Margaret Kristan, with more than 20 years of experience administering state healthcare programs and policy for both Republican and Democrat Administrations in Wisconsin, is an industry expert proficient in the design, development and implementation of state-level programs that serve low-income or uninsured individuals.
Ms. Kristan is currently helping to lead the healthcare reform efforts of several states and is involved with developing Medicaid reform initiatives. She also advises clients on strategies to implement, maintain and strengthen other healthcare safety net programs as high risk pools and healthcare tax credits - as part of their overall efforts to reduce the number of uninsured.
Before joining Sellers Dorsey, Ms. Kristan was the director of the State of Wisconsin's $200 million high-risk health insurance program, the Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP), which provides health insurance to Wisconsin residents unable to obtain health insurance through the commercial market because of pre-existing medical conditions, who are on Medicare because of disability, those who have HIV/AIDS and those who qualify for coverage under federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) regulations.
While with HIRSP, she directed all aspects of plan operations, including state and federal regulatory compliance, benefit design and administration, pharmacy benefit management and administration, financial management, claims processing and customer service. She was instrumental in saving the program millions of dollars by taking advantage of the opportunity to establish the plan as a state pharmacy assistance program under Medicare Part D.
In addition, Ms. Kristan also served as the Director of the Wisconsin's Bureau of Health Information and Policy. During her tenure, she directed the state's vital records system as well as the collection and analysis of all public data on the uninsured.
Ms. Kristan holds a masters degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor's degree in Family and Social Services from Northern Illinois University.