2026 Western Day: Managing Reimbursement During a Time of Heightened Uncertainty

2026 WESTERN DAY

MANAGING REIMBURSEMENT DURING A
TIME OF HEIGHTENED UNCERTAINTY

Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
10065 100th Street
Edmonton, Alberta

Make the most of your CAHR experience with our exclusive $259/night rate! Stay just moments from every session, event, and activity.

Don’t wait—this offer ends January 13, 2026 [link] — Secure your stay today before rooms sell out!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Hors d’oeuvres & cash bar

EVENING RECEPTION TO HONOUR RECENT INDUSTRY RETIREES
AND FEATURE LECTURE

First Nations Health Authority Update: Katie Hughes, Katie Hughes, Vice President, Health Benefits and Wholistic Wellness

More information to follow!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MST)
FULL DAY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Conference – Wedgewood Room

The Canadian Association of Healthcare Reimbursement’s (CAHR’s) Western Day Planning Committee is pleased to present its annual review of key pharmaceutical and life sciences policy issues from a western perspective. In 2026, we are thrilled to welcome former executive director of BC’s Pharmaceutical Services Division, Mitch Moneo, to present the 2026 Steve Long Memorial lecture.

In addition, the new pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) CEO, Mauro Chies, will join us as a keynote speaker later in the day. Several substantive panel sessions are also planned, including one that will explore vaccine coverage in the West and another that will consider how to engage in effective advocacy. We will also feature a CEO’s panel, which will reveal how innovative pharmaceutical companies are managing risk in the current environment and another session that will give senior leaders from the Western cancer agencies a podium to discuss what has been going on in their worlds. 
And the highlight will be our (almost) annual assistant deputy ministers' panel exploring what is keeping the people who are responsible for pharmaceutical coverage and policy in the Western provinces up at night

AGENDA
As of December 4, 2025

8:30 am 
Breakfast

9:00 am
Welcome & Housekeeping
Emcee: Gerry Jeffcott, 3Sixty Public Affairs

9:15am
Steve Long Memorial Keynote Address: Mitch Moneo

We look forward to the insights to be offered by long-time BC public drug plan official and national leader, Mitch Moneo, who has graciously accepted the invitation to deliver the annual Steve Long Memorial Lecture in 2026

Moderated by Gerry Jeffcott, 3Sixty Public Affairs

10:15am
CEO Panel

• Stefan Raos, Moderna
• Sameeh Salima, Fedora Pharmaceuticals
• Michael Siauw, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada)

Moderator: TBA

10:50am Networking Break

11:20am
Vaccine Reimbursement and Impact of Expanding Pipeline - How will Public Health Keep up with Innovation?

• Dr. Jia Hu, BC Centre for Disease Control

More Panelist info coming soon!

12:10PM
Networking Lunch

1:00pm
Panel: Oncology

• Brenda Hubley, Cancer Care Alberta
• Deb Bulych, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency

This panel will provide each province an opportunity to share updates on challenges and opportunities and discuss what these might mean for best practices in how industry and cancer systems can collaborate to optimize care and access to medicines for cancer patients from BC through to Manitoba.

Moderated Tami Crawley, Tami Crawley Consultants

1:50pm
pCPA Presentation
Mauro Chies, CEO, pCPA

Please join us in hearing from new pCPA CEO Mauro Chies, who will offer his insights from his first year as head of the agency, speak to pCPA’s plans going forward and answer questions from attendees.

Moderated by Gerry Jeffcott, 3Sixty Public Affairs

2:35pm
Networking Break

3:15pm
Panel: Impact-Driven Advocacy: What Matters Most and Considerations for Reimbursement

• Anne-Marie Bisson, Zebricks
• Chad Mitchell, Global Public Affairs
• Dr. Nancy Nixson, Cancer Clinician Advocacy Forum

Effective, credible advocacy is increasingly essential in Canada’s evolving HTA and reimbursement landscape. This panel brings together patient leaders, clinicians, policy experts, and researchers to explore what truly drives impact.

Moderated by Ursula Mann, Patient Voice Partners

4:00pm
ADM Panel

• Kierstin Kashuba, Ministry of Health, AB
• Ian Rongve, Ministry of Health, BC
• Chad Ryan, Ministry of Health, SK

Moderated by Stephen Filbey, WestPar Consultancy Inc.

4:55pm
Closing Remarks
Emcee: Gerry Jeffcott, 3Sixty Public Affairs

CAHR reserves the right to cancel or change speakers, content and date
without prior notice. We assume no liability for these changes. 

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

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Cancellation Policy: For cancellations two (2) weeks or more in advance, delegates will receive a 75% refund. Cancellations made less than two (2) weeks in advance, no refunds are given.  Delegate substitutions will be accepted at no cost.