Preparing For the End of the Public Health Emergency

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Sellers Dorsey was pleased to present a webinar on April 20, hosted by Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) in partnership with Sellers Dorsey, on the ending of the public health emergency (PHE). Medicaid experts, Leesa Allen, Karen Brach, Janice Fagen, and Jill Hayden shared insights on planning strategies, Medicaid eligibility redeterminations, and the impacts the end of the PHE will have on all stakeholders.

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Leesa Allen
Before joining Sellers Dorsey, Leesa served as both the Executive Deputy Secretary for the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Commonwealth’s Medicaid Director, and prior to that as the Deputy Secretary for Medical Assistance Programs and the former Executive Medicaid Director for the Commonwealth. In this most recent role, Leesa was responsible for providing direction and oversight for the Department’s 16,000 employees and $30 billion budget, including eligibility and enrollment services, child welfare services, long-term care services for the elderly and intellectually disabled populations, behavioral health services, program integrity, and the statewide administration and oversight of the $30 billion Medicaid program. Leesa played an integral role in the design, development, and implementation of Pennsylvania’s HealthChoices managed care program, including development of the Commonwealth’s managed care waiver and contractual language and program oversight and monitoring. In addition, Leesa was responsible for implementing value-based purchasing and quality incentives for providers and managed care organizations (MCOs) within the HealthChoices program. Leesa was also an active participant with the National Association of Medicaid Directors, selected by her peers to serve on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Region, and is a 2016 Fellow of the Medicaid Leadership Institute.

Current Responsibility

Leesa provides direct client consulting and leadership services including providing objective advice, expertise, and specialized skills in the area of healthcare policy, strategy and management with the aim of creating value, maximizing growth and/or improving the business performance of clients. In addition, Leesa leads Sellers Dorsey’s Research and Policy team, which conducts timely research and tracking of state and federal legislative, regulatory, and judicial actions impacting the Medicaid Program as well as the content and development of the weekly Sellers Dorsey Digest.

Education

  • Chatham College, BA, English
Karen Brach
Karen Brach
Karen has held several executive positions for major health plans across the U.S. Before joining Sellers Dorsey, Karen was the President and CEO of Meridian Health Plan for four years. In this role, she oversaw Illinois’ Medicaid contracts and was responsible for the execution of all program requirements, contract compliance, legislative strategy, and new program development. During her time at Meridian Health Plan, Karen was an appointed member of the Medicaid Directors Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC). Before working at Meridian Health Plan, Karen served as Vice President of Medicaid Operations at BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois for four years, where she oversaw Medicaid program contracts. She was also Vice President of Business Development at UnitedHealthcare, where she was responsible for all Medicaid managed care contracts and stakeholder relationship management. Karen has also held C-level positions at Amerigroup and Bluegrass Family Health.

Career Current Responsibility

Karen is a former health plan executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the health care industry. Karen leads the Managed Care team at Sellers Dorsey, where she uses her expertise in managed care, Medicaid policy, RFP and state procurements, and mergers and acquisitions to support clients across the lifecycle of program operations and provide them with up-to-date insights and thought leadership.

Education

  • Rush University, BS, Nursing
Janice Fagen
Janice is a seasoned expert and leader in the health care industry. Most recently, Janice served as Vice President, Medicaid Operations for eight years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. In this role, she oversaw all operational aspects of the managed care program, including budget, marketing, mobile applications, network adequacy, customer service, and more. Before this role, Janice was the Executive Director at Unicare/Wellpoint Medicaid Dallas Service Area, where she led the team that receives and responds to inquiries and requests made by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She was responsible for the profit and loss of the managed care organization, and oversaw network development, community outreach, medical management, and quality management. In addition, Janice has served as Regional President for CIGNA Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and New Mexico for four years, where she was in charge of the PPO network development and provider services for commercial health insurance.

Current Responsibility

Janice Fagen is a former Medicaid health plan executive with more than 25 years of managed care leadership experience. She excels at providing strategic guidance and subject matter expertise to clients such as managed care organizations, states Medicaid agencies, and solutions partners. Janice’s areas of expertise include the following: Medicaid managed care, value-based care strategy, business development, health care operations, enrollment, stakeholder engagement, RFP and state procurements, managed care contract development, and solicitation support.

Education

  • California School of Professional Psychology, MA
  • University of California – Los Angeles, BA, Psychology

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