2023 HMA Staff Retreat

Governor Mike Leavitt

Founder; Chair, Board of Managers

Leavitt Partners

Michael O. Leavitt is the founder of Leavitt Partners where he helps clients navigate the future as they transition to new and better models of care. In previous roles, Mike served in the Cabinet of President George W. Bush (as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Secretary of Health and Human Services) and as a three-time elected governor of Utah.

Mike grew up in Cedar City, Utah, where his upbringing was rooted in the values of the American West, with its emphasis on hard work and common sense. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business while working in the insurance industry. In 1984, he became chief executive of The Leavitt Group, a family business that is now the nation’s second-largest, privately-held insurance brokerage.

In 1993, Mike was elected governor of Utah. He served three terms (1993-2003). In 2003, he joined the Cabinet of President George W. Bush, serving in two positions: first as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (2003-2005) and then as secretary of Health and Human Services (2005-2009). At HHS, he administered a $750 billion budget — nearly 25 percent of the entire federal budget — and 67,000 employees.

He led the implementation of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. The task required the design, systematization, and implementation of a plan to provide 43 million seniors with a new prescription drug benefit. By the end of the first year, enrollments exceeded projections, prices were lower than projected, and seniors expressed high levels of satisfaction.

Mike’s strategic ability can be seen in his redesign of the nation’s system of quality and safety standards for imported goods. In the spring of 2006, President Bush assigned him to lead a government-wide response. Within months, he commended a major strategic shift in U.S. policy on import regulation and trade.

A pattern of innovation runs throughout Mike’s career. When he was elected governor, Utah’s major freeway system was dangerously inadequate. Taking what some thought was a significant political and financial risk, Mike instigated a design-build system, creating cost and quality incentives between the state and its contractors. The project was finished in half the originally projected time and well under budget.

Mike is, at heart, an entrepreneur. As governor, he organized a group of his colleagues to form Western Governors University. At WGU, degrees are earned based on competency rather than credit hours. WGU now has more than 60,000 students who reside in each of the 50 states and several foreign countries. Enrollment is growing at 35 percent a year. In November 2008, TIME magazine named WGU “the best relatively cheap university you’ve never heard of.”

Collaborator is a word that comes up repeatedly when one examines Mike’s background. His skill led his colleague governors to elect him as chairman of the National Governors Association, the Republican Governors Association and Western Governors’ Association. His book—Finding Allies, Building Alliances—was released in September 2013 by Jossey-Bass Publishers and chronicles his expertise and passion for collaboration.

Mike is a seasoned diplomat, leading U.S. delegations to more than 50 countries. He has conducted negotiations on matters related to health, the environment, and trade. At the conclusion of his service, the Chinese government awarded him the China Public Health Award – the first time this award has ever been given to a foreign government official.

• 4:00 - 4:30 PM, Sep 27, 2023 Grand Ballroom

  Welcome – Governor Leavitt; collaboration video

Dr. Christie McMullen

Best Selling Author & Keynote Speaker

• linkedin

• 5:00 - 6:00 PM, Sep 27, 2023 Grand Ballroom

  Better Together

Melanie Bella

Head of Partnerships and Policy

Cityblock Health

• linkedin

Results-oriented leader driven by opportunities to make a lasting impact on the care and financing for the nation’s most complex and costly populations. Experience developing and successfully implementing policies and programs in the government, non-profit and private sectors.

• 8:15 - 9:15 AM, Sep 28, 2023 Grand Ballroom

  Plenary session

Jay Rosen

President and Co-Chairman

Health Management Associates

Jay Rosen founded HMA in 1985 and today, as HMA president and co-chairman, continues to directly engage in shaping the strategic vision for the firm, leading its growth, serving clients and inspiring innovation across the spectrum of publicly funded health care programs.

Jay is a nationally recognized expert in health policy, health economics and health finance. He directs a variety of major projects for public and private sector clients.

Prior to launching HMA, Jay served as the director of planning and policy development for the Michigan Office of Health and Medical Affairs. In that capacity, Jay supervised a broad program of health policy research and analysis.

Jay earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy from Michigan State University and taught undergraduate classes in ethics, logic and the history of philosophy.

He serves on the board of directors for several healthcare companies and organizations.

• 6:00 - 7:30 PM, Sep 28, 2023 Imperial Ballroom

  Dinner Buffet & Speaker Jay Rosen

Clay Alspach

Principal

Leavitt Partners

Former chief health counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.

Clay Alspach is a principal based in Washington, D.C. Clay specializes in health care policy and advocacy related to the Food and Drug Administration, health information technology, Medicare Parts B, C, and D, Medicaid, private health insurance, and the Affordable Care Act.

Prior to joining Leavitt Partners, Clay served as Chief Health Counsel for Chairman Fred Upton of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. During seven years with the committee, he managed, provided strategic direction, and served as the principal representative for the committee on all of its health care-related work. Clay spearheaded legislative initiatives that successfully reformed the SGR (MACRA), reauthorized FDA user fees (FDASIA), and established a national system for drug supply chain security (Drug Quality and Security Act). Clay also led the committee’s legislative accomplishments on biopreparedness and security, public and private medical research, controlled substance and DEA matters, and several other public health initiatives. Most recently, Clay led the committee’s work on the 21st Century Cures Act.

Prior to this service for the committee, Clay clerked for the Honorable Ronald L. Buckwalter of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and worked as a litigator in private law practice. He also worked as a legislative clerk at the committee from 1999 to 2000 under Chairman Thomas J. Bliley (R-VA).

Clay received his bachelors of arts cum laude from the University of Richmond and holds a juris doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom B (LA-1)

  A3: Politics and Policy in DC

Constance Payne

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

Constance Payne is a healthcare subject matter expert who brings highly successful, strategic solutions to an array of value-based care initiatives. Her extensive background includes pharmacy practice, federal healthcare policy, Medicaid, behavioral health services, and management consulting.

Prior to joining HMA, Constance was a project delivery senior consultant in the Government and Public Services division at Deloitte. In this role, she created high quality rules design deliverables used to streamline the development and implementation of a cloud-based long-term services and supports solution. She helped translate designs for developers, walked through complex change requests with clients and helped develop training materials during a system transition.

As the opioid program director at United Healthcare, Constance led the Tennessee community and state opioid program. In this role, she managed the successful buildout of a statewide TennCare medication-assisted treatment (MAT) network involving over 90 medical and behavioral health providers. She also led the Health Link program, a multi-payer healthcare payment reform initiative for TennCare members with the highest behavioral health needs, as the director of payment reform and transformation. She identified and implemented several key processes that allowed for the smooth transition of the program to a behavioral health matrix partner. She also assisted the vice president of Payment Reform and Transformation in oversight of two additional TennCare value-based care programs – patient-centered medical homes and episodes of care (EOC). Constance also held roles at TennCare where she expanded the availability and access of health care information and data to TennCare providers and internal TennCare stakeholders. She supported management of the care coordination tool (CCT), a web-based provider portal and was the primary lead for the Health Link program. She also supported the emergency operations center (EOC) team by leading pharmacy-related operations projects and was the point of contact for the chief medical officer of the pharmacy department and behavioral health operations.

In the role of legislative assistant in the office of Senator Thad Cochran, she conducted extensive research on healthcare, education, labor, and veterans’ issues and policy for Senator Cochran, then-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She gained in-depth knowledge of the appropriations process by drafting, finalizing, and submitting all priority requests to the proper Appropriations Subcommittee and authored talking points, official statements, hearing materials, briefing documents, and speeches for Senator Cochran. She was also a research/staff assistant in the office of Senator Lamar Alexander, where she conducted independent research and preparation of health-related policy papers.

Constance earned a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Mississippi.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Grand Salon (GA-1)

  A4: The Effects of the IRA on Patient Access and Drug Pricing in Medicare Part D and Medicaid

Drew McStanley

Principal

Wakely Consulting Group

Drew McStanley, FSA, MAAA, joined the firm in 2011 and has worked as a health actuary for 5 years. Since entering the actuarial profession in 2007, Drew was previously a Part D Pricing Actuary at WellCare Health Plans, Inc. and later a Consulting Actuary at Milliman’s Atlanta office prior to joining Wakely. Drew’s areas of specialization include Medicare Advantage/Prescription Drug Plan Bid Process, Part D Forecasting and Benchmark Analysis, Medicare Risk Adjustment and Revenue Enhancement, Employer Waiver Group Pricing and Underwriting, Experience and Trend Analysis, Model Development, and Health Data Programming.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Grand Salon (GA-1)

  A4: The Effects of the IRA on Patient Access and Drug Pricing in Medicare Part D and Medicaid

Anne Marie Lauterbach

Principal

Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company

Consulting, advisory, and government affairs for pharmaceutical and biosciences companies.

Anne Marie Lauterbach is a principal based in Washington, D.C. In her role, Anne Marie provides policy counsel and analysis to clients with matters involving regulations, legislation, and business implications.

Anne Marie’s experience includes developing strategic messages and policy positions for Capitol Hill, administration, trade associations, and corporate audiences.

Prior to joining Leavitt Partners, Anne Marie was a vice president for a consulting firm’s health and biosciences group. She also spent five years with a top-5 lobby firm in Washington, D.C., while completing her law degree in the evenings at the George Mason University School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2010. Anne Marie also worked in the government and legal affairs office of Novo Nordisk in Washington, D.C., and as a congressional aide to Rep. Michael Ferguson of New Jersey.

In 2004, Anne Marie served as a policy research assistant on the Bush-Cheney campaign after graduating, with distinction, from the University of Virginia. Anne Marie also was an assistant to the chief of staff for House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX-26).

Anne Marie received her law degree from the George Mason University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Grand Salon (GA-1)

  A4: The Effects of the IRA on Patient Access and Drug Pricing in Medicare Part D and Medicaid

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Uintah (LA-2)

  A5: Evolving Policy and State Best Practices for Programs Serving Individuals with Dual Eligibility

Julie Faulhaber, MBA

Managing Director, Medicare and Dual Eligibles

Health Management Associates

A nationally recognized leader in Medicaid, Medicare, dual eligible and special needs plan (SNP) programs and policies, Julie Faulhaber is an experienced and strategic leader with more than 25 years of healthcare policy experience.

Julie has a sustained pattern of managing profitable product portfolios and a demonstrated expertise in business and product development, product implementation and management, change management and compliance. Her work has included leadership and oversight of multi-state Medicaid and SNP business, care coordination, government relations and overseeing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) bidding process for SNP and dual eligible products.

Before joining HMA, Julie served more than 15 years, in increasingly senior positions, with Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) where she was vice president of Enterprise Medicaid and interim vice president of Illinois Medicaid and Medica Health Plans in Minnesota. She is also an experienced consultant and a mission-driven executive with proven communication and collaboration skills.

Julie knows how to strategically identify and execute growth initiatives and has an impressive track record of winning awards for nearly every product proposal submitted. She led efforts at HCSC to convert business to common operating platforms and built staffing models to centralize functions and consolidate contracts and costs. Julie also directed the successful 2017 Illinois Medicaid reprocurement and rebuilt the Medicaid team within the first month of her tenure.

While serving at Medica Health Plan, she received an innovation award from the state Medicaid agency for developing and implementing a program to integrate physical and behavioral healthcare. Julie also led successful CMS audits, increased enrollment, exceeded budget and program goals and engaged stakeholders to retool programs to include those with disabilities.

Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Creighton University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Julie believes the book with the best stories is her passport and enjoys traveling with her husband, Steve. She is an avid Wisconsin and Chicago sports fan and enjoys reading, the arts, theater and architecture.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Uintah (LA-2)

  A5: Evolving Policy and State Best Practices for Programs Serving Individuals with Dual Eligibility

Susan McGeehan

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

Susan McGeehan is a multi-faceted healthcare leader with extensive experience in dual eligible programs, long-term services and supports (LTSS), Medicaid managed care, area agencies on aging, dementia care models and care coordination.

Her experience and skills have supported organizations in meaningful policy application, clinical model development, operational excellence, and transformation. She has supported organizations through turbulent Medicaid policy changes, health plan service area expansion and product launch. Throughout her career, Susan has been successful at compelling organizations to focus on the unique needs of individuals served in Medicaid programs and has a long history of advocating for health equity.

Prior to joining HMA, Susan served as the state public programs senior manager with HealthPartners in Minnesota where she oversaw products and programs for all of Minnesota’s Medicaid programs serving the state as well as MinnesotaCare, the state’s Medicaid expansion program. In this position, Susan demonstrated her innovation by bringing unique Medicare Supplemental Benefits to market for the first time nationally in programs serving individuals with dual eligibility. She has been recognized as a visionary leader in the aging network resulting in ongoing requests for her participation in a variety of Minnesota implementation and advisory workgroups.

Susan’s work experience also includes a long tenure with Medica Health Plan serving in increasingly senior roles and overseeing federal and state agency policy, advocating for improved policy with legislative partners, leading healthcare transitions and serving as a resource and partner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

In addition to expertise in Medicaid managed care, Susan started her career working in an area agency on aging and currently serves on the Minnesota Board on Aging. She is passionate about improving systems and services through public and private partnerships and has demonstrated success partnering healthcare with community-based organizations to innovate and better meet program participants’ needs.

Susan earned a Master of Gerontological Study from Miami University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Xavier University. Additionally, she completed the Miami University Summer Business Institute program and is a licensed social worker.

When not working, Susan can be found gardening or exploring nature in Minnesota with her kids and dog – or surviving Minnesota winters by a fireplace enjoying music.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Uintah (LA-2)

  A5: Evolving Policy and State Best Practices for Programs Serving Individuals with Dual Eligibility

Margaret Tatar, JD

Managing Principal

Health Management Associates

Margaret Tatar has more than 25 years of public and private sector experience in managed care program and policy development, health policy, program development, advocacy, and government/legislative affairs.

She has a strong track record in managed care plan leadership, leading large-scale managed care initiatives and multi-disciplinary teams in complex operating environments while fostering professional development and mentoring staff. She has served in the federal government’s Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the executive and legislative branches in Colorado and California, and a key leadership position with CalOptima, a large public health plan in California.

In her most recent position as Acting Deputy Director, Delivery Systems, in California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), she was responsible for the network of 23 contracted health plans that deliver health care services to over 9 million Californians. She was also responsible for the Long Term Care Division and California’s Children Services (CCS) program. During her tenure at DHCS, she oversaw a significant expansion of managed care as the primary delivery system for California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal). She also served as the operational lead for the design, development, and implementation of Cal MediConnect, California’s Duals Demonstration program.

Margaret earned her undergraduate degree in Latin at Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and her law degree at Villanova University School of Law in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

A native of Washington, D.C., she and her husband live in Carmichael, California, where they spend most of their free time renovating their home and taking trips with their beloved Labradors.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Uintah (LA-2)

  A5: Evolving Policy and State Best Practices for Programs Serving Individuals with Dual Eligibility

Holly Michaels Fisher

Principal

Health Management Associates

Holly Michaels Fisher is an accomplished healthcare executive, consultant, and thought leader specializing in Medicare, Medicaid, Special Needs Plans (SNPs), Medicare integration for dual eligibles, and Medicaid long-term services and supports and home and community-based services. She has deep industry experience in many areas including but not limited to Medicare/Medicaid managed care product innovation and development, Medicare bid and product strategy, and clinical program/product planning and operational design

Holly has a successful track record of building and leading SNPs, pioneering innovative specialized home and community-based services and managed care products; building, leading, and/or consulting to Medicare and Medicaid health plans; developing strategies to improve care management of Medicare and Medicaid members, impact Medicare Advantage Star and Medicaid quality performance; and developing and executing network design and contracting strategies to impact financial and clinical outcomes.

Most recently, Holly was the architect of Aetna’s significant DSNP expansion, expanding from two states to 30 states and from 20,000 members to more than 180,000 in less than four years. Prior to this, she was a managing director with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she provided management consulting services to national and regional Medicare and Medicaid health plans, specializing in operations and performance improvement related to medical management, clinical program design, network strategy, and Stars/quality.

Holly held a number of positions with UnitedHealth Group including executive director for Evercare in New York and New Jersey and as vice president and managing director for OptumInsight. At Evercare, a Medicare Advantage Institutional Special Needs Plan, she led a product turn around and managed the skilled nursing home network for all UnitedHealth Care lines of business. While at OptumInsight, Holly helped build and co-manage a consulting practice focused on Medicare, Medicaid, Special Needs Plans, Stars, and care management and utilization management programs for complex populations.

Holly has held leadership positions in several Medicare and Medicaid managed care plans in New York State including EmblemHealth, Universal American, Centerlight, and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNS). At EmblemHealth she led the carrier’s Medicare and Medicaid lines of business. At Universal American, she led a subsidiary organization that worked for states providing care management services for complex Medicaid beneficiaries, was president of a newly acquired Medicaid plan, and managed Medicare for the northeast region. At Centerlight, Holly was CEO for what was then the largest PACE organization in the country with 14 locations and more than 2,300 members. With VNS, among other accomplishments as the vice president for Long Term Care and vice president for Program Development, she founded the first managed long-term care program in New York State (VNS CHOICE) for which she served as the first executive director from its founding in 1998 until 2005.

Holly earned her undergraduate degree in nursing and master’s degrees in public health administration and urban planning, all from Columbia University.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Uintah (LA-2)

  A5: Evolving Policy and State Best Practices for Programs Serving Individuals with Dual Eligibility

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Tuscany (GA-3)

  B28: The One Stop Shop to Drive Positive Results–WAHOO

Ryan McEntee

Senior Consultant

Wakely Consulting Group

Ryan McEntee, MBA, joined Wakely Consulting Group, LLC as a Senior Consultant in 2023. He is an experienced managed care executive specializing in strategic leadership within Medicare Advantage and at-risk medical groups. Ryan has led several key areas of health plans over the years overseeing Revenue, Clinical Operations, Quality Improvement, medical management, Stars, and Value-Based strategy and Network contracting. He has also advised for several tech enabled Value-Based Care companies to help drive payor strategy.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  A6: Risk adjustment – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Todd Husty

Managing Director

MARSI

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  A6: Risk adjustment – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Chris Dickerson

Consulting Actuary

Health Management Associates

A credentialed and experienced, actuary, Chris Dickerson has expertise in Medicaid managed care, risk adjustment, and capitation rate development as well as rate development for long-term services and supports, physical and behavioral health.

Before joining HMA, he was a senior consultant with Optumas where he developed complex Excel models for actuarial topics including rate adequacy, risk adjustment, program changes, trend development, and Incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserving.

He has led projects through all phases, including working with the details of large data sets and presenting results to executives. A specialist in abstract problem solving, Chris has worked extrapolating results from limited data and using creative thinking to develop unique solutions to challenges.

He has served clients including state health and human services offices, health plans, and financing divisions providing actuarial services, reviewing and setting Medicaid rates, creating models of financial impact, and developing and launching a new Medicaid managed care program for the state of Nebraska.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Arizona State University and has an Association of the Society of Actuaries designation. He is also a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  A6: Risk adjustment – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Chia Yi Chin, ASA, MAAA is a Consulting Actuary with Wakely. He has over two years of consulting experience as a benefits actuarial analyst prior to joining Wakely. Chia has worked closely with health insurance carriers nationwide through the Wakely National Risk Adjustment Reporting in analyzing risk adjustment impact for insurers in multiple states. Additionally, Chia worked with health plans to identify discrepancies on EDGE’s reinsurance and risk adjustment calculation , identifying gaps in their risk adjustment results as well as analyzing financial drivers in the ACA market. Chia had also worked on projects providing analyses for the states of Oregon, Rhode Island, Maryland, Michigan and Illinois on the impact of essential health benefits. At a prior company, Chia was involved in postretirement benefits consulting and providing total benefits analyses and benchmarking for Fortune 1000 companies.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  A6: Risk adjustment – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Stephanie Denning

Principal

Health Management Associates

Stephanie Denning has worked in healthcare and human services for more than 25 years. Her experience spans the public, non-profit, and private sectors and includes expertise in publicly-funded health and social care programs and systems, stakeholder engagement and facilitation, public policy, research and report writing, organizational and operations assessment, and business process improvement.

Since joining HMA, Stephanie’s work has included strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and meeting facilitation, data collection and analysis, and program development and implementation. Stephanie has worked with government agencies, as well private and non-profit organizations including advocacy groups, foundations, health plans, community-based organizations, and Alaska Native/American Indian tribes.

Prior to joining HMA, Stephanie oversaw the Medicaid, child health plan and charitable health coverage lines of business for Kaiser Permanente Colorado. There, her responsibilities included managing business operations, contract administration membership, marketing and outreach, care delivery operations and innovations consulting. She helped design a care management model for high-risk/high-cost Medicaid members that served as a precursor to Colorado’s Accountable Care Collaborative Medicaid program.

Stephanie also worked in the private sector for Policy Studies, Inc. (PSI), a company that provided outsourcing solutions to state and local governments for healthcare, child support and workforce operations. At PSI, Stephanie managed state client relationships, provided technical assistance and business improvement support for operations, helped create policies and procedures, and provided guidance on policy issues with state clients, operations teams and site managers. She also managed the contract with the State of Colorado for administration of the Child Health Plan Plus program, Colorado’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which included oversight of marketing and outreach, customer service, eligibility and enrollment, mailroom and distribution.

Before her work in the private sector, Stephanie was the director of marketing and public relations for Denver Health, Colorado’s largest public hospital and health system. There, she oversaw numerous marketing campaigns, patient education efforts and relationships with other community organizations. She also managed all media relations and served as the primary public information officer for the system, including for all emergency management operations. Stephanie also worked as a reporter for the Longmont Times Call newspaper, where she covered stories focused on women’s and children’s issues, as well as public school board and city council meetings in Boulder County.

Stephanie has a Master of Public Administration in health policy from the University of Colorado, Denver and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder. In 2016, she completed a Certificate of Achievement training for Six Sigma Green Belt in healthcare from Villanova University.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Versailles (GA-3)

  A7: Community and Patient Facilitation Strategies for Exceptional Results

Betsy Uhrman

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

A skilled strategist and facilitator, Betsy Uhrman has a keen ability to help social sector organizations prepare for a changing future.

Betsy joins HMA from NPO Solutions, now a division of HMA Community Strategies, where she worked extensively with nonprofit and public sector organizations on all aspects of organizational planning and development. Her work has spanned a wide range of issue areas such as public education, youth development, homeless services, public and behavioral health, visual and performing arts, and economic justice.

She has facilitated numerous strategic planning processes, helping organizations set priorities and focus resources according to community needs, considering stakeholder input and changing internal and external conditions. Betsy also has significant experience working with multi-stakeholder collaboratives to move through a process of shared inquiry, problem-solving, and decision making.

Before working with NPO Solutions, Betsy worked at the Open Society Foundations and Tides Foundation where she conducted field research and implemented grantmaking programs in areas such as youth development, media, disability rights, and economic justice. In these capacities, she had many opportunities to consider how to cultivate partnerships and to effectively support large-scale programs and projects.

Betsy earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Versailles (GA-3)

  A7: Community and Patient Facilitation Strategies for Exceptional Results

Estrelitta Harmon

Senior Associate

Health Management Associates

Estrelitta Harmon is an experienced public health project manager with more than 10 years of experience in large-scale project implementation, stakeholder engagement, training, and health equity-centered work. Her interests include projects centered around health equity, social determinants of health, women’s health, strategic planning, and capacity building projects.

Prior to joining HMA, Estrelitta worked for a global non-profit and startup as a project manager and business analyst covering large-scale initiative management. In this role, she collaborated with stakeholders on multi-scale, end-to-end project management where she assessed business implications for each project phase and monitored progress to meet deadlines, standards, and cost targets.

Estrelitta previously served in multiple leadership roles at the Illinois Department of Public Health. In her role as chair of the department’s Health Equity Council, she led the implementation of the State Health Department Organizational Self-Assessment for Achieving Health Equity plan. As the division chief of grants management and administration, she launched the department’s first electronic grants system (EGrAMS) and facilitated trainings for local health departments, non-profits, and community-based organizations on navigating the state’s grant processes. Estrelitta also served as program manager for more than $200 million in Affordable Care Act pass-through grants spanning multiple years.

Estrelitta previously served as the project director and principal investigator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Public Health Improvement Initiative grant and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Accreditation Readiness grant. She also provided leadership during the department’s Public Health Accreditation (PHAB) process.

Estrelitta earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a Master of Public Health in health policy and administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Versailles (GA-3)

  A7: Community and Patient Facilitation Strategies for Exceptional Results

Amy Rick

Principal

Leavitt Partners

Amy Comstock Rick has over 30 years of experience leading organizations, executing strategy, transforming organizational culture, building consensus, and advocating policies across constituencies.

In her role as principal at Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company, she leads the Medicines Development Modernization Initiative and advises on federal health care policy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), drug development and research educational convenings, and patient engagement initiatives.

Prior to joining Leavitt Partners, Amy served as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI), a multi-stakeholder, educational non-profit organization dedicated to providing topical and timely materials to inform public policy, law, and regulation regarding food and drug law. She was also previously CEO of the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN), a Washington D.C.-based national nonprofit focused on educating the public and government leaders on better policies for research and therapy development and an improved quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Amy served as president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, on the NIH Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s Advisory Council, and on the boards of directors of the National Health Council and the American Brain Coalition. Before joining PAN, she was the Senate-confirmed director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and the associate counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office.

Amy received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American history from Bard College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan. She also serves on the board of directors of Research!America.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Versailles (GA-3)

  A7: Community and Patient Facilitation Strategies for Exceptional Results

Spencer Morrison

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

Spencer Morrison is an associate principal at Leavitt Partners. He works with leadership teams across the healthcare industry, including payers, providers, life sciences, and health technology. Mr. Morrison works with clients navigating the changing healthcare landscape moving from fee-for-service to value-based care leading cross-functional teams of consultants, analysts, and data science experts. His recent work focused on strategic growth, product design and innovation, geographic expansion, risk modeling, and value transformation.

Prior to joining Leavitt Partners, Mr. Morrison gained experience as part of the statistical team for a University of Utah think-tank. He served as a member of the Utah Community Research Group, where he provided market research and data analytics to nonprofit organizations. He worked as a financial representative and cost accountant developing additional skills and understanding of finance and project management.

Mr. Morrison earned his master’s degree in statistics and his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Wyoming (LA-1)

  A8: The Movement to Value-Based Health Care: Cross-Sector Trends & Expectations for the Future

Michael Engelhard, MBA

Managing Director, Regional Managed Care Organizations

Health Management Associates

An accomplished health plan executive, Michael Engelhard has more than 30 years of executive, operational and financial leadership experience in healthcare, banking, and business services. He has a keen understanding of all aspects of publicly funded healthcare programs. A strategic thinker, he knows how to strengthen an organization’s business operations and outcomes.

Michael is a managing principal in HMA’s Los Angeles office. During his tenure at HMA, he has led an array of projects, including strategic planning for multiple California-based Medi-Cal plans where he restructured a health plan’s internal finance and accounting department. He also led the redesign of delivery systems serving Medi-Cal and medically indigent populations, developed clinic system strategy involving service area expansion and advised a provider group and provider association regarding Medicaid program policy and reimbursement.

In addition, his work has supported multiple Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations regarding expansion and rate setting. He has worked on several compliance-focused projects, including three mock-audit projects to help health plans prepare for regulatory audits. He led the mock audit team that prepared a Medi-Cal managed care plan for a state go-live readiness review.

Michael’s skills include organizational leadership, strategy and strategic planning, financial analysis and modeling, rate setting, Medi-Cal and Medicare program design and expertise, and program compliance.

Prior to joining HMA, Michael served as chief executive officer at Gold Coast Health Plan. He oversaw all aspects of the plan’s operations, including board, regulatory, finance and community relations. He was charged with ensuring members had access to quality healthcare and that services were delivered in a cost-effective manner. He hired a new leadership team, improved state and board relations, and guided the plan to financial, operational, and healthcare quality improvement while increasing compliance and oversight capabilities at the plan. He also revamped the entire compliance department and processes to institute the Office of Inspector General’s seven elements of an effective compliance program.

Michael previously served as chief financial officer and treasurer at CalOptima, a Medi-Cal plan in Orange County. In this role, he led the plan’s finance, treasury, accounting, procurement, and actuarial services. As treasurer, he served as acting chairman of the Board of Directors’ Investment Committee.

Prior to CalOptima, Michael worked at Health Net, Inc., in multiple positions, including vice president and regional finance officer for the company’s senior products division, and as Health Net’s vice president of investor relations.

He began his career as a nuclear engineer working for the Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco, California.

Michael earned his Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance from Columbia Business School in New York City. He received his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from University of California at Santa Barbara.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Riviera (GA-3)

  A9: A Primer on New York’s Medicaid Program and California’s Evolving Medicaid System

Cara Henley

Principal

Health Management Associates

A policy expert in insurance, managed care and value-based purchasing, Cara Henley provides leadership and guidance on the impact of state and federal statutory and regulatory activity on operational decision making. She offers clients detailed knowledge of Medicaid reform, the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program, Medicare payment requirements, and requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations.

In over 8 years with the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), Cara evaluated the rules impacting contractual entities and providers, including accountable care organizations, independent practice associations, health plans, hospitals and physicians. She led the analysis on the Medicaid Managed Care final rule and directed the implementation and roll-out of the Medicaid Redesign Team’s Care Management for All initiative – including the transition of behavioral health and long-term care populations from Medicaid fee-for-service to managed care programs. Cara provided hospitals and health systems with operational and financial support, including strategic team building on denials management, revenue cycle management, contracting, regulatory compliance, and other best practices related to relationships with managed care entities.

Cara significantly contributed to strategic activities, including education, analysis and interpretation of value-based purchasing requirements tied to New York’s Medicaid reform. She has fostered strong relationships with key stakeholders including representatives from government agencies, health plans and healthcare institutions throughout New York State.

A frequent speaker on topics related to reimbursement, managed care, health reform and policy changes, Cara has experience facilitating education sessions in diverse healthcare settings for both small and large teams, including clinical teams and hospital boards.

Prior to joining HANYS, Cara worked for the New York State Senate and provided regulatory support to law practices. She is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Cara received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University at Albany. She earned a certificate in healthcare leadership and advancement from Cornell University and is certified in Lean and Continuous Improvement.

Cara lives in the Saratoga area with her husband and daughter and enjoys cooking with ingredients found at the local farmer’s market.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Riviera (GA-3)

  A9: A Primer on New York’s Medicaid Program and California’s Evolving Medicaid System

Robin Preston

Regional Vice President

Health Management Associates

Robin Preston is dedicated to improving access to healthcare for low-income populations. She has been working in the policy and operations spaces of healthcare for more than 30 years. During her career, she worked in the private sector and in managed care organizations, including comprehensive health and behavioral health. She worked as a public servant with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Before joining HMA, Ms. Preston served as associate partner for the Policy and Program Management practice within the IBM Watson Health’s Federal Consulting practice. She served as a subject matter expert on contracts covering value-based payment; Medicaid; managed care, including encounter data; home and community-based services; and substance use disorder treatment and access.

Ms. Preston spent more than eight years in increasingly senior roles with CMS where she was instrumental in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at the federal level. She led implementation in 21 states that used managed care as a delivery system and led teams that oversaw Medicaid expansion in several states as well.

Her work with CMS included coordinating federal Medicaid response to crises, including natural disasters, Zika healthcare emergency, and the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. She managed regional offices and stakeholder relations and served as liaison to several associations and boards.

Prior to her career with CMS, Ms. Preston worked for a Medicaid managed care plan and had the opportunity to implement the DC Healthcare Alliance program for uninsured adults in the District of Columbia. She coordinated the opening of The Bridge Homeless Shelter in Dallas, Texas, with onsite behavioral health services, implemented pay for performance provider incentives for better patient outcomes, and helped plan enrollees navigate the healthcare system.

Ms. Preston earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Venice (GA-3)

  A10: Building Successful Diverse Project Teams: Short and Long-Term Strategies and Tools

Nora Carreras

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

Nora Carreras is a proven leader and team builder with expertise in social determinants of health (SDOH) and non-profit management. She has broad cross-cultural experience management, community and government relations, program development and program evaluation. She has more than 20 years of experience in the public, academic, private, and non-profit sectors.

Before joining HMA, she served as special advisor to the secretary in the executive office of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Her role there included leading large-scale projects for the secretary, including the procurement of a statewide platform to address SDOH in collaboration with managed care organizations, providers, non-profits, local government entities and other state agencies. As an advisor, Nora provided guidance on priority initiatives and topics. Her work also included the formation and oversight of several advisory committees of internal and external stakeholders.

Her work with the Commonwealth also included serving as a policy analyst and specialist for program offices including the Office of Medical Assistance Programs, and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. She has experience conducting research, developing policy recommendations, and leading executive staff on projects and initiatives.

Nora is a seasoned program administrator, budget and grant manager, and coalition builder. Her non-profit and association work includes serving as chief program officer and planner for the York County Community Progress Council where she oversaw program operations, budgets, and administration of the county’s Community Action Agency. Her work included developing and overseeing programs aimed at improving the lives of residents. She also worked in fund development for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter and the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

She earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Puerto Rico and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puerto Rico Interamerican University. She is pursuing a PhD in public administration from Pennsylvania State University and holds a certificate from the Fostering Diversity and Inclusion program at Yale University, School of Management.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Venice (GA-3)

  A10: Building Successful Diverse Project Teams: Short and Long-Term Strategies and Tools

Eric Marshall

Principal

Leavitt Partners

Former associate legal counsel on regulatory, compliance, and transactions.

Eric Marshall is a principal based in Washington, D.C. Eric advises complex health care coalitions on health policy and provides consulting services to drug and device companies. Eric is an industry specialist in the areas of domestic and international supply chain security; drug, device, and diagnostics regulation; and health care compliance.

Prior to joining Leavitt Partners, Eric was an associate with the law firm Faegre Baker Daniels, counseling health care and life science clients on regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters. Eric also has experience as counsel to self-funded Taft-Hartley health and welfare funds, particularly with regard to requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Eric graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Minnesota Law School and has a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Northern Iowa.

VIEW LEAVITT TEAM

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Hermitage (GA-3)

  A11: Collaborating to Solve Health Care’s Biggest Challenges

Natalie Czekai

Manager

Leavitt Partners

Master’s in Public Health graduate focused on the interdisciplinary examination of health policy and health care delivery in the U.S. Focused on addressing issues from economic, political, and sociological perspectives, with research focus on child and maternal health and nutritional health and wellness. Committed to developing innovative solutions and supporting health care policies that put value, quality outcomes, and the patient first.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Hermitage (GA-3)

  A11: Collaborating to Solve Health Care’s Biggest Challenges

Tonya Moore, JD

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

Tonya Moore is a lawyer and public healthcare professional with more than 28 years of government experience at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Tonya’s expertise includes development, implementation, and monitoring of policy and operations pertaining to the financing and establishment of federal-state programs for those enrolled in Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare.

Prior to joining HMA, Tonya was a senior policy advisor with the State Demonstrations Group (SDG) at the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services (CMCS). In this role, she formulated program policy, implementation strategies, financial policy, and guidance in support of federal-state initiatives aimed at addressing state-based needs under the section 1115 demonstration portfolio. She worked with states in the development of their alternative healthcare and delivery system reform initiatives, and managed care implementation, Medicaid, and CHIP expansion activities.

As the CMS expert on section 1115 demonstrations and federal transparency requirements, Tonya developed all operational guidance on section 1115 transparency and application requirements for internal staff and provided technical assistance to external stakeholders. She also directed proposal reviews, assisted with negotiations, and led all federal audit reviews pertaining to section 1115 demonstrations.

In the role of acting deputy division director for the Division of State Demonstrations and Waivers in the SDG, Tonya directed the management of state health and welfare reform demonstrations. This involved the testing of alternative public and private healthcare delivery models, which included health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and other integrated delivery systems. She developed the standards and establishment of CMS’ expedited Fast Track process for state section 1115 demonstration program renewals. She was also instrumental in the development and initial release of an electronic data collection and reporting system (Performance Metrics Database and Analytics /PMDA) for states to submit data on the performance of their section 1115 demonstration portfolios.

Tonya has a juris doctor from the University of Maryland, a Bachelor of Arts in criminology and a Bachelor of Arts in African and African American cultural studies from the University of Miami.

LinkedInFacebookTwitter

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Arizona (LA-1)

  A12: Medicaid (Waiver) Demonstrations – Helping Clients Advance Innovation through Equity

Kelli Stannard

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

Kelli Stannard is a seasoned nurse and proven public health leader with over 15 years of experience working to improve the health outcomes of children and youth with special healthcare needs. She is passionate about seeking ways to achieve health equity, devoted to driving change through quality improvement, and skilled at using design thinking and co-design strategies to develop projects that will have lasting and collective impact.

Before joining HMA, Kelli spent the last three years as a nurse consultant at the Florida Department of Health, leading strategic planning and special projects for Children’s Medical Services, which included the development and implementation of a statewide learning and action network where pediatric specialists came together to work on local and statewide quality improvement projects.

Kelli began her nursing career as a neonatal intensive care nurse. Working in various Level III NICUs across the country, she gained first-hand experience at caring for medically fragile infants, as well as supporting families and caregivers navigating the health system in difficult times. She felt called to public health in order to better serve families through program and policy development.

She transitioned to Florida’s Children’s Medical Services Program at the Department of Health and began working as a nurse coordinator for the Florida Newborn Screening Program where she provided follow up education and assistance to families, hospitals, pediatric specialists, and community providers. Kelli was promoted to direct the Specialty Programs Unit, which had contract and programmatic oversight for a number of contracts with hospitals and academic centers that serve children with special healthcare needs such as asthma, cancer, cleft lip and palate, diabetes, HIV, kidney failure, and sickle cell disease.

After leading the Specialty Programs Unit, Kelli was promoted to Chief of Clinical Operations, a bureau with responsibility over the specialty programs, Florida’s Medical Foster Care Program, and the clinical management for Children’s Medical Services clinic and care coordination services in 20 area offices throughout the state. During her tenure as bureau chief, she led the clinical operations efforts as they transitioned into a managed care specialty plan option for Medicaid and CHIP eligible children and youth with special healthcare needs.

Kelli received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida State University.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Arizona (LA-1)

  A12: Medicaid (Waiver) Demonstrations – Helping Clients Advance Innovation through Equity

Amanda Ternan

Health Management Associates

Amanda Ternan is a certified project management professional with more than 25 years of experience managing projects in behavioral health, state health care services, criminal justice and human services systems, and telecommunications. She has led stakeholder engagement activities, work plan development, and strategic planning to improve and sustain contracts and pursue growth opportunities. She is also a member of HMA’s project management workgroup.

Amanda serves as the contract and project manager for many state health care service delivery programs that span 3 – 5 years and include multiple stakeholder groups. In these roles, she ensures work allocations and assignments remain within scope, schedule, and budget. She manages project timelines, costs, risks and nurtures relationships with project stakeholders, vendors, and subcontractors.

Prior to joining HMA, Amanda served as project manager for adult services at a large public behavioral health agency in San Antonio, Texas assisting with the implementation of innovative clinical programs for primary care in behavioral health settings and Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment projects. She also worked for AT&T (formerly SBC IT Services) as the quality assurance manager and director of IT project management.

Amanda earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration/management information systems from Texas A&M University and a project management professional certification from the Project Management Institute.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  A13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

Eric Johnson

Decision Support Director

Health Management Associates

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  A13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  B13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

Sara Hodgson

Consultant

The Moran Company

Sara is a consultant and project manager at The Moran Company, an HMA Company. In this role, she focuses on Medicare reimbursement policies specific to the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the PFS Quality Payment Program. She also provides research support to HMA’s clients by executing comprehensive literary reviews and white papers on various topics. As a member of HMA’s project management workgroup, she provides support across several projects, including managing Medicaid managed care procurement RFPs.

Prior to joining HMA, Sara was a partner at The Moran Company. As the chief administrative officer, Sara worked closely with the other partners to manage the daily operations of the firm, including maintaining company records and finances, invoicing, budgets, recruitment, and personnel management. She also managed the data acquisition process with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Sara earned a master’s degree in health administration and a bachelor’s degree in health science from George Mason University (GMU). She also earned a master’s certificate in human resources management from Villanova University. She is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and serves on the board of advisors for GMU’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program.

LinkedInFacebookTwitter

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  A13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

Veronica Mason

Certified Project Manager

Health Management Associates

Veronica Mason is an accomplished healthcare leader with experience in project, operations, and process improvement management.

Before joining HMA, Veronica served as a project manager at Indiana University Hospital, overseeing various projects in support services, initiating process enhancements, and fostering key partnerships. Her role as a health plan operations project coordinator at MDWise involved streamlining procedures, enhancing transparency, and implementing software solutions. At Eskenazi Health, she excelled as a care coordinator assistant, coordinating care, increasing patient enrollment, and driving community outreach initiatives.

In her ongoing United States Army Reserve service, Veronica has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise across various roles. As an enlisted executive aide, she serves as the executive assistant for the Command Sergeant Major of the United States of America Civil Affairs and Psychological Affairs Command (USACAPOC), providing administrative and planning support for command-wide projects. In her role as a section sergeant, Veronica revitalized an underperforming supply department, enhancing staff productivity and efficiency while also implementing a successful onboarding sponsorship program.

Veronica excelled as a platoon sergeant/section leader, expertly leading a cross-functional team and ensuring superior equipment maintenance and tactical operations planning. She also served as a maintenance administrative technician, where she streamlined work order processes and achieved Department of Defense (DoD) inspection standards, and as a fragmentation order manager in an active Army position, where she displayed outstanding leadership qualities and oversaw the issuance of numerous successful operations orders and plans.

She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Indianapolis in healthcare advocacy and is currently pursuing her master’s in healthcare administration. She also has a project management certification from the Project Management Institute. When she is not busy keeping projects organized, you can find her either at a CrossFit class or at the lake relaxing with her husband, three kids and her beloved dog, Peanut.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  A13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

Diane Schneidman

Quality Control Editor

Health Management Associates

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Audubon (GA-3)

  A14: What Defines Good Professional Writing? It Gets to the Point

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Audubon (GA-3)

  B14: What Defines Good Professional Writing? It Gets to the Point

Sharon Silow-Carroll

Principal

Health Management Associates

Sharon Silow-Carroll specializes in health policy research and analysis. She has more than 25 years of experience collaborating with public and private organizations and major health care foundations in publishing research-based reports and issues briefs on innovative initiatives to improve healthcare system quality, access, value, and coverage. Her pioneering research helps inform federal and state policymakers as they prepare, plan, and implement health reform.

Sharon is the principal investigator on studies of Medicaid policies and programs, children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN), and maternal/women’s health. She led an HMA team examining the impact of policy flexibilities enacted during the COVID-19 public health emergency on CYSHCN, their caregivers, and their providers. She has published reports on access to reproductive health services, state interagency collaborations to coordinate care for children with medical complexity, and state Medicaid managed care contract provisions related to value-based payments, network adequacy, and access to services. .

Sharon has done extensive work on defining and identifying best practices in patient-centered care for underserved populations.  She has also supported safety net health care systems and health plans in developing new approaches to serving Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and individuals with special needs.

Prior to joining HMA, Sharon was senior vice president for the Economic and Social Research Institute in Washington, DC, where she directed and conducted research studies on a range of health care issues.

Sharon earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and master’s degree in social work from the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Sharon is a frequent expert lecturer and presenter.

Sharon lives with her husband in northern New Jersey and was a founding member of HMA’s New York City office.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Audubon (GA-3)

  A14: What Defines Good Professional Writing? It Gets to the Point

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Audubon (GA-3)

  B14: What Defines Good Professional Writing? It Gets to the Point

Kathy Gifford

Principal

Health Management Associates

Kathy Gifford is a leading expert on state Medicaid programs. She advises clients on the challenges, opportunities and complexities that arise in a program designed and administered differently in every state. She co-authors the nationally-recognized, annual Medicaid budget survey report for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. In addition to tracking and analyzing budget and policy trends in state Medicaid programs, Kathy and her co-authors identify emerging issues for policymakers across the country.

Kathy works with other public and private sector clients including states, health plans, provider organizations and associations, and patient advocacy groups. Her areas of expertise include program and policy analyses, market research, and procurement. She is a frequent speaker on Medicaid related topics for both public and private audiences including appearances on panels for the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, and the National Health Policy Forum. Kathy has also testified on Medicaid policy on Capitol Hill.

Before joining HMA, Kathy was the director of the Indiana Medicaid program. She helped develop and implement the Indiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which received national recognition for its success in outreach and enrollment. She also chaired the Indiana Prescription Drug Advisory Committee and was responsible for the implementation and ongoing policy development of the Hoosier Rx Program, which provides prescription assistance for low-income seniors.

Kathy also served in leadership for the Indiana State Budget Agency with oversight responsibility for a wide range of issues including Medicaid financing, welfare reform, and school formula equalization.

Before discovering her passion for public policy, Kathy practiced corporate, securities, and general business law. She holds a JD degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree in political science from DePauw University.

Kathy is a mom and an avid Colts and Pacers fan.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Audubon (GA-3)

  A14: What Defines Good Professional Writing? It Gets to the Point

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Idaho (LA-1)

  B25: Getting Started in Your Consultant Career

Jose Robles

Regional Vice President

Health Management Associates

Jose Robles brings more than 24 years of experience in serving healthcare systems and multi-discipline organizations to HMA. He has worked extensively in the area of revenue integrity and understands the complexities surrounding his clients’ reimbursement and regulatory environments.

Jose is a trusted advisor who has helped many clients optimize reimbursements from governmental entities to traditional managed care payors. He also understands the need to mitigate risk and adhere to the regulations and rules governing the healthcare industry.

Prior to joining HMA, he was a director in the Health Industries Advisory practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he served a wide client base. His work has included evaluation, analysis and policy development for Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross as well as other managed care contracts. He has also worked with clients on due diligence and accounts receivable-related matters.

He has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive), member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting.

He enjoys traveling with his family and is an avid Chicago sports fan.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Snowbasin (LA-2)

  A15: Making the Most Out of Business Development: Building Relationships to Build Projects

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Wyoming (LA-1)

  B24: Reports and Dashboards – Vantagepoint and PowerBI

Alex Rich

Managing Director

The Focus Group

Alex Rich is an experienced business transformation leader with deep expertise in designing and deploying strategic programs that produce meaningful results. He has partnered with leaders across the healthcare verticals to solve business challenges and grow the bottom line.

Prior to The Focus Group, Alex worked with Platinum Equity's Portfolio Operations team to improve the performance of their holdings and was most recently VP Transformation at LifeScan, a market leader in glucose monitoring owned by Platinum.

Before focusing on healthcare and private equity portfolio improvement, he served a variety of Fortune 50 clients within Deloitte Consulting's Strategy & Operations group and completed a Commercial rotational program at BP.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Snowbasin (LA-2)

  A15: Making the Most Out of Business Development: Building Relationships to Build Projects

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Snowbasin (LA-2)

  B15: Making the Most Out of Business Development: Building Relationships to Build Projects

Maddy Shea

Principal

Health Management Associates

Maddy Shea has a passion for health equity and the federal, state and local cross-sectoral expertise to guide community health improvement measurement and action. She understands how to identify opportunities in healthcare transformation to deliver better care, more efficiently, and with better health outcomes. Throughout her career, Maddy has joined forces with housing, planning, energy, food systems, community development, academic and criminal justice organizations to accelerate progress on community health goals.

Maddy joins HMA Community Strategies (HMACS) with decades of health policy and program experience. Maddy has worked together with culturally, racially, and socio-economically diverse communities to assess needs and priorities, design culturally accessible programs and to evaluate “what matters.” She worked with supportive housing residents to develop meaningful evaluation measures, HIV infected homeless men to connect others to supports, and persons with physical disabilities to prioritize options to increase the physical accessibility of healthcare facilities.

Maddy’s approach to evaluation and performance measurement is participatory with a focus on broad accountability, program improvement, and equity. She is seen by her peers as never shying away from big problems and new challenges, particularly when she can work collaboratively in high need communities.

At the CMS Office of Minority Health, Maddy led the development, implementation, and evaluation of the CMS Equity Plan initiatives and innovations. She analyzed CMS regulations, policies, and standards to identify disparities and to increase beneficiary and partner engagement to meet the needs of minorities and rural populations. She consulted on the design of new models addressing social health determinants and technical assistance approaches to support grantees in meeting their equity goals.

Prior to CMS, Maddy supported Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) by providing customized reports on disparities in chronic disease, adverse drug events, readmissions, and nursing home quality by race, ethnicity, gender, age, geography, dual eligibility status, and poverty. She then coached QIO staff in evidence-based approaches to reduce these disparities.

Maddy led Maryland and Baltimore public health efforts in population health, environmental health, chronic disease, and infectious disease and has participated in emergency preparations and response.

She was the Maryland Health Department’s first Office of Population Health Improvement director where she developed the measurement and action framework to guide healthcare transformation in Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions and across state government. These same performance measures are now part of the state’s Medicare waiver program. In Baltimore, she developed the first U.S. city healthy homes division to reduce asthma, injury, lead poisoning, malnutrition, and infant deaths in low-income, racial, and ethnic minority communities where she developed an asthma home visiting program that saved Medicaid hospital costs. Her progressively accountable roles at the Maryland AIDS Administration included evaluation, prevention, training, housing assistance, and care community engagement and leadership.

Maddy earned her PhD in public policy from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, her master’s degree in management from Johns Hopkins University, and her bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity College in Washington.

For 30 years, Maddy has been married to her Peace Corps Liberia heart throb who pulls her into crazy world adventures and green building projects at their West Virginia hilltop oasis when they are not out and about enjoying Baltimore.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sun Valley (LA-2)

  A16: Coaching and Mentoring – how to support and develop colleagues

Lauren Ohata

Principal

Health Management Associates

Lauren Ohata is a highly versatile and strategic leader with experience implementing and supporting policy development and execution across the public and private sectors. She is passionate about effective public policy and serving her community.

She has been on the forefront of leading Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Exchange program implementation nationwide from the start of the first open enrollment period.

In addition to policy development and implementation, Lauren also worked with partners and the public to provide communication and education to ACA Navigators, consumers and health plans. She also worked to develop resolutions to key policy issues aligning leadership across the Department of Health and Human Services, the White House, IRS, Department of Labor and other federal agencies.

Her leadership within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) included serving as the chief of staff to the director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight where she facilitated understanding of policy issues with top level leadership and acted on behalf of the director.

As regulatory consultant at Kaiser Permanente (KP), she was the driving force behind implementation of ACA requirements to millions of members. Her leadership at KP included serving as liaison to each of its regional plans to align and integrate national and regional plan strategy and operations. Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Claremont McKenna College and serves as chair emeritus of the U.S.-Japan Council, Emerging Leaders Alumni Committee, a group aimed at strengthening U.S.-Japan relations through partnership in communities and business.

Lauren enjoys exploring coffee shops locally and abroad, is an advanced practitioner of Ikebana (traditional Japanese art of flower arranging), and enjoys an active lifestyle of yoga, Pilates, and boxing.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sun Valley (LA-2)

  A16: Coaching and Mentoring – how to support and develop colleagues

Julie George

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

A civic-minded attorney focused on ensuring effective delivery of public goods and services, Julie George has put her expertise to work in the healthcare arena.

Since joining HMA, Julie has assisted the Pennsylvania Insurance Department in scripting public consumer educational videos related to informed decisions on buying and using their health insurance, as well as a consumer guide document. Julie supports managed care organizations (MCOs) in an ongoing capacity by keeping them informed on state and local issues impacting Medicaid programs and healthcare.

Julie helps coordinate reviews of managed care organizations’ responses to Requests for Proposals issued by state Medicaid agencies for physical health services and long-term services and supports – contributing legal expertise to enhance proposal reviews. A skilled project manager, Julie performs project tracking and queuing, reporting, and general support including coordinating logistics to federal programs such as the CMS Innovation Accelerator Program. This program focuses on Medicaid innovation efforts aimed at improving service delivery and lowering growth in Medicaid costs.

As a utility and policy legal advocate, Julie secured additional funding for low-income programs focused on social determinants of health, which helped prepare working families for uncertain utility needs. She educated clients and advocates about energy efficiency and energy reduction goal mandates. Outside legal aid, she has helped direct voter outreach and communications for several campaigns for city, state, and judicial offices – with two of those candidates winning election to office.

Julie earned her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sun Valley (LA-2)

  A16: Coaching and Mentoring – how to support and develop colleagues

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sun Valley (LA-2)

  B16: Coaching and Mentoring – how to support and develop colleagues

Barry Jacobs

Principal

Health Management Associates

Dr. Barry J. Jacobs is a noted clinical psychologist and family therapist whose passion for enhancing support for family caregivers led him to author several books and dozens of articles on the topic as well as present and speak nationally and internationally to organizations, associations, and providers.

His areas of expertise include behavioral health integration, complex care management, enhancing family caregiver engagement and supports, practice transformation, team-based care, and provider wellness. He brings this wealth of knowledge, along with decades of clinical practice experience to individuals, couples and families, to HMA.

He currently leads practice coaching for behavioral health and substance use disorder providers and has provided training to payer and Area Agencies on Aging care managers on partnering with family caregivers. He has also provided strategic development and program design for states, payers, and vendors.

A highly in-demand presenter, Dr. Jacobs has given multiple Grand Rounds to physician groups, been a keynote speaker at caregiver conferences in several states, and provided webinars on reducing opioid use disorder stigma, using digital platforms to support caregivers, and behavioral health system transformation.

Before joining HMA, he was the director of behavioral sciences for the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program. He trained physical and behavioral health students and led an interprofessional team in his health system’s complex care management program for high-utilizing frail elderly patients, as well as for younger Medicaid patients with complex social problems.

He is the author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers—Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent and co-author of AARP Meditations for Caregivers—Practical, Emotional and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family and the forthcoming Love and Meaning for Couples After 50.

Dr. Jacobs has given more than 600 presentations about caregiving for family caregivers, community groups, and medical and mental health professionals and serves as a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and an honorary board member of the Well Spouse Association. He appeared on “The Dr. Phil Show” in 2017 as a family caregiving expert.

A former magazine journalist, he loves to do research, conduct interviews and write. In the mid-1980s, he helped put together the first Rolling Stone encyclopedia of rock and roll and wrote extensively for The Village Voice. Today, he writes a monthly self-help column for family caregivers on AARP.org.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Widener University.

He and his wife live in the leafy college town of Swarthmore, PA and have two adult children doing good in the world.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Teton (LA-2)

  A17: It’s All Relative: Meeting the Challenges of Caring for Aging Parents and Grandparents

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Teton (LA-2)

  B17: It’s All Relative: Meeting the Challenges of Caring for Aging Parents and Grandparents

Nancy Nelson

CEO

Cirdan Health

Nancy is CEO and Managing Actuary at Cirdan, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. She has more than 30 years of experience in health insurance, and has managed both actuarial and underwriting functions for individual, small group, large group, self-insured, and government programs. Areas of expertise include valuation of actuarial assets and liabilities, rate filing preparation, rating formulas for large group insured and self-insured products, stop loss insurance pricing, and management of related underwriting processes. She also has experience supporting Medicare and Medicaid bid preparation.

Prior to joining Cirdan, Nancy was Vice President and Chief Actuary with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Prior to joining Blue Cross, she was a Principal with Towers Perrin (now Willis Towers Watson).

Nancy earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Conversation Starters: choral music, jazz piano lessons, scouting

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sussex (GA-3)

  A18: Give and Get Feedback – Making Next Time Even Better!

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sussex (GA-3)

  B18: Give and Get Feedback – Making Next Time Even Better!

Debbie Hofsess

Vice President of Human Resources

Health Management Associates

Debbie Hofsess is the executive level professional who oversees all human resources functions for HMA including policy development, recruitment and retention, compensation and benefit administration, human resources metrics, and employee relations.

Since joining the firm in 2012, Debbie has been instrumental in helping to develop a talent management structure that balances the progressive, independent culture of HMA with its continued growth. Debbie and her team now support approximately 1,000 employees nationwide, requiring broad knowledge of labor laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels. She is forward-thinking. She prides herself on her objectivity and being responsive to our HMA colleagues. Debbie understands what it takes to be successful and finds satisfaction in helping others reach their goals.

Prior to HMA, Debbie was the Director of Human Resources and Compliance Administrator for Mid-Michigan Physicians, P.C. (MMP), a physician-owned, multi-specialty practice with over 400 employees across several locations in the greater Lansing, Michigan, area. At MMP, she built the human resources function and grew it to become a strategic business partner within the executive management team. Debbie created and implemented policies, transformed the recruitment and retention process, and enhanced employee and provider relations. As the Compliance Administrator, Debbie proactively identified potential compliance issues, coordinated action, and facilitated resolution of claims. Prior to MMP, Debbie was the Human Resources Manager for Lowry Computer Products, a multi-state employer headquartered in Brighton, Michigan.

Debbie earned both her Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management/Organizational Development and her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Eastern Michigan University. She is nationally certified as a Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) by the Society for Human Resources Management and has achieved the SHRM Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty credential.

Debbie and her husband, Kevin, have two adult children who graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – making the entire family avid Wolverine fans … GO BLUE!

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sussex (GA-3)

  A18: Give and Get Feedback – Making Next Time Even Better!

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sussex (GA-3)

  B18: Give and Get Feedback – Making Next Time Even Better!

Debby McNamara, LCSW, PMP

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

A licensed clinical social worker and a certified project management professional, Deborah (Debby) McNamara came to HMA from the Florida Medicaid program. Her areas of expertise include Medicaid policy, clinical behavioral health care, managed care, and correctional health care. Debby is experienced in procurement and contract development, program evaluation, regulatory compliance monitoring, and quality and performance measurement strategies and tools including HEDIS.

As bureau chief and quality coordinator for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Debby developed new quality and performance standards for Florida’s Medicaid health plans. She led external quality review, waiver and research contract evaluation, and encounter data collection and analyses. She supervised the project management office. She also coordinated the procurement and implementation of the Florida Medicaid prepaid mental health plan, expanding managed behavioral health care statewide.

Debby believes in continual quality improvement, professional development, and serving people holistically. Her combination of clinical and formal project management skills enable her to effectively tackle even the most complex client projects.

Debby has a master’s degree in social work and bachelor’s degree in psychology and information studies from Florida State University.

When not working, Debby is chasing her son and five four-legged children. Before kids, she enjoyed reading, cooking, playing the clarinet, and sleeping for eight hours uninterrupted – all things she hopes to enjoy again one day.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  B13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

Olivia Reding

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

An experienced researcher and project manager focused on maternal and child health, behavioral health, and health equity, Olivia Reding supports innovative public health research and delivery system reform efforts.

Olivia has led stakeholder engagement activities, work plan development, and strategic planning to improve and sustain contracts and pursue growth opportunities. She has also developed high-quality, engaging, and informative resources for national dissemination, as well as collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to inform research opportunities and policy recommendations.

Prior to joining HMA, Olivia served as research project manager with IBM, where she supported contracts with a range of federal agencies including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This work primarily centered on providing targeted technical assistance to Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies to improve maternal and child health, behavioral health, payment and care delivery, and data analytic capacity. Prior to her time at IBM, Olivia served as a research assistant at Boston Medical Center, where she contributed to studies focused on improving opioid prescribing practices and reducing injection drug use.

Olivia earned a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University with concentrations in epidemiology and maternal and child health, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and Spanish from Colgate University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional.

Olivia lives in North Carolina with her husband and cats; she loves to run and is a Broadway musical fanatic.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  B13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

John Lasota

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

With more than 25 years of Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial healthcare experience, John Lasota is a diversified healthcare professional with deep expertise in project and program management, business process improvement, and financial analysis.

John has led programs and projects for clients as an independent consultant serving health plans and overseeing diverse initiatives and activities. He planned and guided business process analysis and strategic planning efforts as well as led multi-program expansions and project shifts with strategic expertise.

Before joining HMA, John served as a health plan project management office (PMO) director overseeing the design and direction of the office, seeking solutions to develop a comprehensive system implementation guide and operating models to support business development.

His project management expertise also includes overseeing business projects with Aetna Life Insurance where he conducted impact and analysis activities and drove remediation efforts through collaboration and leadership.

John also served as PMO director and project manager taking companies through shifts in structure, integration of new case management systems, product development, strategic improvements and team and structure modifications.

Adept at data visualization and management, John has also conducted data research and analysis to direct problem identification and strategic planning to achieve favorable outcomes.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Santa Clara University.

Outside of work, John enjoys traveling, architecture, and spending time with his wife and two teenage boys.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Milano (GA-3)

  B13: Project Management Skills - Are you Project Managing or Fire Fighting?

Scott Guillemette

Principal

Cirdan Health

Scott is a Principal at Cirdan, an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He has more than 35 years of actuarial consulting experience in both the public and private sectors of the health care industry. Payer and provider areas of expertise include valuation of actuarial assets and liabilities, rate filing preparation, pricing and ratemaking, reinsurance coverages, financial risk management and modeling, cost containment, intervention and program valuation, at-risk value-based payment models, risk-based capital, and surplus management.

Prior to joining Cirdan, Scott was Vice President, Actuarial Services for Optum Advisory Services. Prior to Optum, he was a Principal with Towers Perrin (now Willis Towers Watson).

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Snowbasin (LA-2)

  B15: Making the Most Out of Business Development: Building Relationships to Build Projects

Gina Lasky

Managing Director, Behavioral Health

Health Management Associates

Gina Lasky is a licensed psychologist with expertise in public sector behavioral health system design and programming including integration of behavioral health and primary care. She evaluates organizational readiness for integration and guides development and implementation of new models of collaborative care for delivery systems, county health systems, community behavioral health centers, and state corrections agencies.

She has examined state policy and administrative barriers to integrated care and has published work on leadership and team development in integrated care with the Center for Integrated Health Solutions and the American Psychiatric Association. She is co-editor of Integrated Care: A Guide to Effective Implementation for the American Psychiatric Association.

Gina has provided direct clinical care for numerous non-profit organizations, a public hospital, and a state hospital where she specialized in serious mental illness and working with individuals who were aggressive towards themselves and others. Gina has had leadership responsibility for an acute treatment unit, a detox program, crisis services, outpatient mental health clinics, and substance use treatment programs in community behavioral health. She has been responsible for clinical program development, quality improvement, and directly supervised clinical managers and therapists.

Gina is skilled in the culture change required to advance system transformation, such as integration. Her specialties include strategic planning, leadership models, team development and change management. Gina also works in partnership with HMA Community Strategies on building multi-sector and community-based solutions to promote integration at the system level and to engage organizations addressing the social determinants of health. She has experience in community organizing, group facilitation and partnership development.

Gina earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in public leadership with a specialization in multi-sector management from George Washington University. Gina is the past President of the College of Behavioral Health Leadership.

Gina lives in the mountains in Colorado and is an avid hiker and wildlife photographer.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sun Valley (LA-2)

  B16: Coaching and Mentoring – how to support and develop colleagues

Steve Perlin

Managing Principal

Health Management Associates

Backed by 15 years of hospital association and seven years of national health care consulting experience, Steve Perlin has demonstrated expertise in health finance, policy development and legislative advocacy. His specialties include innovative financing and policy solutions that facilitate health care delivery system transformation and enhance access to care for Medicaid and other vulnerable populations.

Steve has extensive Medicaid reimbursement and financing experience including redesigning Medicaid inpatient and outpatient reimbursement systems and developing provider tax and intergovernmental financing structures.

Prior to joining HMA, Steve served as vice president of finance for the Illinois Hospital Association. Steve conceived and developed a plan for a $500 million intergovernmental transfer which funded an expansion of Medicaid payments and facilitated the elimination of the Illinois hospital tax. He contributed to the design, development and implementation of a resource based Medicaid outpatient reimbursement system, resulting in a gain of more than $100 million to Illinois hospitals. Steve spearheaded an initiative to exempt hospitals from the Medicaid provider tax, generating nearly $10 million in savings for member hospitals. He also championed a Medicaid DRG inpatient reimbursement system that increased hospital revenue by $250 million annually.

His breadth of work ranges from providing strategic guidance, developing financial models, crafting legislation to securing federal CMS approval of state plan amendments. Steve works with a broad range of clients from hospitals, health systems and hospital associations to local and state units of government, foundations and other not-for-profit organizations.

Steve received his MBA from The George Washington University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Steve serves on the board of Thresholds — a community behavioral health organization in Chicago — and is a passionate Wisconsin Badger fan.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Sun Valley (LA-2)

  B16: Coaching and Mentoring – how to support and develop colleagues

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Grenoble (GA-3)

  B19: Understanding DiSC®: How can DiSC® help our clients?

Emma Martino

Research Associate

Health Management Associates

Emma Martino is a public healthcare professional with a passion for effectively maintaining and exceeding healthcare standards. She has experience in public health communication, health record maintenance and clinical operations.

Before joining HMA, she gained valuable experience in the emergency registrar and admissions office at Doylestown Hospital where she processed incoming patients, used and maintained electronic health records, monitored patient progress, processed insurance information, and ensured HIPAA compliance.

Emma also has experience in clinical operations and has worked in specialist offices where she processed incoming patients, scheduled procedures, monitored finances and served as liaison between departments.

She completed an internship which included grant writing, proposal preparation, community outreach, and dissemination of public health educational materials.

Emma earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Grenoble (GA-3)

  B19: Understanding DiSC®: How can DiSC® help our clients?

Andrea Maresca

Senior Director, Federal Insights

Health Management Associates

With nearly two decades of experience in healthcare, Andrea Maresca is a skilled legislative and regulatory analyst and strategy developer. She has a strong track record of leading efforts to inform and shape federal Medicaid and related healthcare policies and programs. She joins HMA after serving in private and public organizations including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD).

Prior to joining HMA, she led healthcare regulatory and policy efforts as a senior vice president with a government affairs firm. While there, she assisted clients with analysis and strategy impacting publicly funded programs as well as a variety of needs and urgent demands presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. A skilled analyst, she dissected rules and guidance from federal executive branch entities.

Andrea also previously served at CMS advising agency directors on Medicaid and CHIP services, reviewing and analyzing policy documents for top leadership, and representing the department to agency leadership and executive staff.

As the director of federal policy and strategy for NAMD, she collaborated with the board to execute the organization’s federal legislative and regulatory policy agenda. She also advised state Medicaid directors, liaised with federal policymakers, and maintained strategic relationships with congressional staff and stakeholder organizations.

In addition, Andrea advocated for the nation’s governors on health policy issues as legislative director and senior legislative associate with the National Governors’ Association. Throughout her career she has also worked with other associations and non-profit organizations as well as in direct support of legislatures and is member of several boards and associations.

Andrea earned a Master of Public Health from the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services as well as bachelor’s degree in sociology from Villanova University.

LinkedInFacebookTwitter

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom A (LA-1)

  B21: Elevate Your Expertise: The Path to Thought Leadership

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom B (LA-1)

  A3: Politics and Policy in DC

Jen Colamonico

Senior Director

Health Management Associates

Connector of dots and people. Speaker, writer, client manager, agitator for change. More than 25 years of research and thought leadership on health policy, market change, politics, consumer behavior and engagement. I look at the big picture to see where we are going, and then work hard to make things happen.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom A (LA-1)

  B21: Elevate Your Expertise: The Path to Thought Leadership

Nick Smith

IT Support Manager

Health Management Associates

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom B (LA-1)

  B22: Smartsheet Tips & Tricks

Nicole McMahon

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

With a background in business and project management and hands-on experience with managed care organizations, Nicole McMahon offers a well-rounded perspective regarding managed care operational processes.

Nicole is a former senior project manager for a non-for-profit managed care health plan in Indiana. In that role, she managed new business development and performance as well as corporate procurements and bids and directed organization-wide implementation of new programs.

In her eight years at the managed care organization, she held various roles in departments ranging from Member Services to Administration. She successfully led the managed care organization in winning two RFP responses in 2014 and worked alongside each of the departments to implement the awarded contracts.

Nicole earned her Certified Health Care Manager certificate from Indiana University in December of 2012 and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in October of 2012. She is a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and human resources management.

Nicole enjoys spending her free time with her daughter and husband, traveling to the beach and collecting Disney memorabilia.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom B (LA-1)

  B22: Smartsheet Tips & Tricks

Brian Keating

Project Manager

Wakely Consulting Group

PMP-certified Project Manager with experience in the education and data-driven, health care–focused industries.

All positions/projects have required a clear understanding of client expectations and the ability to follow a project through the production pipeline to ensure quality deliverables in a timely manner. A strict attention to detail; clear, consistent communication; and an ability to recognize and implement process improvements are the hallmarks of my skill set.

In addition to project management experience, I have a wealth of experience providing editorial support as a copyeditor and proofreader, which likewise requires an eye toward accuracy, consistency, and quality.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom B (LA-1)

  B22: Smartsheet Tips & Tricks

David Jacobs is an experienced professional specializing in learning and development, project management, and team leadership.

As the director of learning and development at HMA, David designs and delivers comprehensive training programs across a variety of modalities using the latest in industry methodologies. He manages a learning management system (LMS) for both internal and external clients, measures effectiveness using innovative metrics, and uses that data to drive the continual development of training products that connect with adult learners.

Prior to joining HMA, David was the senior director of learning and development at the National Able Network. In this role, he set the learning strategy, led training development, and established key performance indicators. David also piloted and oversaw the implementation of a LearnDash-based LMS that provided training for internal employees and external clients of the firm. He also collaborated with stakeholders to meet client and employee learning needs and developed eLearning modules using Articulate 360.

David previously led the IT Sector Center for the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, managed operations at MicroTrain Technologies, and led special projects in enterprise resource planning (ERP) design and implementation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in telecommunications from Michigan State University.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Fountainbleau (GA-3)

  B23: Creating Compelling PowerPoint Presentations

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Fountainbleau (GA-3)

  B23: Creating Compelling PowerPoint Presentations

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Wyoming (LA-1)

  B24: Reports and Dashboards – Vantagepoint and PowerBI

Mike Tobash

Senior Business Analyst

Health Management Associates

A business analyst with experience in economic and policy specialties, Michel Tobash is skilled in Microsoft programs, Stata and Structured Query Language.

Michel has experience using econometrics, regression analysis and data mining.

Before joining HMA, Michel completed a master’s degree in economics and policy analysis from DePaul University.

His work experience also includes serving as student manager at Michigan State University and intern positions in sales with 2313 Inc., and research and data analysis with Berkeley Research Group.

Michel also earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State University.

He is an avid NBA fan who cheers for the Philadelphia 76ers, and enjoys spending time hiking, camping and fishing.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Wyoming (LA-1)

  B24: Reports and Dashboards – Vantagepoint and PowerBI

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Idaho (LA-1)

  B25: Getting Started in Your Consultant Career

Nickie Cooper

Proposal Manager

Health Management Associates

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Hermitage (GA-3)

  B26: From Sales to Scope – Your Letter Proposal is your Contract

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Olympus (LA-2)

  B27: LinkedIn, Another Tool in your BD Toolbox

Sion Hughes

Senior Consultant, Market & Provider Strategist

Wakely Consulting Group

Sion Hughes has extensive payer and provider experience with product and strategy. His experience includes building successful integrated delivery financial models, value-based payment program development, product development, and leading strategic efforts for growth of lives. Sion has a proven track record of creating, improving and expanding profitable Medicare Advantage products, Medicaid programs, and value-based payment models. His expertise centers around strategic thinking, increasing operating margins, and enhancing stakeholder experience. He is a subject matter expert in successful planning, contract negotiations, implementation and growth of Government products as well as developing joint-venture economic models. Sion is the co-architect of Wakely Analytics Health Operations Optimization (WAHOO) program that positions payers and providers to be successful with managing risk.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Tuscany (GA-3)

  B28: The One Stop Shop to Drive Positive Results–WAHOO

Michael Forster

Senior Consulting Actuary

Wakely Consulting Group

Michael Forster, FSA, MAAA works in the New York office of Wakely Consulting Group, LLC. Michael joined Wakely in 2016. He has extensive experience working with the state of Vermont on its all-payer Medicaid ACO model. Michael works on Medicare and Provider analytics along with Medicaid rate setting. He has led projects for health plans and state agencies throughout the country. His recent work has been on the development of the Wakely Health Analytics and Operational Optimization (WAHOO) suite of tools to help health plans and providers with all aspects of their business. The tool has proved to be successful for small start-up health plans as well as nationwide carriers. Michael has also worked extensively over the last year within a health plan on monthly Medicare financial reporting. This work includes monthly Incurred But Not Reported (IBNR) estimates, risk accrual estimates, forecasting, budgeting, minimum MLR filings, DIR filings, and various other financial items. He has communicated and worked directly with financial leaders at the organization to automate processes and identify opportunities for improvement. Michael has analyzed detailed claims data and worked with other Wakely actuaries to set rates.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Tuscany (GA-3)

  B28: The One Stop Shop to Drive Positive Results–WAHOO

Tim Courtney

Principal

Wakely Consulting Group

Tim Courtney, FSA, MAAA, provides assistance to a variety of entities including HMOs, PPOs, insurance companies, PBMs, states, employers, and risk taking health care providers on actuarial and financial issues. Tim provides assistance analyzing detailed claims experience, projecting medical and pharmacy expense budgets, preparing premium rate certifications, analyzing provider contracts and evaluating unpaid claim liabilities. He provides assistance to managed care entities regarding Medicare Advantage bids, Medicaid risk contracts, small group, large group and individual lines of business. Tim has been an active member of the Society of Actuaries, most recently serving on an exam grading committee. Tim joined Wakely Consulting Group as a Senior Consultant in January 2010. Prior to Wakely, Tim was a Managing Director at Ingenix Consulting (now OptumInsight) where he served in a consulting capacity for six years. Tim has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Arizona (LA-1)

  B29: Medicare Advantage – Trends in Supplemental Benefits

Elizabeth Ritter

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

Elizabeth Ritter is a dedicated and enthusiastic professional with over a decade of leadership experience managing various operational aspects of projects and strategic corporate initiatives with proven success in the healthcare, health plan and government programs space.

Before joining HMA, Elizabeth worked at Capital Blue Cross where she focused on Medicare product development and administration. Most recently Elizabeth was the corporate planning manager responsible for coordination and development of the organization’s three-year strategic plan and annual corporate plan documents for presentation to the organization’s board of directors. She also served on a team that was responsible for the presentation of key performance indicators and strategic goal successes to Capital’s executive team.

While at Capital Blue Cross, she has served in several leadership roles. She managed the annual recurring work for the Medicare product team, successfully led the corporate project team that transitioned the organization to use of the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) in 2018, integrated the functions and operations of a newly acquired start-up Medicare Advantage plan, and guided the transition to a new pharmacy benefits manager in 2019.

Elizabeth’s professional experiences also include implementing enrollment and core processing systems and the pharmacy benefit manager contract for a start-up Medicare Advantage plan and working at the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania serving as project coordinator for the Pennsylvania Hospital Engagement Network (PA-HEN). The PA-HEN was part of the Partnership for Patients initiative, implemented by CMS in 2011, to improve the quality, safety, and affordability of healthcare of all Americans.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from Elizabethtown College with concentrations in management and marketing, and a minor in Spanish.

Outside of work Elizabeth enjoys cooking, going on road trips, and camping with her husband and two rescue dogs.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Arizona (LA-1)

  B29: Medicare Advantage – Trends in Supplemental Benefits

Kate de Lisle

Associate Principal

Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company

Kate de Lisle is an associate principal and alternative payment model (APM) subject matter expert in the Strategy and Transformation Practice and leads the firm’s research team dedicated to understanding trends and developments in the movement to value-based payment. For nearly a decade, Kate has overseen Leavitt Partners’ tracking of public and private APM activity, monitoring participation trends, studying the policies and market forces governing these models, as well as the subsequent delivery transformation efforts associated with high-value care. She maintains research relationships with provider leaders across the nation, having conducted hundreds of interviews with payer and provider executives and frontline clinicians regarding their strategies and challenges in the transition to VBP.

Kate uses her APM expertise to support clients of all types on projects related to payment and delivery transformation, as well as research publications, speaking engagements, and trainings. She frequently supports multi-stakeholder industry collaboratives focused on value transformation, including the Health Care Transformation Task Force and the Accountable Care Learning Collaborative, where she facilitates group discussions with provider and payer leaders about the competencies needed for success in assuming responsibility for the total cost of care.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  B30: Overview of CMS Alternative Payment Models & Why They Matter

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Wyoming (LA-1)

  A8: The Movement to Value-Based Health Care: Cross-Sector Trends & Expectations for the Future

Melissa Mannon

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

Melissa Mannon is an alternative payment model (APMs) expert with experience developing, implementing, and evaluating APMs in Medicaid and Medicare and assessing opportunities to align financial and non-financial incentives to improve accountability, outcomes, and value in the healthcare system.
In her role as senior consultant at HMA, Melissa is supporting clients in design, development, implementation, and policy for payment innovations. She provides guidance on how to align payment with services that provide higher quality of life and outcomes for people seeking care and helps clients understand how Medicare and Medicaid payment policies – particularly APMs – and changes to those policies will impact their business and strategy.

Before joining HMA, Melissa was director of the Office of Value Based Purchasing for Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Service (Virginia’s Medicaid agency) and oversaw $350 million in financial incentives. She was responsible for leading the agency’s development and implementation of payment and contract policy innovations that integrated performance accountability into the Virginia Medicaid program. Melissa was the alternative payment models expert in Virginia and provided technical guidance to agency leadership, two governor’s administrations, and legislators.

Melissa served as associate director of policy development at the American Hospital Association. In this role, she focused on government program sustainability, healthcare workforce, and rural healthcare access. She also has previous consulting experience from her time at the American Institutes for Research and The Lewin Group, where she worked on federal alternative payment models with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).

Melissa understands government funded healthcare programs, federal and state policymaking, research methods, and policy strategy. She has extensive experience conducting stakeholder convening and successfully developing policy options with stakeholders, even with groups representing different viewpoints. She worked on payment models in maternal health, joint replacement, primary care, nursing facilities, and Medicaid managed care. Melissa has qualitative research experience in methods, data collection, and analysis and is experienced in drafting and fielding questions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She is also experienced in obtaining approval for Medicaid State Plan Amendments and Pre-Prints under Medicaid managed care.

Melissa earned a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in health policy from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in public health policy from Cornell College.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  B30: Overview of CMS Alternative Payment Models & Why They Matter

Christina Altmayer, MPA

Principal

Health Management Associates

Christina Altmayer is a senior executive with vast experience and success leading public agencies dedicated to early childhood. Her work has focused on policy and system changes to better serve the needs of children in both the healthcare and early education spaces.

She joins HMA after leading high-impact efforts to implement and expand maternal and pediatric early intervention services as the senior vice president of the Center for Children and Family Impact for First 5 LA. In this capacity she oversaw over $90 million in programmatic investments focused on family supports, community engagement, early care and education, and health systems with a focus on policy and systems change. She led the development of First 5 LA’s 2020-28 Strategic Plan and pioneered innovative financing strategies to sustain priority maternal and child interventions, including partnerships with Medi-Cal managed care organizations.

Previously, Christina served as executive director of First 5 Orange County where she led the organization through a comprehensive strategic planning and implementation process and oversaw an annual program portfolio of $35 million. She led several high impact efforts, including initiatives related to developmental screening and early intervention, kindergarten readiness, and oral health and innovative financing strategies to sustain important services for children and families. Christina worked closely with CalOptima, Children’s Hospital of Orange County and community organizations to implement innovative financing strategies to support early childhood investments.

A seasoned consultant, she helmed her own management consulting organization helping non-profit, public, and private organizations with long-term financial planning, strategy development, program design and implementation, performance management, and evaluation. Christina launched her career in consulting at Ernst & Young, serving as a senior manager supporting public and private clients. During her consulting tenure, she was the author of multiple articles on performance-based management and was a frequent instructor and presenter on this topic.

Christina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and politics and a Master of Arts in public administration from St. John’s University in New York.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Vienna (GA-3)

  B31: Policy Initiatives in Child/Youth Behavioral Health

Caitlin Thomas-Henkel

Principal

Health Management Associates

Caitlin Thomas-Henkel is a health policy leader with extensive experience working in clinical, government, and non-profit settings. She has collaborated with states, providers, law enforcement and health systems to advance behavioral health integration, prepare for value-based payment, redesign delivery models, and implement alternative workforce strategies for people with complex health and social needs.

Prior to joining HMA, Caitlin was a senior program officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) where she spearheaded several national initiatives supporting providers, pharmacies and health systems to create effective care models and develop sustainable financing. At CHCS, she collaborated with New Jersey state agencies to design and implement an Office-Based Addiction Treatment Model for Medicaid members with substance use disorders. Caitlin also provided technical assistance to states participating in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation State Innovation Models initiative and led a learning collaborative for Rhode Island’s Medicaid Accountable Entities.

She previously served as deputy director of policy at the Rhode Island Senate, staffing the Health and Human Services Committee. During her tenure, Caitlin helped strengthen mental health parity law, oversaw a study which advanced legislation for emergency department diversion and oversaw hearings focused on reforming the child welfare system.

As director of the Mayor’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council in Providence, Rhode Island, Caitlin led a nationally recognized community substance abuse prevention coalition. She worked closely with the Providence Police Department to provide crisis intervention training to officers and partnered with Lifespan Health System and Brown University to adopt policies that increased awareness of addiction as a chronic disease.

Caitlin earned her master’s degree in clinical social work from Boston University, with a macro (policy) certificate and a bachelor’s degree in child development and education from the University of New Hampshire.

In her free time, you can find Caitlin swimming laps, on the sidelines cheering her two kids, or cruising the Jersey coast alongside her husband on their sailboat.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Vienna (GA-3)

  B31: Policy Initiatives in Child/Youth Behavioral Health

Annalisa Baker

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

Along with a comprehensive understanding of the behavioral healthcare continuum, Annalisa Baker’s experience includes business operations, project management and finance, as well as direct clinical social work practice.

Since joining HMA, Annalisa has contributed to a range of writing projects, including grant applications for community-based organizations, procurement proposals for health plan RFPs, and state policy analyses related to the behavioral healthcare delivery system. She has performed financial and strategic analyses for behavioral health providers in New York that are transitioning into Medicaid managed care and home and community-based services. Annalisa has provided project management support to the implementation of the Maryland All-Payer Model Progression Plan, which has shifted hospitals away from a volume-based financing system to a system based on hospital-specific global revenues with overlying value-based incentives.

Prior to joining HMA, Annalisa served in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as director of administration and operations in the Bureau of Mental Health, overseeing a budget of over $300 million, which included approximately 300 service provider contracts. In that role, she managed bureau performance, including budget, finance, personnel, contracting and procurement. She provided strategic oversight and leadership of the bureau’s agenda around mental health system financing, and was the primary liaison with the New York State Office of Mental Health Budget Divisions.

Annalisa served as director of health integration in the Office of Treatment Services for the bureau. She led the $10 million HEAL 17 grant project, which provided funding, support and quality oversight to mental health providers for implementing electronic health records, achieving meaningful use standards for data collection, and using data to improve the quality of care provided. Beyond HEAL 17, she worked on various bureau initiatives aimed at the integration of behavioral and physical health systems of care and the strategic navigation of those systems to optimize program delivery for patients and consumers.

Prior to her service with New York City, Annalisa was a clinical supervisor with children and adolescents at Astor Services for Children and Families. She managed a new partnership between Astor’s outpatient clinic and a foster care agency, with the goal of increasing foster children’s access to mental health services and decreasing fragmentation between systems of care. Annalisa has also spent time in the private sector as a business operations consultant, where she honed her project management skills.

She received her Master of Public Health from Columbia University and her Master of Social Work from New York University.

Outside the office, Annalisa loves exploring new restaurants with her husband, and getting her exercise in by running after her toddler in the park.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Vienna (GA-3)

  B31: Policy Initiatives in Child/Youth Behavioral Health

Uma Ahluwalia

Moderator, Principal

HMA

Uma S. Ahluwalia is a respected healthcare and human services professional with extensive experience leading key growth initiatives in demanding political and legislative environments.

She is an expert in delivering innovative, reliable, cost-effective solutions and public policy strategies that improve operations and productivity.

Prior to joining HMA, she served as director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services in Maryland. During her 12-year tenure she led implementation of the Affordable Care Act, oversaw the move to a more integrated and interoperable health and human services enterprise, and managed public-private partnerships and programs.

Uma’s work experience also includes leadership as the interim director in the Child and Family Services Agency in Washington, DC and assistant secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services in the State of Washington.

She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Delhi in India and a specialist, post-master’s in health services administration from George Washington University. Over her 28-year career in human services, she has progressively moved from case-carrying social work to executive leadership at the state and local levels.

Uma loves to read and spend time with family and friends.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Belvedere (GA-3)

  B33: Public Health Departments: Reconstitution Post COVID

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Olympus (LA-2)

  A2: The intersection of child welfare and behavioral health policy initiatives

Linda Vail

Principal

Health Management Associates

Linda Vail is an accomplished public health leader, creative problem solver and strategic thinker. She has extensive experience in opioid use disorder (OUD) and medication assisted treatment (MAT), health equity and social justice, social determinants of health (SDOH), justice-involved healthcare, and maternal health. Her expertise includes policy development, workforce and leadership development, response to emerging threats, risk communication, community engagement project management, and state and national public health accreditation.

Prior to joining HMA, Linda was the health officer at the Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) in Michigan. In this role, she provided leadership for health department functions, a network of community health centers with FQHC status, and healthcare in the Ingham County Jail and Youth Center. Prior to ICHD, Linda served in local government for 12 years in Kalamazoo County where she became the first female health officer. Before her career in local county government, she spent nearly two decades in biomedical research, last working with Pfizer (formerly The Upjohn Company).

Linda was a board member and past president for the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, served for four years on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Health Equity and Social Justice Committee, served on NACCHO’s Behavioral Health Workgroup, and previously served on the McLaren Greater Lansing Board of Trustees as well as several other local boards and committees. She was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Public Health Advisory Council as well as the Protect Michigan Commission. She holds faculty appointments in the Department of Family Medicine at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine as well as the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.

Linda’s leadership was a key component in organizing a multi-disciplinary task force to address the ongoing opioid epidemic. She spoke to local, state, and national audiences to raise awareness and discuss approaches for prevention, intervention and harm reduction related to opioid abuse and overdose. She provided leadership during several emergent public health issues including the largest inland oil spill in US history at the Kalamazoo River, West Nile Virus, H1N1, and Ebola. She most recently spearheaded the Ingham County response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Linda is active in the fitness community and has completed four marathons, four triathlons, several half marathons and 25K races. She is also an amateur photographer and enjoys traveling the world.

Linda has a Master of Public Administration with a public health concentration from Western Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Georgia.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Belvedere (GA-3)

  B33: Public Health Departments: Reconstitution Post COVID

David Kulick, MPH

Managing Director

The Focus Group, an HMA Company

• linkedin

David Kulick is the founder and Managing Director of The Focus Group. He is an innovation and commercialization expert having worked for the last 15 years focusing on population health, high impact earned revenue generation, and transformation. David has worked with nearly every F500 healthcare organization across payors, providers, and life science organizations in private and government market delivery. David is a national expert in SDOH and population health having worked on advanced delivery and risk models across all 50 states.

Early in his career, he worked with communities and vulnerable populations as an AmeriCorps Volunteer and then with the U.S. Peace Corps in South Africa. David earned his MPH from Tulane University, Bachelors in Chemistry from the University at Buffalo. David lives in New Orleans with his wife, four children, and dog.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Provence (GA-3)

  B34: The Future of Nontraditional Healthcare Organizations

Roxane Townsend

Managing Director, Delivery System

Health Management Associates

Roxane Townsend is a physician executive specializing in the integration of complex clinical enterprises, transformation of academic health systems, and making public and private health systems more profitable. She consults with HMA clients nationwide and supports strategic planning and incubator projects for the Healthcare Transformation Institute. Her combination of clinical and operational expertise inspires trust and confidence. She is known for her ability to convene, engage and build consensus among diverse stakeholders, spot inefficiencies, overcome barriers and maximize revenue while maintaining focus on the quality of patient care.

Prior to joining HMA, Roxane was CEO of the University of Arkansas Medical Center and vice chancellor for clinical programs. Backed by a high performing team, she guided the enterprise from a budget deficit to a $30 million surplus in just three years. She led integration of core clinical services and 15 specialty service lines including behavioral health, cancer and neurosciences. Ambulatory throughput increased 18 percent and length of stay for trauma patients dropped 25 percent. She also championed a shift in operating room scheduling control to anesthesiology, resulting in a double digit increase in surgical volume without the addition of any new operating rooms.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Roxane served as medical director for the Louisiana Medicaid program and eventually took the helm as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. She participated in the redesign of the devastated healthcare system in New Orleans and served on the executive steering committee for the planning and design of the new University Medical Center to replace Charity Hospital that was destroyed by the storm. Her own experience, as a doctor treating Katrina evacuees in the Superdome, motivates her continued advocacy of health information technology adoption, integration and interoperability.

As assistant vice president for health systems at Louisiana State University, Roxane led the team who successfully planned a system-wide implementation of an interoperable electronic medical record in the LSU Health System. She also achieved a $40 million reduction in expenses at the interim LSU public hospital while maintaining services to the most vulnerable patients in New Orleans.

Roxane was pivotal in forming the Partnership for Healthy Arkansas (PHA), a shared services organization comprised of four previous market competitors. The Partnership collaborates to eliminate duplicative services and increase access through population health and care management initiatives including a new provider-led managed care behavioral health model. Outside of the PHA, she led efforts that resulted in joint services such as vascular surgery with another major health system in Little Rock. This saved the expense of recruiting another surgeon and provides high quality care utilizing the same experts at two medical centers.

Roxane earned her M.D. and completed her residency in internal medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Duquesne University.

When not immersed in a thrilling murder mystery novel, Roxane enjoys running half-marathons.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Venice (GA-3)

  B35: Transformation in Illinois and North Carolina Medicaid Programs

Ryan Howells

Principal

Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company

• linkedin

Ryan Howells is a Principal at Leavitt Partners based out of the Washington, D.C. office. Ryan has worked with the White House, Congress, HHS, and VHA on health care policy and interoperability issues. He currently helps lead the CARIN Alliance, a multi-sector, public-private alliance focused on giving consumers digital access to their health information. Ryan is a member of the CMS Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) Governance Board, Carequality Steering Committee, ONC’s FAST Identity Tiger Team, Technology Association of Georgia’s Digital Health Board, and the COVID-19 Health Care Coalition. He also serves as board observer for multiple health care companies. Before joining Leavitt Partners, Ryan was the General Manager for the government business unit of a private-exchange software vendor where he oversaw the implementation of software in three different state-based marketplaces. He managed a multi-million-dollar P&L, and was involved in the company’s IPO in late 2014. Earlier in his career, Ryan led the government operations division for iHealth Technologies (now Verscend Technologies) and served as an Account Executive for numerous regional and national health plans.

Ryan received his master’s in health administration from the University of Southern California, where he was a Dean’s Merit Scholar. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University and is a Project Management Professional (PMP). He and his wife Alison live with their five children in Atlanta.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Riviera (GA-3)

  B36: Digital Health, Interoperability, and Information Sharing: What is a FHIR API and why should I care?

David Lee

Senior Director

Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company

Former Senate staffer, National Rural Health Association.

David Lee is a director based in Washington, D.C. David provides policy counsel and analysis to clients on issues related to regulations, legislation, and business implications. His work is focused on issues related to government payers, including Medicare and Medicaid, health care reform and other provider issues.

Prior to joining Leavitt Partners, David served as director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy for the National Rural Health Association where he directed advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with administrative agencies on issues related to rural hospitals, clinics, health centers, and other providers. Before working at NRHA, David served on the staff of Senator Robert F. Bennett.

David received his B.A. at Utah State University in law and constitutional studies while minoring in Spanish. He received his juris doctorate from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Riviera (GA-3)

  B36: Digital Health, Interoperability, and Information Sharing: What is a FHIR API and why should I care?

Doug Elwell

Chief Executive Officer

Health Management Associates

A seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare delivery organizations, Douglas (Doug) L. Elwell is a skilled collaborator with extensive operational and financial expertise.

Doug previously served as Illinois Medicaid director in the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. In this position he played a key role leading the Medical Division’s work on an ambitious agenda within a new administration. Under his leadership, the division continued to look at opportunities to improve services, particularly ways to keep people in less restrictive environments. Programs like PACE, HCBS services, and health homes started a review process for enhancement.

Prior to serving the state of Illinois, Doug was deputy chief executive officer (CEO) for finance and strategy for the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. He was responsible for strategic planning, all aspects of finance and accounting, information technology, human resources, project management, and the system’s managed care plan. During this time he assisted in growing the Medicaid managed care entity and creating and/or enhancing relationships with outpatient mental health providers and FQHCs.

Doug previously supported HMA clients as a managing principal and principal in the firm’s Indianapolis office. He devoted his efforts to a multi-year, wide-ranging engagement with the State of Indiana, as well as serving in interim roles as chief financial officer (CFO) and working with large, public providers, especially in the areas of operations, finance, and Medicaid special financing.

Prior to joining HMA in 2003, he led hospital systems in an array of roles including CEO, chief operating officer, and CFO. He served as the president and executive director of Health and Hospital Corporation in Indianapolis, a municipal corporation consisting of a public hospital, public health department, community mental health center, and specialty and primary care physician offices.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Science degree in administration from the University of Notre Dame. He has been licensed as both a certified public accountant and nursing home administrator.

• 10:30 - 11:10 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Grand Ballroom

  Leadership Update with Doug Elwell

Hunter Schouweiler, MS, HSM

Senior Consultant

Wakely Consulting Group, an HMA Company

Hunter Schouweiler MS-HSM joined Wakely Consulting Group, LLC as a consultant in 2021. He has experience leading provider groups in commercial, Medicare Advantage, and CMS/CMMI alternative payment model programs, as well as in risk adjustment, population health and quality operations, finance, strategy, and project management of clinically integrated networks.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Wyoming (LA-1)

  A8: The Movement to Value-Based Health Care: Cross-Sector Trends & Expectations for the Future

Brad Heywood

Consulting Actuary

Wakely Consulting Group

Brad Heywood, ASA, MAAA, is a Consulting Actuary based out of the Denver, Colorado Wakely office. Since joining Wakely in early 2018, Brad has been a key leader in the development of the provider risk line of business within Wakely. He has deep expertise in provider risk arrangements which is used to support more than two dozen Accountable Care Organizations involved in various CMS and CMMI risk-bearing programs as well as small to large payers and vendors in Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial lines of business. His support for these clients includes value-based model design and implementation, financial reporting, population health analytics, financial settlement projections, strategic decision support, market evaluations, provider evaluations and opportunity analyses, and much more.

Brad additionally has experience with Medicare Advantage bid pricing, Accountable Care Act (ACA) individual pricing, and Medicaid rate development / negotiations which he leverages to support groups taking on risks under various risk-taking arrangements.

Brad is a frequent speaker with the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) and the Society of Actuaries around provider risk and value-based care modeling.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom C (LA-1)

  B30: Overview of CMS Alternative Payment Models & Why They Matter

Kelly Johnson

Chief Administrative Officer

HMA

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Ballroom A (LA-1)

  A1: Administrative Colleague Session

Laura Zaremba

Principal

Health Management Associates

Laura Zaremba is an experienced professional and health policy expert who specializes in strategy and management of structural and process change across complex organizations and interdisciplinary teams. She has an extensive background overseeing technology-driven programs and policy initiatives with more than 20 years of experience in public sector and nonprofit management. She has held leadership positions in multiple state agencies, including the Office of the Governor and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the single state Medicaid agency.

Laura joined HMA from Trexin Consulting, where she provided strategic consultation on health care transformation initiatives, including state and federal health policy, as well as support for program implementation, regulatory planning, and compliance. She led projects and developed services to support payer and provider clients with new business models and organizational changes related to the transition from volume-based to value-based and accountable care.

At the Illinois Governor’s Office of Health Innovation and Transformation, Laura chaired a statewide data and technology work group responsible for recommending policy and technical specifications for health information technology to support healthcare reform. She led the proposal team that developed Illinois’ Health Innovation Plan for the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) program to achieve better health outcomes, improve healthcare quality, and reduce costs across multiple payers.

As deputy director at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Laura oversaw operations of the state’s Medicaid and child support enforcement agency, with accountability for a $16 billion budget, 2,500 employees, and services to 2.5 million beneficiaries. She developed and implemented health information technology initiatives, including a statewide grant program and Illinois’ Medicaid health information technology plan. She led the drafting and enactment of the Illinois Health Information Exchange and Technology Act, which established statewide service available to healthcare providers to exchange health information and transmit public health data.

At the Illinois Office of Health Information Technology, Laura led a four year, federally-funded project to establish and sustain a statewide health information exchange network. She spearheaded the state’s efforts to promote health information technology adoption and implement statewide infrastructure to improve healthcare quality and outcomes. She worked with hundreds of provider, public health, and advocacy organizations to develop the state’s health information exchange (HIE) strategic and operational Plan, develop benchmarks, and evaluate program impact. She was designated by the governor as the state’s health information technology coordinator.

Laura began her career in healthcare as a legislative associate with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, analyzing scope of practice for advanced practice nurses and supporting government affairs initiatives. She has served on the board of the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority, Illinois Rural HealthNet and the governor’s Healthcare Reform Implementation Council. She is also a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Laura earned her master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Off-hours, you will usually find Laura running to keep up with her very active family and their long list of sporting, arts, and community activities – and loving every moment of them.

• 9:15 - 10:15 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Venice (GA-3)

  B35: Transformation in Illinois and North Carolina Medicaid Programs

Jon Rubin

Principal

Health Management Associates

Jon Rubin is a human services leader with over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, identifying and analyzing problems, and implementing plans while systemically evaluating progress and impact of efforts.

Prior to joining HMA, Jon was deputy secretary of the Office of Children, Youth and Family (OCYF) with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). In this role, he had direct responsibility and oversight of the child welfare and juvenile justice services program, a $1.8 billion dollar program. He worked collaboratively with other DHS agencies, including the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Office of Developmental Programs, and Office of Income Maintenance to assure services were accessible and supported vulnerable populations.

Jon was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice Task Force and worked regularly with advocates, provider agencies, and legislators on all issues related to child welfare and juvenile justice. Jon also facilitated development and implementation planning of Pennsylvania’s 5-Year Family First Prevention Services Plan and oversaw licensing and inspection of over 600 residential provider programs, 67 county child welfare agencies, and five state run secure juvenile justice service programs.

As director of housing and human services for more than 5 years in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jon was responsible for public human services for the county, including child welfare, aging, housing, mental health, drug/alcohol, Medicaid behavioral services, and intellectual disability services. He worked directly with county commissioners and the chief operating officer to develop division strategy and plan and implement system improvements for the $200 million-dollar human services system. Jon also oversaw the human services block grant and implemented delivery of the human services development fund component of this funding. During this time Jon focused the county’s work on development of a more integrated model of human services delivery and building the public/private partnerships needed to address the community’s health related social needs.

Jon’s past roles include senior consultant with Deloitte, director of organizational effectiveness and leadership development and organizational effectiveness consultant with the American Public Human Services Association and acting director and practice improvement specialist with the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program.

Jon has a master’s degree in social work from Temple University and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Pennsylvania State University. He started his career as a child welfare social worker, providing direct service work and caseworker supervision for 10 years before taking on higher level leadership roles. He is also the recipient of the 2019 Dennis Marion Award for contributions to behavioral health services in Pennsylvania and remains focused on assuring that human services service delivery is equitable, accessible, and high quality.

• 8:00 - 9:00 AM, Sep 29, 2023 Olympus (LA-2)

  A2: The intersection of child welfare and behavioral health policy initiatives