16^th Annual Medicaid Innovations Forum

Jacqueline Collins, RN, CPHQ, MSML

Senior Director, GA and AR Quality Improvement

CareSource

Jacqueline Collins, RN, MSML, CPHQ, is a Sr. Director of Quality Improvement, at a managed care organization in Georgia. She is a registered nurse with experience in precertification and concurrent review, appeals, grievances, and complaints. She also has over 20 years of quality experience with HEDIS®, CAHPS, and NCQA accreditation for all lines of business including Medicaid, Marketplace, Medicare, the Dual Eligible population, and Commercial insurance. For the Medicaid line of business, she has worked closely with the most vulnerable population to help bridge the gap to care.

Chris Esguerra, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Health Plan of San Mateo

An experienced healthcare leader, Chris Esguerra, MD, MBA, FAPA, CHCQM has led systems transformation, program evolution, and public/private partnerships leading to outcomes meeting the quadruple aim of improving health, cost effectiveness, enhancing patient experience, and supporting provider well-being. He serves as Chief Medical Officer for Health Plan of San Mateo, a local community plan serving Medicaid and dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. He also advises nonprofits partnering in healthcare delivery, healthcare startups, and provider groups. His experience encompasses health care provider and systems leadership, managed care operations, novel payment models, public-private partnerships, and health care transformation. He has led significant efforts around integration of care and services for a variety of populations, holistically addressing social determinants of health in healthcare delivery, and helping people remain and age in the community with appropriate long-term services and supports. He most recently served on a National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine committee that published Integrating Social Needs Care into the Delivery of Health Care to Improve the Nation's Health. Dr. Esguerra is board certified in both Psychiatry and Health Care and Quality Management and is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians. He received his BS in Chemistry and Medical Degree from the University of Southern California. He completed his residency training in Psychiatry at San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Psychiatry Residency Training Program. He also received his MBA in business management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Jim Milanowski

CEO

Genesee Health Plan

Jim Milanowski has over 22 years’ experience in the management of mental health, substance abuse, behavioral health managed care and medical care coverage programs. Mr. Milanowski currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Genesee Health Plan (GHP), administering a community based indigent health care plan. The health plan has covered over 70,000 Genesee County residents since 2001. Since the start of enrollment into Affordable Care Act in 2013, GHP has conducted outreach and enrollment sessions with over 15,000 Genesee County residents. The health plan received the 2015 Pinnacle Award from the Michigan Association of Health Plans for this effort. As a strong advocate, his expertise includes working to reduce racial disparities, uncompensated care, and the impact of chronic disease. During his leadership, Genesee Health Plan has received the national quality award from URAC for Best Practices in Patient Empowerment and Protection, the Greater Flint Labor Council's Community Partnership Award and the Robert M. Pestronk Excellence in Public Health Award. He is a founding member of the Health Net Collaborative, and a member of the Greater Flint Health Coalition Access, Dental and Medical Group Visit Committees. He is the Treasurer of the Michigan Association of County Health Plans and is on the Board of Directors for the Genesee Community Health Center. Mr. Milanowski received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Spring Arbor University and his Master's of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. He is a limited-licensed psychologist in the state of Michigan, and has extensive counseling experience with adult, child, and adolescent populations.

Stella V. Pappas, LCSW-R, ACSW

Vice President, Behavioral Health

Healthfirst

Stella V. Pappas, LCSW-R, ACSW, is an essential part of the Healthfirst Clinical Department with primary responsibility for behavioral health operations. Ms. Pappas leads the Behavioral Health Department, providing oversight for the behavioral health care management and utilization management teams for all lines of business, all populations, and all products. In her first three years at Healthfirst Ms. Pappas has focused on evolving the behavioral health services from a reactive to a proactive model of care, enhancing quality outcomes, and mental health parity. In her previous employment Ms. Pappas held several roles at Optum, part of United Health Group, including the executive director for the Optum New York City Behavioral Health Organization (BHO). Under her leadership, Optum provided administrative and management services for inpatient behavioral health treatment. By working closely with providers to improve clinical outcomes and increase access to care, she played a key role in supporting New York State’s efforts to enhance the quality and efficiency of the public behavioral health system as it transitioned into managed care. Additionally, Pappas has held a variety of leadership positions in the hospital, behavioral healthcare, and managed care industries in New York City. Prior to joining Optum in 2013, she served as the chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Institute for Community Living, one of New York City’s largest behavioral health provider agencies. Ms. Pappas received her Master of Social Work and Advanced Clinical Certificate from New York University’s School of Social Work; she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with honors from New York University. Ms. Pappas says, “As a licensed clinical social worker, I’m passionate about helping people solve their problems with real-life solutions. I thrive on establishing meaningful relationships and working with people of diverse backgrounds and expertise. I bring careful listening, strategic thinking, and collaboration to everything I do, offering our members, my organization, and my team a leader who is invested in their wellness and success. Outside of work, I spend the majority of my time with my husband, our two kids, and our dog. We love to travel, go out to dinner, and make memories. I also enjoy reading and cooking.”

Graisy M. Pichardo, LMSW

Director, Behavioral Health

Healthfirst

Graisy M. Pichardo, LMSW, is a seasoned behavioral health operations leader with over 20 years of experience at Healthfirst, New York’s largest not-for-profit health insurer. Ms. Pichardo was behavioral health employee #6, now a department of over 200. Ms. Pichardo began her career at Healthfirst as a case manager and has grown through the ranks, now leading the on-site care management team, as the founding director of this new program. These accomplishments have been largely due to her commitment to the members we serve to the Behavioral Health department and to Healthfirst. Ms. Pichardo currently oversees the Rapid Engagement & Linkage Team (REAL). This team is responsible for outreaching and assessing members who were seen in the emergency room for Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders (SUD). She is also responsible for creating and overseeing the newly formed Behavioral Health On-site team. This team was created in October 2023 with the goal of working with Healthfirst members when they are admitted for Detox or SUD Rehabilitation with the goal of decreasing readmissions and increasing community tenure through effective engagement and discharge planning. Ms. Pichardo received her Master of Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice As a social worker, Ms. Pichardo exemplifies the values of empathy, resilience, and dedication, making a lasting impact on the lives she touches and embodying the true spirit of social work. Ms. Pichardo’s commitment to members and staff alike, institutional knowledge, and strong clinical as well as administrative skills makes her a valued member of our team. Graisy is always willing to pitch in as a team player with competence and enthusiasm. Outside of work, Ms. Pichardo loves to travel with her children, grandchildren and extended family members. She is also known as “Bob the builder” among her family members as she is often referred to as the person who makes home repairs and is the glue that keeps it all together.

Mike Rapach

CEO

CareFirst Community Health Plan of Maryland

Mike Rapach is the President and CEO of CareFirst Community Health Plan Maryland, a subsidiary of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The plan provides Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs coverage across the entire state of Maryland. In that role, Mike is responsible for the strategic planning and direction of the organization, along with managing the relationships with regulators. He is also directly accountable for the financial, operational, and clinical performance of the company. Mike has 20 years of experience in Health Care both regionally and nationally, having served in leadership roles with Centene, Highmark, United HealthGroup, and Coventry Healthcare. Prior to joining CareFirst, Mike implemented and led the Medicare Advantage and Marketplace businesses for Centene in Pennsylvania. He was also the lead for the implementation of the new Managed Long- term Services and Support (MLTSS) program for Centene in the same market. In other prior roles, Mike has led business and technology organizations supporting Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, ACA/Marketplace, and commercial health insurance. Mike has an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor’s in Finance from Penn State. He enjoys traveling the world with his wife, Jennifer, playing ice hockey, and cooking the new dishes he encounters on his travels.

Rosemond Sarpong Owens, CDM/MPH

Director, Health Equity Integration

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota

Rosemond Sarpong Owens is a seasoned leader with a distinguished career in the field of racial and health equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly within healthcare and is on a mission to eliminate racial and health inequities and drive transformative change. Currently serving as Director of Racial and Health Equity Integration at Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota, Rosemond has dedicated herself to making a difference in healthcare and beyond. Having worked across various healthcare organizations, Rosemond possesses a wealth of experience and insights into the complexities of the healthcare system. She is known for her ability to navigate intricate organizational landscapes and design innovative solutions that foster truly inclusive environments. Rosemond sees herself as an architect of change, constantly working to shape a more just and equitable society. Her expertise in crafting and executing strategic priorities for equitable outcomes has left an indelible mark on the healthcare system. In a world where health equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion are more crucial than ever, she stands as a beacon of hope and progress. Her mission is to continue shaping the future of healthcare and society at large, ensuring that every individual has access to the care. and opportunities they deserve. As a visionary in the field of racial and health equity, Rosemond serves as a source of inspiration for many, demonstrating that true change is possible. She reminds us of all that. we have the power to create a brighter, more equitable future for all.

Marti Taylor

CEO

OhioRISE Vice President Aetna/Medicaid

As of January 1, 2024, Marti Taylor accepted the position of CEO, OhioRISE and VP Aetna / Medicaid, a CVS Company. Marti joins Aetna/OhioRISE from OneFifteen, where she was President and CEO, and Executive Director of Behavioral Health of Verily. There, Marti lead a cross-disciplinary team focused on modernizing addiction care in partnership with Verily, the Life Sciences Division of Google. The Dayton treatment center helped thousands of individuals battling the disease of addiction. Before founding OneFifteen, Marti’s career centered on leading premier academic medical centers advancing clinical care through research, teaching and quality improvement. Until 2018, Marti served as CEO of University Hospital and the Ross Heart Hospital at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. From 2003-2008, Marti served as president of the Saint Joseph's Cardiovascular Program and Research Institute in Atlanta. Prior to that Marti worked for 25 years at Duke, where she began as a staff nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Duke University Hospital and grew in scope to eventually supervise all aspects of the Health Systems Heart Center at three hospitals and multiple affiliate hospitals. Marti holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and a Master of Science in nursing from Duke University. She currently serves as the Chair for the Board of Trustees for Capital University, is a founding member of the Ohio Institute for Substance Use Disorder Excellence and also serves on the OneFifteen Recovery Board as well as other volunteer boards. Marti lives in Dublin, Ohio with her husband, Rodney, and their two sons, Zachary and Andrew.

Alyssa M. Ward, Ph.D., LCP

Behavioral Health Clinical Director, Virginia Medicaid Line of Business

Anthem HealthKeepers Plus

Alyssa M. Ward, Ph.D., LCP is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Behavioral Health Clinical Director for the Medicaid line of business for Elevance Health in Virginia. Prior to this role, she served as the Behavioral Health Clinical Director for the Virginia State Medicaid Program and was the lead for the Project BRAVO transformation of the Medicaid behavioral health benefit. Dr. Ward also worked as an integrated care attending Psychologist in the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatric gastroenterology program at Virginia Commonwealth University Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ward’s expertise is in the implementation of evidence-based practices into systems of care, including integration into rate setting, payment models, and healthcare policy to assure sustainment.

Kevin Bagley, DHA, MBA, FACHE

Former Medicaid Director

State of Nebraska

Kevin Bagley, DHA, MBA, FACHE is passionate about finding ways to improve the systems of care that support Medicaid participants across the country. Kevin’s most recent role was as the Medicaid Director for the state of Nebraska, serving under two Governors, Pete Ricketts and Jim Pillen. Prior to serving as Nebraska’s Medicaid Director, Kevin served as the Director of LTSS for the state of Utah’s Medicaid program. Kevin served on the Board of Directors at the National Association of Medicaid Directors, the Nebraska Health Information Technology Board and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Kevin earned his Doctor of Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University and his Master’s in Business Administration from Utah State University. Kevin enjoys reading at night with his four kids, playing board games and walking the dogs with his wife.

Mina Chang, Ph.D.

Deputy Director, Chief Analytics & Compliance Division

Ohio Department of Aging

Dr. Mina Chang brings over 25 years of distinguished leadership in health and human services across diverse governmental sectors and national markets. Currently, as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Director at the Ohio Department of Aging, she drives impactful policy changes to benefit 2.8 million older Ohioans. Previously, as the Deputy Director, she was at the forefront of transforming eldercare and healthy aging in Ohio, leading business intelligence and compliance strategies to ensure innovation and service excellence. In her role as VP of Quality at Bethesda, a national long-term care provider, she led COVID response efforts and managed a workforce of 3,000 across 400 programs in 13 states. As Assistant Health Commissioner for NYC, she spearheaded teams to expand health insurance services for 8 million residents, successfully onboarding 85,000 new members during ACA open enrollment. A respected industry speaker, Dr. Chang has advised influential organizations such as MACPAC, SAMHSA, and CHCS. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management and an MPA from Ohio State University. As a Fellow of the American Healthcare Executives, Dr. Chang is dedicated to advancing excellence in public policy and healthcare leadership.

Kody H. Kinsley

Secretary

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Kody H. Kinsley serves as Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services; appointed to the cabinet position by Governor Roy Cooper and unanimously confirmed by the North Carolina Senate. Secretary Kinsley has identified three priority areas of focus: Behavioral Health & Resilience, Child & Family Wellbeing, and Building a Strong & Inclusive Workforce. By focusing on these three areas, Secretary Kinsley believes the state can make smart investments that drive health for individuals and value for public resources. As the COVID-19 Pandemic and national public health emergency conclude, Kinsley and the department have transitioned from emergency response to preparedness. Alongside this transition, Secretary Kinsley advanced the department's key priorities through the passing of Medicaid Expansion and Governor Cooper’s $1 billion pledge for behavioral health services. The implementation and expansion of Medicaid extends healthcare coverage to previously underserved populations, providing critical access to health services for thousands of North Carolinians. Secretary Kinsley’s accomplishments exemplify his dedication to improving health equity throughout the state. Secretary Kinsley oversees a department that has broad responsibility for all aspects of health and human services, a staff of 18,000 and an annual budget of $38 billion. Kinsley joined the Department in 2018 where he most recently served as Chief Deputy Secretary for Health and Operations Lead for North Carolina’s COVID-19 response. Prior to returning home to North Carolina, Secretary Kinsley served as the presidentially appointed Assistant Secretary for Management for the United States Department of the Treasury under two Administrations. In that role, he functioned as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer with a broad scope of responsibility for the agency, its nine bureaus, and 100,000 employees. With deep health policy, operational and leadership experience, Secretary Kinsley’s career spans the public and private sectors. These roles include positions at the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and leading operations for a behavioral health care service provider in western North Carolina. Secretary Kinsley is a Fellow of the Civil Society Fellowship, a partnership of the Anti-Defamation League and the Aspen Institute, and he is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brevard College in Brevard, NC, and his Master of Public Policy from the University of California, at Berkeley.

Janet Mann

Deputy Director of Health and State Medicaid Director

Arkansas Department of Human Services

Janet Mann has over twenty years’ experience in healthcare and healthcare finance. She has worked in the public and private sector for multiple states and clients. Janet has served as the Division Director for DHS’s Division of Medical Services overseeing the Medicaid operations before and during the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency until April 2021. She also served as DHS’s Chief Financial Officer for a year in 2017. In addition, Janet was a Deputy Administrator for Medicaid in Mississippi during Governor Haley Barbour’s administration, 2006-2010. Janet has worked in the private sector focused on healthcare and public sector for several entities throughout her career but most recently at Horne LLP in Ridgeland, Mississippi. While consulting, Janet worked closely with other states implementing public policies and programs in areas of program integrity, managed care, audit and compliance and financial processes. Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and is a Certified Public Accountant. Janet has been married to Doug for over 29 years and has 2 grown children, Sydney and Will.

Diane Arms

Director of Community Behavioral Health

The Council on Recovery

Diane Arms currently serves as the Director of Community Behavioral Health at The Council on Recovery and oversees the Center for Co-Occurring Disorders. She has dedicated her career to serving the Latino population in the Health Field, including Mental Health and Substance Use. She received both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso. Diane has served in roles such as Director of Health Integration and Director of Prevention and Counseling. She has worked facilitating leadership meetings amongst local Federally Qualified Health Centers to proactively identify, address, and resolve systemic issues within the healthcare system, has successfully implemented programs such as Multisystemic Therapy in a Mental Health Setting and Transition Age Youth, assisting transitioning clients from children’ services to adult services in the mental health system. She spearheaded the transition of in person clinical and behavioral health services of a healthcare agency to telehealth services to accommodate social distancing and stay at home orders due to COVID 19. Previously funded projects consist of identifying relationships between stress, depression and anxiety to substance use and parenting styles in young adult Latinos, investigating the effects of chronic illnesses on children’s health-related quality of life in the Colonias, an underserved and impoverished neighborhood along the Texas-Mexico border, and exploring effective decision making aids on colorectal cancer for the aging Latino population. She is a fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Class 44, a graduate of the Mujers de HACE program in 2019, a board member for El Centro de Corazon and an advisory committee member and trainer for Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence.

Christina Eyman, DBH, MHA

Behavioral Health Integration Manager

The Council on Recovery

Patrick Hendry

Vice President of Peer Services

firsthand

Patrick Hendry is the Vice President of Peer Services for firsthand, a company dedicated to providing peer-led support to individuals with serious physical and behavioral health conditions. He has experienced life with a psychiatric diagnosis both personally and as a parent of a child with lived experience. Patrick provides guidance and training for the peer firsthand Guide team and continues to build a culture of safety, trust, respect, transparency, and value throughout the company. Throughout his 32 years of experience in peer support he has focused on human rights, peer-provided services, self-directed care, and social inclusion. He is the former VP of Peer Advocacy, Supports and Services for the national office of Mental Health America. Patrick served as a SME for the American Psychiatric Association SMI Adviser SAMHSA grant and as Director of other federal and state grant programs. He is the recipient of MHA’s Clifford Beers award, SAMHSA’s Voice award for peer leadership, and The National Council for Behavioral Health’s Inspiring Hope, Reintegration Lifetime Achievement award. Patricks’ passion for his work and the inclusion of peers throughout the system of care is his inspiration for advancing the field of peer support.

Megan Raleigh LISW-S

Manager of Addiction Services County Corrections

MetroHealth

Megan Raleigh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for MetroHealth and currently the Manager of Addiction Services for Correctional Medicine at Cuyahoga County Jail. She has been working at Cuyahoga County Jail for approximately 3 years and within the correctional field for over 10 years, including in the Ohio youth and adult prison systems. She also provides therapy in both individual and group capacities to dual diagnosis clientele in the community. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX with her BA in 2001 and her MSW in 2005.

Clay Farris

Founder and Practice Lead

Mostly Medicaid

Clay has advised CMS administrators, state Medicaid Directors, health plan CEOs, technology COOs and a wide range of other clients in the healthcare industry. His unique blend of management consulting, project management, policy making and analytics help deliver on-time, actionable results for a wide array of business challenges. His Weekly Medicaid Roundup is read and loved by more than 10,000 professionals in the Medicaid industry. His experience includes policy making at both the federal (CMS) and state levels (State of Georgia), management consulting for large organizational change initiatives, big data solution sales and implementation and cutting-edge analytics. He currently leads key project components related to consultation design, Medicaid subject matter expertise and project management. He has a Masters in Health Policy from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg of School of Public Health and is a Certified Internal Auditor.

Kris Vilamaa

Partner and Chief Growth Officer

Mostly Medicaid

Kris Vilamaa is a Partner and Chief Growth Officer for Mostly Medicaid. Mostly Medicaid is one of the premier Medicaid consulting and marketing entities in the country, using best-in-class HHS expertise to help state and county government agencies, health plans and solution providers to navigate a wide variety of challenges. Kris was recently named one of the Top 50 Healthcare Consultants and Leaders of 2022 by The Consulting Report. Kris has led consulting engagements in twenty-three different states with hundreds of clients in his career. His experience includes improving existing solutions, bringing new solutions to market, driving innovation, growth strategy development, change management, policy assessments and operational assessments. Kris is a national thought leader on information technology in behavioral health and the use of data in integrated care models to improve care. As a consultant, he has also served as the CEO of HealthCare Perspective and Director of Behavioral Health for Germane Solutions. Prior to entering consulting in 2015, Kris served in state government for fifteen years, the last three as the Chief Information Officer for the Alabama Department of Mental Health.