Dr. Marty Makary to Bring a Critical Conversation About America’s Healthcare Costs to ACA WAY 2026
The bestselling author and surgeon, who served as the FDA Commissioner, will explore why healthcare has become increasingly unaffordable—and what industry leaders can do about it.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Miami, FL — August 19, 2026 — ACA WAY announced that Dr. Marty Makary, New York Times bestselling author, surgeon, and healthcare expert who served as the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will appear live at ACA WAY 2026, taking place September 23–24 at the Hilton Downtown Miami.
Dr. Makary will bring one of America’s most urgent healthcare conversations to the ACA WAY stage: Why has healthcare become so expensive, and what will it take to fix it?
Medical debt continues to affect families across the country. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports that approximately $88 billion in outstanding medical bills is in collections, affecting one in five Americans.
At the same time, rising healthcare costs are placing increasing pressure on employers and small businesses attempting to provide meaningful, affordable benefits.
Drawing from the central themes of his award-winning book, The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care and How to Fix It, Dr. Makary will examine the forces contributing to America’s healthcare-cost crisis, including confusing pricing, unnecessary care, administrative complexity and a lack of transparency.
His appearance will challenge attendees to look beyond medical bills and consider the larger consequences of an increasingly expensive system.
This is a conversation about affordability, access and trust. It is also about whether patients, employers and small businesses are receiving genuine value from the healthcare system they are funding.
“Dr. Makary brings the experience, research and courage needed to confront one of the most important issues facing healthcare today,” said Sherry Feijoo, CEO of ACA WAY. “The cost of care affects every part of our industry, from the families selecting coverage to the agents guiding them and the businesses providing benefits. ACA WAY is bringing this conversation directly to the people who can help drive meaningful change.”
Dr. Makary served as the 27th Commissioner of Food and Drugs after receiving bipartisan confirmation from the U.S. Senate. Before entering government service, he held leadership and academic roles at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
Throughout his career, Dr. Makary has led national discussions on healthcare quality, transparency, prevention, medical appropriateness and new models of care. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, including The Price We Pay and Blind Spots, and has published hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles.
His ACA WAY 2026 appearance will explore questions with direct consequences for the entire healthcare ecosystem:
How can healthcare become more affordable and transparent?
Where is spending failing to deliver better outcomes?
How are rising costs affecting employers and small businesses?
What role can healthcare leaders, insurance professionals and innovators play in building a more effective system?
For the agents, brokers, carriers, employers, technology leaders and healthcare executives attending ACA WAY, these are not theoretical questions. They influence coverage decisions, benefit strategies, consumer confidence, business growth and the future of the industry.
Dr. Makary’s appearance is subject to final content review and approval by him and his representatives.
Be in the Room for the Conversation
ACA WAY 2026 will bring together leading voices from healthcare, insurance, technology, policy and business for two days of high-level discussions, practical education and meaningful industry connections.
Attendees will examine the forces transforming healthcare, including rising costs, regulatory changes, artificial intelligence, ICHRA, carrier strategy, consumer expectations and new models of care.
Dr. Makary’s appearance will be one of the conference’s most anticipated conversations.
Do not wait to hear what was said after the room clears.
See Dr. Marty Makary live at ACA WAY 2026 and be part of the conversation about what American healthcare must become next.
Event Information
ACA WAY 2026
September 23–24, 2026
Hilton Downtown Miami
Miami, Florida
Tickets and additional information are available at www.theacaway.com.
About Dr. Marty Makary
Dr. Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., is a New York Times bestselling author, surgeon, healthcare expert and the 27th Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Before his government service, he held academic and medical leadership roles at Johns Hopkins. His work has focused on healthcare quality, medical appropriateness, transparency, vulnerable populations, disease prevention and models of care designed to improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization.
He is the author of The Price We Pay, winner of the 2020 Business Book of the Year Award, and Blind Spots, a New York Times bestseller examining medical assumptions, nutrition, prevention and emerging health research.
About ACA WAY
ACA WAY is a national healthcare conference where agents, brokers, carriers, executives, policymakers, technology leaders and industry innovators come together to discuss the forces shaping the future of healthcare.
ACA WAY 2026 will feature influential speakers, strategic panels, live demonstrations, networking opportunities and actionable conversations focused on healthcare policy, affordability, technology, business growth and the evolving needs of consumers and employers.
Media Contact
Megan Whitehead
Director of Corporate Relations
