Presentaciones
Puerto Rico Health Insurance Conference 2026
March 20 @Caribe Hilton
Welcome Remarks
Mónika Candelaria
Journalist, News Anchor & Reporter
Mónika Candelaria
Journalist, News Anchor & Reporter
Luis E. Pizarro, Esq. LLM
PRCC Immediate Past President, Chairman of the PRHIC 2026 & President of PRCC Health Committee
Luis E. Pizarro, Esq. LLM
PRCC Immediate Past President, Chairman of the PRHIC 2026 & President of PRCC Health Committee
Lcda. Margaret Ramírez Báez
Presidenta
Lcda. Liza Garcia Velez
Directora Ejecutiva
The Ultimate Paradox-Medicare Advantage in Puerto Rico: Highest-performing market, lowest reimbursement. A methodology problem, not a spending problem
Moderator: Mr. Luis E. Pizarro, Esq. LLM, PRCC Immediate Past President, Chairman of the PRHIC 2026 & President of PRCC Health Committee
Solange de Lahongrais, Esq.
President of MMM Multihealth & President of the Medicaid & Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico, Inc. (MMAPA)
Solange de Lahongrais, Esq.
President of MMM Multihealth & President of the Medicaid & Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico, Inc. (MMAPA)
Penelope Kokkinides
SVP and General Manager of Medicare Business
Triple- S Salud
Penelope.kokkinides@ssspr.com
Penelope Kokkinides has more than 20+ years of health care experience specializing in government programs (Medicare and Medicaid) and the managed care industry. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in developing clinical programs and managing health care processes and operations with a focus on improving efficiencies and organizational infrastructure.
She currently serves as SVP and General Manager of Medicare Business and Salus clinics for Triple-S Salud in Puerto Rico.
Kokkinides, previously had served as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Operating Officer of InnovaCare, Inc., a leading provider of government health plans and integrated healthcare delivery solutions. Kokkinides has also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Centerlight HealthCare where she was responsible for overall management and strategic direction of the managed care division, Chief Operating Officer of Touchstone Health and Corporate Vice President for Care Management and Disease Management at AmeriChoice, a business unit of UnitedHealth Group, where she was instrumental in developing and implementing the company’s health care model.
Kokkinides holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and classical languages from Binghamton University; a master’s degree in social work and a post-master’s advanced degree in alcohol and substance abuse from New York University, and a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University School of Public Health and is in process of completing her doctorate in public administration.
Federal Healthcare Priorities: Congressional Intent, Administrative Authority, and Policy Outcomes. It’s a Methodology problem, not a spending problem
Gabriella Boffelli
Directora Ejecutiva de la Administración de Asuntos Federales de Puerto Rico (PRFAA), Gabriella Boffelli – Con más de 14 años de experiencia en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos, la actual directora de las oficinas de la Comisionada Residente, ha sido reconocida por su profesionalismo trabajando de manera bipartita, y su mentoría para promover oportunidades para los jóvenes. Fue honrada con el Premio Vermillion de Apreciación al Personal del Congreso del Instituto de Liderazgo Hispano del Congreso (CHLI) en 2017, recibió el primer Premio Embajadora de esa organización en el 2023, y fue reconocida entre las 10 Top Chiefs of Staff en el Capitolio federal en el 2024.
Our Governor’s Perspective: From Vision to Urgent Action
Presenter: Mr. Luis E. Pizarro, Esq. LLM, PRCC Immediate Past President, Chairman of the PRHIC 2026 & President of PRCC Health Committee
Verónica Ferraiuoli-Hornedo, Esq.
Abogada destacada con más de 25 años de experiencia, graduada de universidades como John Hopkins, Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Boston y la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Interamericana, es reconocida por su vasta experiencia en recursos extraordinarios y derecho constitucional. Su práctica profesional ha abarcado litigios en derechos civiles, asuntos constitucionales, propiedad intelectual y casos legales complejos, consolidándose como una experta en su campo. Como abogada apelativa con vasta experiencia, la licenciada Ferraiuoli ha argumentado casos claves ante el Tribunal federal de Apelaciones para el Primer Circuito, logrando importantes precedentes jurídicos. En octubre de 2012, la licenciada Ferraiuoli se convirtió en la primera mujer desde 1991 en argumentar ante el Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico.
Ha servido como asesora legal en la Asamblea Legislativa y en la Rama Ejecutiva, actualmente, se desempeña como Asesora Legal y Subdirectora de la Oficina de la Comisionada Residente; representó a la congresista como amicus curiaeen casos clave que abordan disparidades federales para los residentes de Puerto Rico, incluyendo United States v. Vaello- Madero (derecho constitucional | discriminación en programas federales de salud) y desempeña un papel clave en la elaboración de la agenda legislativa de la congresista en temas de salud y política contributiva, asuntos críticos para el futuro de la isla. Es miembro del Comité de Transición Enterante, miembro del Directorio del Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP), directora ejecutiva del Instituto de Política Pública Luis A. Ferré; fue Tesorera (2016) y Asesora Legal (2016 y 2020) en las campañas congresionales de Jenniffer González, y presidenta del Comité de Plataforma del PNP para los comicios del 2024.
Healthcare Providers Under Impossible Assumptions: When Math no longer works, but mandates never end
Elliot Pacheco
President of Entrepreneurs for Puerto Rico & Past-President of the Puerto Rico Community Pharmacies Association
Elliot Pacheco
President of Entrepreneurs for Puerto Rico & Past-President of the Puerto Rico Community Pharmacies Association
Prof. José Laborde, Ph.D.
Dr. José E. Laborde is a tenured professor of Economics at the University of Puerto Rico’s Río Piedras Campus. He obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a specialty in Health and Demography. He publishes in academic journals often and is a frequent invited speaker in Health Economic conferences.
Dr. Laborde is also the president of JEL Consulting, Inc. Puerto Rico’s leading health analytics firm. The company specializes in Health Care cost, utilization and quality research. It provides services to public entities and private firms in Puerto Rico and the US.
José Vargas
President, VarMed Health Center LLC
José Vargas
President, VarMed Health Center LLC
Luncheon Keynote: Our Resident Commissioner’s Perspective for Healthcare in Congress
Presenter: Mrs. Margaret Ramírez Báez, Esq., PRCC President & Chairwoman of the Board
Rx Complexity as a Business Model: Why drug pricing is so complicated — and accountability is questioned?
José Rojas, PharmD.
El Lcdo. José Rojas es Doctor en Farmacia (PharmD) graduado del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Con más de 20 años de experiencia en el manejo de medicamentos especializados, ha desarrollado una sólida trayectoria en el manejo de terapias complejas, coordinación de tratamientos y apoyo clínico a pacientes con condiciones crónicas. Como propietario de farmacia especializada, combina conocimiento clínico con liderazgo operativo para garantizar acceso a servicios farmacéuticos de alta calidad, seguridad en el manejo de medicamentos de alto costo y un enfoque centrado en el bienestar del paciente. Su experiencia lo posiciona como un profesional con profundo conocimiento en el campo de la farmacia y de los desafíos asociados a los medicamentos especializados.
Amarilis Reyes
Interim Director of Public Policy and Communications, Merck Puerto Rico
Amarilis Reyes
Interim Director of Public Policy and Communications, Merck Puerto Rico
Modernizing Puerto Rico’s Mental Health System: Updating the Law for Today’s Puerto Rico Realities
Marina Díaz, MHSA
Staff Director, CMS Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement, Local Engagement & Administration (LEA)
Marina Díaz, MHSA
Staff Director, CMS Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement, Local Engagement & Administration (LEA)
Catherine Oliver-Franco, PhD.
Administrator, Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA by its Spanish acronym), Puerto Rico Department of Health
Catherine Oliver-Franco, PhD.
Administrator, Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA by its Spanish acronym), Puerto Rico Department of Health
Healthcare Governance Under Federal Oversight: Aligning Territorial Policy with Federal Funding, Mandatory Compliance, and Measurable Outcomes: A National Showcase Model for Cost Control
José Acarón
State Director at AARP Puerto Rico, Member of the Board, Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (ASES by its Spanish acronym), Government of Puerto Rico)
José Acarón
State Director at AARP Puerto Rico, Member of the Board, Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (ASES by its Spanish acronym), Government of Puerto Rico)
José Acarón
José A. Acarón is the State Director of AARP Puerto Rico, leading efforts to improve the quality of life for people over 50, with an emphasis on health, economic security, and age-friendly communities. With a background in marketing and extensive community experience, he promotes proactive public policy, supports caregivers, and prevents fraud on the island.
Lcdo. Carlos A. Santiago-Rosario, JD, LLM (Health Law), MHSA, FACHE, CHC
Executive Director, Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (ASES by its Spanish acronym)
Lcdo. Carlos A. Santiago-Rosario, JD, LLM (Health Law), MHSA, FACHE, CHC
Executive Director, Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (ASES by its Spanish acronym)
From Narrative to Action: How Washington Decides, What the Media Amplifies, and Why Puerto Rico’s Solutions can Stall?
Mónika Candelaria
Journalist, News Anchor & Reporter
Mónika Candelaria
Journalist, News Anchor & Reporter
Joanisabel González
Joanisabel González es una periodista puertorriqueña que ha dedicado casi dos décadas a la cobertura de la comunidad empresarial de Puerto Rico y la economía de la isla y sus desafíos.
Tras laborar en el semanario de habla inglesa Caribbean Business, Joanisabel lidera el equipo de de periodistas de Negocios de El Nuevo Día, sección a la que se integró hace unos 19 años, convencida de la urgente necesidad de llevar la discusión de temas económicos al centro de la discusión pública en Puerto Rico.
Joanisabel ha informado ampliamente acerca de la transformación económica y el ciclo de estancamiento prolongado que experimenta Puerto Rico, prestando atención particular a políticas fiscales, el sector de seguros y el colapso de seis instituciones bancarias en apenas una década.
Sus historias acerca de la insolvencia del gobierno, la imposición de una junta fiscal desde el Congreso de Estados Unidos y el proceso judicial para reestructurar la deuda pública se han convertido en un referente para entender la crisis del territorio estadounidense y sus profundas consecuencias en prácticamente todos los ámbitos de la gestión pública de Puerto Rico, la ciudadanía y el sector empresarial.
Es egresada de la Universidad de Puerto Rico donde obtuvo los grados de bachiller y maestría en Comunicación Pública y su trabajo ha sido reconocido por varias organizaciones empresariales y de fomento al oficio periodístico en Puerto Rico y España.
Carlos Dalmau, Esq.
Carlos G. Dalmau is recognized as one of Puerto Rico’s leading public affairs professionals. As an attorney, with over 25 years of experience, he has helped many clients, including Fortune 500 companies, local business leaders and nonprofits, in a wide range of legal, legislative, and regulatory matters. As a government affairs expert, he has been distinguished for his strategic acumen and ability to work both sides of the isle.
Mr. Dalmau holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and teaches courses on Negotiation at University of Puerto Rico Law School. He frequently appears as a political commentator on local radio and TV shows. He is admitted to practice law in Puerto Rico, New York, the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Post Conference Coverage with “WKAQ en la Tarde con Kike Cruz”: LIVE from the PR Health Insurance Conference
Javier Llano
Javier Llano is Co-Executive Producer of the CREW TV series, bringing decades of experience in politics, urban planning, public policy, and investments. He combines political insight with storytelling vision to deliver compelling narratives. An expert in forming strategic alliances and partnerships, he has advised elected officials in New York City, San Juan, and Washington, D.C., shaping legislation and public policy on healthcare, housing, transportation, energy, and economic development. He has also collaborated with private equity funds and family offices on strategic investments. With a trusted network across government and industry, his expertise in strategy, finance, and storytelling positions him to create a crime and political drama that is both authentic and commercially engaging. Mr. LLano earned an M.P.A., with specialization in urban planning/economic development and public policy from New York University in the spring of 2001. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras campus. He is the son of a sugarcane cutter, and factory worker born in Fajardo, and raised in Daguao, a poor neighborhood between Naguabo and Ceiba on the east coast of Puerto Rico.
Bullets / Accolades:
- Proven alliance builder – recognized for creating strategic partnerships that expand opportunities and advance client agendas.
- Experienced policy advisor – served elected officials in New York City, San Juan, and Washington, D.C., with a track record in shaping legislation and public policy.
- Multi-sector expertise – contributed to initiatives across healthcare, mixed-income housing, transportation, energy, capital markets, and economic development.
- Thought leader on infrastructure and growth – frequently quoted in major newspapers and radio programs on issues impacting economic growth, affordable housing, healthcare, and planning challenges.
- Visionary urban planner – grounded in city planning, with deep understanding of how infrastructure, policy, and community needs intersect.
- Storyteller with impact – translates complex policy and economic development issues into compelling narratives for broader public engagement.
Wildalis Serra Ortiz, Esq.
Wildalis Serra es una abogada con más de 15 años de experiencia en asuntos regulatorios, política pública y relaciones gubernamentales. Ha ocupado cargos clave en el gobierno de Puerto Rico, incluyendo asesora legal en la Oficina del Gobernador y directora de Asuntos Legales en la Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres. Actualmente se desempeña como directora de Asuntos Gubernamentales y Política Pública en Triple-S, donde lidera iniciativas en las áreas de seguros de salud, vida, propiedad, contingencia, así como en las clínicas Salus. Además, colabora activamente con la Fundación Triple-S y la Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud. La licenciada Serra cuenta con una sólida trayectoria en comunicación estratégica, formulación de política pública y manejo de asuntos públicos. Ha participado en esfuerzos de cabildeo en Washington, D.C., dirigidos a asegurar fondos para programas de salud en Puerto Rico. Posee un Juris Doctor de la Universidad de Puerto Rico y está admitida como abogada y notaria pública ante el Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico.
