Fairbanks Welcomes National Alliance for Medicaid in Education (NAME) 24th Annual Conference to Chicago Sept. 22–25, 2026
Chicago, Illinois, May 28, 2026
The 2026 National Alliance for Medicaid in Education (NAME) conference, "Bringing the Spirit of School Medicaid to the Windy City," will be held Sept. 22–25, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.
Every year State Medicaid and Education Agencies, Local Education Agencies, and stakeholders from across the United States gather at this conference to share information and best practices regarding School-Based Medicaid Services and Administrative claiming.
The 24th annual NAME conference introduces Executive Director Ken Kniepmann, tapped for leadership in May 2026. Kniepmann brings a passion for student health and wellbeing to NAME with public policy, mental health, and non-profit management experience including school-based services, lobbying, and executive leadership.
"Across our nation, schools are more than places of learning—they are centers of care, stability, and opportunity," said Kniepmann. "For millions of students, particularly those with disabilities and behavioral health needs, Medicaid services in the school setting are not optional; they are essential. They represent access to therapy, mental health support, and critical services that shape not only educational outcomes, but lifelong trajectories."
The conference includes keynote presentations by Dr. Lori Desautels, PhD, and Julie J. Weatherly, Esq. Additional breakout sessions share a variety of topics including state perspectives on the July 1, 2026 implementation of the 2023 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, "Delivering Services in School-Based Settings: A Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming."
As a founding partner and Diamond-level sponsor of NAME, Fairbanks welcomes the 2026 NAME conference to its home in the Windy City. Fairbanks has deep Chicago roots and was founded in 2004 in Illinois by former principals and staff from Deloitte Consulting LLP as a privately held firm specializing in public sector consulting with a Medicaid focus.
Fairbanks partners with state and local government agencies to provide strategic, operational, and technology solutions to support Medicaid and other claiming programs as well as monitoring and program integrity initiatives of the agencies responsible for program oversight. Fairbanks has designed, implemented and managed Medicaid claiming in 15 states, representing over 8,000 LEAs and over 13 million students.
NAME is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization comprised of members from the nation's school districts and state Medicaid and Education agencies who are involved in administration of Medicaid claiming for school-based services.
2026 NAME conference registration is available on their website, https://www.medicaidforeducation.org with $750 early bird registration through Sept. 4, 2026.