and cost. She has expertise in Medicaid, Medicare, Social Determinants of Health, and federal/state regulations and their application within payer/provider environments.

As Associate Vice President of Interoperability Strategy, Mike leads the HealthUnity team in strategic vision for interoperability and executes on market strategies for HealthUnity solutions. Among HealthUnity solutions is the Smart Authorization Gateway, an accredited product to streamline the prior authorization process and reduce burden for providers and payers. Mike has over 20 years’ experience in business and IT roles across the provider and payer landscape, including recognized leadership in the development and implementation of health data standards.

As Vice President of Advanced Analytics, Pravin leads ZeOmega’s advanced analytics team, working on new and existing AI solutions and social determinants of health (SDOH) solutions with a goal of creating best-in-class software products.

Pravin is an experienced executive leader with a demonstrated history of successfully working in the hospital & health plan industry for over 20 years. He is deeply proficient in team building, leadership, innovation, artificial intelligence, big data, predictive analytics, and population health management.