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Clinical Talent Management Best Practices – Models For Workforce Recruiting, Retention & Talent Optimization: The OPEN MINDS 2023 Seminar
With a little nudge from the global pandemic, digital health care has changed the relationship between clinical professionals and consumers. While this transformation was happening before the pandemic, COVID simply forced it to occur more rapidly. So too, was the impact on the available workforce—COVID did not cause the shortage of health care professionals, but it did increase the gap and halt any efforts towards bridging it. As consumer demand and expectations continue to grow, executive teams must take a strategic approach to one of the most important resources they have—their talent.
During this seminar, executive attendees will take a deep-dive into today’s workforce climate and peer into future outlooks. Using The OPEN MINDS Playbook For Optimizing Workforce Recruitment & Performance, our faculty will share strategies for recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce as well as ways to improve organizational performance to support today’s workforce. Compensation models, benefits packages, and recruitment efforts have changed and executive teams need to understand today’s workforce—where they are, what they want, and what the competition is (hint, it isn’t just in health care). This can’t miss seminar is designed specifically for today’s health and human services landscape and the talent needed moving forward. Executive attendees will learn:
- How to determine the best strategy for recruitment and retention
- How to develop a performance-based compensation model and other options
- Models for employee flexibility
- How technology can improve optimization
- How to become an “Employer of Choice”
Sharon Hicks
Sharon Hicks has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Ramona Osburn
Ramona Osburn, MBA, MHA, FACHE, brings 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field to OPEN MINDS. Prior to joining the OPEN MINDS team, Ms. Osburn served as the Regional Vice President of Operations, Strategic Behavioral Health, providing leadership, strategy, and operational support to behavioral health hospitals and outpatient centers in multiple states. In that role, she created numerous outpatient telehealth programs, developed a strategy for community-based care programming, and was responsible for business development and marketing planning.
Previously, Ms. Osburn was the Chief Executive Officer for Summit Behavioral Health. At Summit, Ms. Osburn led a program to integrate the operations of a large addiction treatment center; an addiction medicine practice with more than 40 addictionologists and psychiatrists, and a medical health care system. She facilitated the development of a strategy for the newly-integrated system, developed its marketing plan, created a physician council, and negotiated its payer contracts including pay-for-performance arrangements.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Osburn was the Market Chief Executive Officer for Universal Health Services (UHS). She was recruited to design, build, and open a new behavioral health hospital and multiple outpatient centers to support a partnership with a regional medical center. Ms. Osburn was also responsible for the operations of four other behavioral health hospitals, managing the CEOs of those facilities. In this role, Ms. Osborn also recruited psychiatrists, led a initiative to integrate behavioral health into the medical center’s emergency services, and negotiated numerous health plan contracts and partnerships.
Before UHS, Ms. Osburn was the Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health for Texas Health Resources. In that role, she provided operational leadership for multiple behavioral health hospitals, residential addiction treatment centers, eating disorder programs, and outpatient centers. She developed the organization’s direct employer contracting strategy and negotiated Center of Excellence contracts with health plans. Ms. Osborn also led Texas Health Resources involvement in an ACO initiative to integrated behavioral health with primary care and created a systemwide mobile assessment team for 55 hospital emergency departments in the greater Dallas metro area.
Ms. Osburn received her MBA and MHA from Texas Women’s University and Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Excelsior College at the University of New York.
How To Develop A New Service Line: The OPEN MINDS 2023 Seminar On Building A Diversification Strategy & Conducting A Feasibility Analysis
In the current environment of changing consumer expectations and new financial models, two essential skills that all executives need to master is the ability to evaluate and modify current services as well as to develop new services to meet the challenges in the changing market including being more financially viable and relevant to consumers. In this exciting session, we will review everything you need to know about developing a new service line starting with analyzing your current service lines to determine strategic options for diversification. Executive attendees will learn how to:
- Create a structured approach for selecting new services for your organization while ensuring they are financially sustainable
- Develop a costing model for launching new services
- Create a structured service line feasibility analysis and development process
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, Ed.M.
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, Ed.M., Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC, brings over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Ms.Cornette currently serves as a Senior Associate for OPEN MINDS and brings to the OPEN MINDS team noted expertise in strategic planning, grant writing and revenue development.
Previously, Ms. Cornette was the Vice President of Strategic Development for Tampa Family Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. In this role, she managed grants, contracts, front desk operations, training, quality assurance special assignments (risk assessments and responses to complaints), credentialing and billing functions. In a very short time period, she successfully procured funding to integrate behavioral health services, brought a system of processes to track health indicators and improve value-based care payment and service and became proficient in utilizing HRSA’s reporting portals.
As Counsel for Strategic Development at Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS) and Vice President of Business Development for Gracepoint (merger), Ms. Cornette directed strategic development, contract negotiations, revenue development, marketing and grants. In this capacity, she targeted funding sources and built a lucrative cash flow that provided needed services to vulnerable populations in need of behavioral health treatment.
Some of her most successful negotiations created best practice services for veteran’s programs, women’s services, as well those involved with the criminal justice system. Her portfolio includes a wide array of awards from a multitude of agencies including, but not limited to: SAMHSA, HUD, Centers for Medicaid, and the Department of Transportation and collaborations with private, non-profit and government entities. Most recently, she worked with Gracepoint to develop Hillsborough’s Centralized Receiving Facility, one of the first funded in the State of Florida. From a system of care for jail diversion to evidence based practices for individuals who are homeless with behavioral health needs, her awards have netted over $80 million dollars to our community.
In addition, Ms. Cornette served as the Vice President for the National Contract Management Association Suncoast Chapter, Vice President of ACTS Affordable Housing Board of Directors, Vice President of ACTS Foundation Board of Directors, and was a member of Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board. She is the recipient of University of South Florida’s 2018 Florida Outstanding Women of the Year in Public Health. Her Centralized Receiving Facility collaborative won a 2018 WEDU PBS Be Brilliant / Innovation Award. Her concept of Housing, Engagement and Retention Tenancy (HEART) program won the 2018 Heart for Homeless award through the Housing and Education Alliance.
Ms. Cornette received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Masters Degree in Health Administration from the University of South Florida.
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
Join us for an unveiling of all of our great exhibitors!
Breakfast & Registration
If you haven’t registered yet, check in with us at the registration desk and then enjoy breakfast in the exhibit hall!
Success, Stability & Stamina –Management Skillsets Needed For The Modern Behavioral Health Leader
Do you and your leadership team have the skill sets needed to meet the changing behavioral health care market? How are you and your board positioning for success? Is your team generating service line innovation, new payer or provider contract agreements, developing end to end or point solutions? How are you generating value so that you are not just surviving but driving relevancy and sustainability? During this engaging discussion, our keynote will share management tips to help you master strategy formation, generate insights into essential leadership skills and explore best practices for collaboration and communication.
Briana Duffy
Briana Duffy, National Market President for Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon Health Options), has over 25 years of leadership experience within the provider and payer behavioral health and developmental disability service sectors. Briana’s expertise is in building and transforming organizations to create stakeholder value. Common across positions held is a commitment to fulfilling mission while simultaneously leveraging strategically focused continuous quality improvement. Accomplishments include designing the model of care for one of the country’s first dual eligible programs, implementing Medicaid managed care reform across multiple states and raising a successful and overall good human, her son. She is a LSW and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from Cambridge College.
Thought Leader Discussion
Briana Duffy
Briana Duffy, National Market President for Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon Health Options), has over 25 years of leadership experience within the provider and payer behavioral health and developmental disability service sectors. Briana’s expertise is in building and transforming organizations to create stakeholder value. Common across positions held is a commitment to fulfilling mission while simultaneously leveraging strategically focused continuous quality improvement. Accomplishments include designing the model of care for one of the country’s first dual eligible programs, implementing Medicaid managed care reform across multiple states and raising a successful and overall good human, her son. She is a LSW and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from Cambridge College.
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S., Chief Executive Officer and Senior Associate, is the founder of OPEN MINDS. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. Ms. Oss is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field. She has unique expertise in payer financing models, provider rate setting, and service pricing. She has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, managed care programs, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Best Practice Models For Financial Management Of Performance-Based Contracts
In contracting with health plans, specialty provider organizations are required to take on a metrics-based approach where financial management is a key part of managing performance. Executives of health and human service provider organizations involved in performance-based contracts need to be focused on financial data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and measurement of results (lower costs, better quality services, and improved health outcomes). In this session we will discuss:
- Designing tools to provide key financial information that executive teams need for success
- Developing financial performance metrics and management reporting systems
- Ongoing review of performance data and analyzing of financial metrics
Ken Carr
Ken Carr brings over 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis and reporting experience in the health and human service field to OPEN MINDS. He currently ia a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he served as a subject matter expert in the OPEN MINDS consulting practice where he has led numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
Managed Care Models For I/DD Services
Traditional funding of services for people with intellectual development delays, including waivers and special programs, is giving way to managed care initiatives through programs like Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) federal waivers. This means that I/DD service provider organizations have to familiarize themselves with managed care processes, billing, and performance standards. During this session hear the steps that organizations should take to learn payer expectations and assure their success under these new models.
Sharon Hicks
Sharon Hicks has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Assuring Continuity Of Care & Positive Consumer Experience In Whole Person Care Models
How consumers perceive their health care experiences with provider organizations is directly related to their engagement in care, better health outcomes, and the use of unnecessary and emergency resources. Creating a positive experience for consumers involves attending to quality of, and access to care, among other factors. Join us as health care executives discuss how they are enhancing quality of care and consumer experience, focusing on:
- Designing “front door” care by utilizing hybrid, digital, and in-home models into service delivery
- Delivering whole person care by integrating primary care, behavioral health, and social services
- Measuring consumer health care access and engagement for effectiveness
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC, brings over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Ms.Cornette currently serves as a Senior Associate for OPEN MINDS and brings to the OPEN MINDS team noted expertise in strategic planning, grant writing and revenue development.
Previously, Ms. Cornette was the Vice President of Strategic Development for Tampa Family Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. In this role, she managed grants, contracts, front desk operations, training, quality assurance special assignments (risk assessments and responses to complaints), credentialing and billing functions. In a very short time period, she successfully procured funding to integrate behavioral health services, brought a system of processes to track health indicators and improve value-based care payment and service and became proficient in utilizing HRSA’s reporting portals.
As Counsel for Strategic Development at Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS) and Vice President of Business Development for Gracepoint (merger), Ms. Cornette directed strategic development, contract negotiations, revenue development, marketing and grants. In this capacity, she targeted funding sources and built a lucrative cash flow that provided needed services to vulnerable populations in need of behavioral health treatment.
Some of her most successful negotiations created best practice services for veteran’s programs, women’s services, as well those involved with the criminal justice system. Her portfolio includes a wide array of awards from a multitude of agencies including, but not limited to: SAMHSA, HUD, Centers for Medicaid, and the Department of Transportation and collaborations with private, non-profit and government entities. Most recently, she worked with Gracepoint to develop Hillsborough’s Centralized Receiving Facility, one of the first funded in the State of Florida. From a system of care for jail diversion to evidence based practices for individuals who are homeless with behavioral health needs, her awards have netted over $80 million dollars to our community.
In addition, Ms. Cornette served as the Vice President for the National Contract Management Association Suncoast Chapter, Vice President of ACTS Affordable Housing Board of Directors, Vice President of ACTS Foundation Board of Directors, and was a member of Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board. She is the recipient of University of South Florida’s 2018 Florida Outstanding Women of the Year in Public Health. Her Centralized Receiving Facility collaborative won a 2018 WEDU PBS Be Brilliant / Innovation Award. Her concept of Housing, Engagement and Retention Tenancy (HEART) program won the 2018 Heart for Homeless award through the Housing and Education Alliance.
Ms. Cornette received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Masters Degree in Health Administration from the University of South Florida.
Addressing Workforce Issues In I/DD Service Delivery
The workforce shortage affecting the entire country has had a significant impact on direct care positions. The shortage of direct support positions (DSPs) is particularly detrimental to people with I/DD who need assistance with daily living activities and presents challenges to the growth and stability of providers. Right now, there is no career path for a DSP and many DSPs still earn under $15 an hour. Providers and care management agencies are competing with businesses such as Starbucks and Target who are willing to pay the same or more per hour, offer benefits, and management opportunities. What can we do to restabilize the workforce? In this session, learn approaches that have proven successful for provider organizations dealing with the workforce issue.
Ray Wolfe, J.D.
Raymond “Ray” Wolfe, J.D. brings over 40 years of experience in the health and human services sector to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Wolfe currently serves as a Senior Associate, a position in which he utilizes his expertise to successfully lead varying projects for OPEN MINDS. His areas of expertise include managed care and value-based reimbursement models, financial analysis and management, mergers and acquisitions, CCBHC certification, integrated care, performance improvement, and strategic planning.
Before joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Wolfe served in a 22-year tenure with Pittsburgh Mercy Health System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), where he was responsible for oversight of all system operations, strategic planning, and performance management. Under his direction Pittsburgh Mercy achieved Certified Behavioral Health Center status, earned over $850K in value-based reimbursement contract quality bonus awards, integrated three organizations through merger/acquisition, opened a primary care service that was integrated into programming for the severe and persistent mentally ill and homeless populations, and adopted a new performance management program for managers.
Before acting as Pittsburgh Mercy’s COO, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and was responsible for the development of internal costing methodologies, contract rate negotiations, and financial forecasting activities. In addition, he coordinated an integrated care program with local partner hospitals to develop a series of diversion and respite programs, as well as specialized primary care, integrated care management, and high utilizer teams, while maintaining 15 straight years of profitability.
Mr. Wolfe was promoted to CFO after serving as the Director of Fiscal and Information Security/Compliance for the health system. In this role, he was responsible for managing the transition of service contracts from fee-for-service (FFS), leading all compliance activities, and implementing a next-generation electronic health record (EHR) system.
Prior to his time at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Mr. Wolfe served as Chief Fiscal Officer with the Summit Center for Human Development in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he was responsible for reporting and budgeting functions and preparing Summit Center’s programs for FFS billing.
Previously, Mr. Wolfe served in billing and collections for two Pennsylvania-based hospitals. First, in his role as a manager for Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) and as an Accounts Receivables Manager for Brownsville General Hospital in Brownsville, PA, where he managed the accounting and billing system transition systems. Later as a Patient Account Manager for St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, where he improved collections to hit a 95% rate through the implementation of new billing software and department reorganization.
Prior to working in the health and human services market, Mr. Wolfe spent five years practicing as a Lawyer with at Law Offices of Arch A. Moore in Moundsville, WV. In this role, he provided general legal practice, created and established bylaws for multiple corporations, and handled West Virginia licensing of first vision insurance plan.
Mr. Wolfe earned his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University School of Law in Morgantown, WV and his Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Political Science and Sociology from West Liberty University, Wheeling, West Virginia, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Business Continuity Planning – What It Is & How It Is Distinct From Disaster Recovery Planning
Brought to light from the pandemic, provider organizations are thinking about business continuity planning with more urgency. Whether it be the effects from a global pandemic, nature disaster, or a cyber-attack, executives need to have a plan in place to keep their operations up and moving in the event of an emergency. Hear case studies from organizations that:
- Successfully navigated through a business operations crisis
- Are developing strategies for continued sustainability during and after a crisis
- Best practices in crisis planning for prevention and recovery
Carol Clayton, Ph.D.
Dr. Carol Clayton is a licensed, psychologist with 30 years of health care experience in the public and private sector, including non-profit and private practice work. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS as a Senior Consultant, she retired as the Translational Neuroscientist for Relias, where she specialized in health care solutions targeting workforce development and population health outcome improvement. Before joining Relias, Dr. Clayton was the CEO of Care Management Technologies, a health IT data analytics company. She also served as the Executive Director of the NC Council of Community Programs from 2000-2006. The NC Council is the predecessor organization to i2i.
Lunch On Your Own
Post Lunch Pick Me Up
Don’t miss this after lunch break in the exhibit hall for a special treat!
Making Strategy Work – Best Practices For Implementing Your Strategic Plan
You’ve developed your strategic plan – now what? How do you ensure successful implementation of that strategic plan once it’s complete? In this session we will hear tips used by executive leaders on doing just that, including goal setting, achieving early wins, continually measuring results, and adjusting the plan as necessary. Join us as we discuss:
- Overcoming the barriers and challenges of implementing your strategic plan
- Measuring progress and keeping focused on the big strategic picture
- Developing your workforce for successful implementation of the plan
Debra Manners
Debra Manners will be speaking in Making Strategy Work – Best Practices For Implementing Your Strategic Plan.
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, Ed.M.
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, Ed.M., Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
CalAim Session
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Leveraging Technology In The Delivery Of I/DD Services
As health care service delivery embraces technology, including wearables and smart monitoring devices, opportunities exist to use these devices to extend staffing capabilities, empower service recipients, extend the opportunities for safety monitoring into the community, and more. Many see the development of technology as a means to address the growing direct support position (DSP) shortage. In this session we will hear from organizations that have used newer technologies with their service populations and learn about best practices for evaluating and implementing technology in the I/DD space.
Amy Jacobs-Schroeder
Amy is speaking during Leveraging Technology In The Delivery Of I/DD Services.
Michael Vallejo, MS
Sharon Hicks
Sharon Hicks has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Developing & Contracting For Community Support Services For High-Risk, High-Needs Consumers
Successful treatment requires focusing on the needs of the consumer. In developing services for consumers with multiple behavioral, medical, and social support needs, provider organizations are turning to new delivery models such as in-home care, telehealth, and remote monitoring. In addition, value-based treatment provides incentives for higher service quality, keeping consumers out of the more costly hospital and emergency services, and facilitates innovation to meet the needs of consumers with high needs. This session will cover:
- Serving consumers where they are and opening up access points
- Integrating robust data and reporting capabilities into service delivery
- Developing a mindset of innovation to meet consumer needs and take on risk
Ontson Placide
Ontson is speaking during Developing & Contracting For Community Support Services For High-Risk, High-Needs Consumers.
Ramona Osburn
Ramona Osburn, MBA, MHA, FACHE, brings 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field to OPEN MINDS. Prior to joining the OPEN MINDS team, Ms. Osburn served as the Regional Vice President of Operations, Strategic Behavioral Health, providing leadership, strategy, and operational support to behavioral health hospitals and outpatient centers in multiple states. In that role, she created numerous outpatient telehealth programs, developed a strategy for community-based care programming, and was responsible for business development and marketing planning.
Previously, Ms. Osburn was the Chief Executive Officer for Summit Behavioral Health. At Summit, Ms. Osburn led a program to integrate the operations of a large addiction treatment center; an addiction medicine practice with more than 40 addictionologists and psychiatrists, and a medical health care system. She facilitated the development of a strategy for the newly-integrated system, developed its marketing plan, created a physician council, and negotiated its payer contracts including pay-for-performance arrangements.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Osburn was the Market Chief Executive Officer for Universal Health Services (UHS). She was recruited to design, build, and open a new behavioral health hospital and multiple outpatient centers to support a partnership with a regional medical center. Ms. Osburn was also responsible for the operations of four other behavioral health hospitals, managing the CEOs of those facilities. In this role, Ms. Osborn also recruited psychiatrists, led a initiative to integrate behavioral health into the medical center’s emergency services, and negotiated numerous health plan contracts and partnerships.
Before UHS, Ms. Osburn was the Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health for Texas Health Resources. In that role, she provided operational leadership for multiple behavioral health hospitals, residential addiction treatment centers, eating disorder programs, and outpatient centers. She developed the organization’s direct employer contracting strategy and negotiated Center of Excellence contracts with health plans. Ms. Osborn also led Texas Health Resources involvement in an ACO initiative to integrated behavioral health with primary care and created a systemwide mobile assessment team for 55 hospital emergency departments in the greater Dallas metro area.
Ms. Osburn received her MBA and MHA from Texas Women’s University and Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Excelsior College at the University of New York.
Models of Reimbursement & Payment For I/DD Service Delivery
While managed care and value-based payment arrangements are growing in the traditional mental health and substance use markets, the I/DD landscape is just beginning to see these types of processes becoming more commonplace. In this session you will hear from executive leaders to learn about best practices and pain points for I/DD provider organizations in adapting to these newer payment models, as well as aligning incentives to provide the most service value to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Marco Damiani
Marco Damiani has spent his entire career in disability rights, fighting for full inclusion of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities into their communities. Starting as a Direct Support Professional, working for a non-profit at the Willowbrook State School as it began closing, he quickly realized the power of collective advocacy on behalf of people who are perceived as different. As Marco’s career progressed, he devoted much of his energy in working to achieve health equity for people with disabilities, playing a major role in developing integrated care models for people frequently underserved by the conventional healthcare system.
As CEO of AHRC NYC, a Forbes Best American mid-size company, he leads a staff of 5,000, supporting 15,000 individuals with IDD and their families.
Marco is an appointee to the NYU College of Dentistry Dean’s Strategic Advisory Council and is a recipient of the Kriser Medal, the College’s highest honor, a recipient of Pace University’s Opportunitas-in-Action Medal, The Arc of the United States National Convention of Executives Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, a Certificate of Special U.S. Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community, Crain’s Business and Empire BCBS Whole-Healthcare Hero and The Excellence in Autism Award from Mental Health News Education. He has also received Citations from The NYS Assembly and the Bronx Borough President for Meritorious Advocacy and Community Service.
He is a Mayoral Appointee of the NYC Community Services Board, a member of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Transition Team, Board Member of the Inter-Agency Council of IDD Agencies, NY Disability Advocates, Care Design NY, Metro Community Health Centers, and Cafe Joyeux U.S., an international network of cafes staffed primarily by neurodiverse people. He has published articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities and the Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, among others. Marco has a BS in psychology from Manhattan College, a Masters in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University, and is ABD in Educational Psychology from New York University.
Ray Wolfe, J.D.
Raymond “Ray” Wolfe, J.D. brings over 40 years of experience in the health and human services sector to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Wolfe currently serves as a Senior Associate, a position in which he utilizes his expertise to successfully lead varying projects for OPEN MINDS. His areas of expertise include managed care and value-based reimbursement models, financial analysis and management, mergers and acquisitions, CCBHC certification, integrated care, performance improvement, and strategic planning.
Before joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Wolfe served in a 22-year tenure with Pittsburgh Mercy Health System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), where he was responsible for oversight of all system operations, strategic planning, and performance management. Under his direction Pittsburgh Mercy achieved Certified Behavioral Health Center status, earned over $850K in value-based reimbursement contract quality bonus awards, integrated three organizations through merger/acquisition, opened a primary care service that was integrated into programming for the severe and persistent mentally ill and homeless populations, and adopted a new performance management program for managers.
Before acting as Pittsburgh Mercy’s COO, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and was responsible for the development of internal costing methodologies, contract rate negotiations, and financial forecasting activities. In addition, he coordinated an integrated care program with local partner hospitals to develop a series of diversion and respite programs, as well as specialized primary care, integrated care management, and high utilizer teams, while maintaining 15 straight years of profitability.
Mr. Wolfe was promoted to CFO after serving as the Director of Fiscal and Information Security/Compliance for the health system. In this role, he was responsible for managing the transition of service contracts from fee-for-service (FFS), leading all compliance activities, and implementing a next-generation electronic health record (EHR) system.
Prior to his time at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Mr. Wolfe served as Chief Fiscal Officer with the Summit Center for Human Development in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he was responsible for reporting and budgeting functions and preparing Summit Center’s programs for FFS billing.
Previously, Mr. Wolfe served in billing and collections for two Pennsylvania-based hospitals. First, in his role as a manager for Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) and as an Accounts Receivables Manager for Brownsville General Hospital in Brownsville, PA, where he managed the accounting and billing system transition systems. Later as a Patient Account Manager for St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, where he improved collections to hit a 95% rate through the implementation of new billing software and department reorganization.
Prior to working in the health and human services market, Mr. Wolfe spent five years practicing as a Lawyer with at Law Offices of Arch A. Moore in Moundsville, WV. In this role, he provided general legal practice, created and established bylaws for multiple corporations, and handled West Virginia licensing of first vision insurance plan.
Mr. Wolfe earned his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University School of Law in Morgantown, WV and his Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Political Science and Sociology from West Liberty University, Wheeling, West Virginia, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Developing Home Care Programs For Consumers With Behavioral Health Needs: A Case Study Presentation
With rising demand for home-based care and more types of provider organizations entering this space, health and human service executives are considering adding home-based services to their portfolios. With new consumer and payer needs, telehealth, remote monitoring, and other digital technologies, it’s hard to know where start. Join us for a case study discussion on home-based care models to serve consumers with behavioral health needs, where panelists will discuss:
- How home-based services fits into your overall organizational strategy
- Designing home-based services for different consumer groups and needs
- Integrating technology into the service delivery model
April Rhodes, MBA, LAMFT
April Rhodes, MBA, LAMFT is President and Chief Executive Officer for Spectrum Healthcare Group. Through statewide community solutions, and focused care, April and her team are meeting the whole health needs of Arizona’s populations.
April has served at the forefront of healthcare and human services management for nearly two decades. Her unique brand of leadership has successfully launched whole healthcare delivery into new heights of innovation, defragmentation, integration, and cohesion.
April has a Master of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Arizona. April is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.
April Rhodes currently serves on the Board of Directors for Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, Yavapai County Board of Health, and Yavapai College Foundation Board. Additionally, she serves on the Contexture Board, the health information exchange for Arizona and Colorado. April is considered a subject matter expert on topics relating to leadership, whole-person healthcare, value-based purchasing, access to care, and criminal justice and mental health related community-based services.
April is speaking during Developing Home Care Programs For Consumers With Behavioral Health Needs: A Case Study Presentation and Leveraging Technology To Improve Productivity & Consumer Engagement In Home-Based Programs.
Frank Gutierrez
Frank has worked in healthcare IT departments since 2002 where he got his start at Siemen’s International, supporting branches of the Tenet Healthcare hospitals in Southern California. He studied programming in college from machine code to C++, where he discovered that he actually liked working and interacting with people instead of computer screens. With a base understanding of computer science, Frank has primarily been self-taught in modern programming languages, servers, systems, networks and business solutions for healthcare IT. For over eight years, he managed and supported the Northern Arizona region of LabCorp sites. He designed and wrote several custom programs for LabCorp, some of which are still in use today. He has also provided IT consulting services for various physicians and group practices in Arizona. He currently works as the VP of Information Technology at Spectrum Healthcare, where he can regularly be found providing services to patients or filling in wherever the need is greatest at the agency.
Frank is speaking during Developing Home Care Programs For Consumers With Behavioral Health Needs: A Case Study Presentation and Leveraging Technology To Improve Productivity & Consumer Engagement In Home-Based Programs.
Dee DeWitt
Executive Networking Reception
End your day by unwinding with your peers, colleagues, thought leaders and vendors. Join us in the exhibit hall and enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeurvres!
Breakfast
Join us for a hot breakfast and coffee in the exhibit hall to start your day!
Keynote
Sachin Jain, MD, MBA, FACP
Thought Leader Discussion
Sachin Jain, MD, MBA, FACP
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Improving Your Revenue Cycle Management & Revenue Optimization in FFS, Bundled Rates & Capitated Contracts
Achieving sustainability in turbulent times, executives of health and human service provider organizations are adjusting their strategies and operations, including revenue cycle management. Crucial to revenue cycle management are clearly articulated workflows, staff communications, technology integration, and regular oversight. How do you go about ensuring that your strategy supports sustainability? Hear from executives on how they are:
- Enhancing administrative functions for capturing consumer service revenue
- Configuring billing and EHR systems with contracting and tracking of outcomes data
- Managing performance data, contracts review, and payer relationships
Ken Carr
Ken Carr brings over 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis and reporting experience in the health and human service field to OPEN MINDS. He currently ia a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he served as a subject matter expert in the OPEN MINDS consulting practice where he has led numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
Innovative Program Approaches To Home-Based Services For Children
Early childhood home-based services are a service delivery strategy for families to achieve positive parenting and healthy child development outcomes. Educational, family, and referral services are key components of home-based programs. Based on decades of research, these service designs aim to support the healthy functioning of families, parenting, and child development. Various home-based models are used by communities, each targeting a different group of families and focusing on achieving different outcomes. Can home-based services improve outcomes more efficiently? Can the overall effects be strengthened for vulnerable families who enroll but fail to benefit from current models? These are questions that will be addressed as attendees learn:
- What works and for whom
- Examples of innovative program approaches
- Ways to improve target outcomes through home-based services
Don Taylor
Don Taylor is the regional executive director of the Bay Area for Pacific Clinics. In this capacity, he oversees the clinical programs in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Alameda Counties, plus neighboring counties, through our foster care and adoptions program. Having nearly 30 years of experience in mental health, Taylor has served in various clinical roles with progressive levels of responsibility, including director, clinical manager, clinician and family specialist, as well as led the regional quality assurance and improvement team. Prior to joining Pacific Clinics, he worked at nonprofits in Rhode Island and Chicago. Taylor is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and received his master’s in social work from San Jose State University.
Don is speaking during Innovative Program Approaches To Home-Based Services For Children.
Anna Fernandez, LMFT
Anna Fernandez is the Director of Mental Health for Hope Services. Since 1952, Hope Services has delivered a range of services to thousands of people with developmental disabilities. In this capacity, she oversees the clinical programs in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz plus neighboring counties, through Hope’s Mental Health Services. Having nearly 25 years of experience in mental health, Anna Fernandez has served in various clinical roles with progressive levels of responsibility, including Director, Clinical manager, Coordinator and Clinician. Anna Fernandez is also serving as the vice-president of the Behavioral Health Contract Association of Santa Clara County. Anna Fernandez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and received his master’s in marriage and family therapy from Santa Clara University.
Anna is speaking during Innovative Program Approaches To Home-Based Services For Children.
Tara Beckman, LCSW
Tara is speaking during Innovative Program Approaches To Home-Based Services For Children.
Dee DeWitt
The Cigna/Evernorth Centers Of Excellence Model: A Briefing & Discussion Session
William M. Lopez, MD, CPE
As the National Medical Director for Virtual Care Dr. Will Lopez is the clinical leader in the implementation of Evernorth and Cigna Healthcare’s national virtual care strategy. In this role he is directly involved in coverage policy development, reimbursement, government affairs issues, and assessing new technologies coming to market. In addition he oversees a medical director’s team responsible for medical necessity reviews, case management, and claims activities. He provides clinical expertise to Cigna’s sales and marketing teams during client and stakeholder meetings.
Prior to joining Cigna in 2006, Dr. Lopez was a staff psychiatrist and Medical Director for psychiatric services at Snowden at Fredericksburg, a private behavioral health center in Virginia. Dr. Lopez was a captain in the U.S. Air Force where he practiced aerospace medicine. As a veteran of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he is passionate about supporting and leading veteran related initiatives.
Dr. Lopez lives in Asheville, NC with his wife and youngest daughter who is a junior at NC State University. When not at work, he enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, bicycling, and whitewater rafting.
Will is speaking during The Cigna/Evernorth Centers Of Excellence Model: A Briefing & Discussion Session.
New Approaches For Community Reentry Services For Corrections-Involved Consumers
In providing services for justice-involved consumers, policymakers, payers, and provider organizations are focusing on services related to the transition of justice-involved consumers from incarceration to community. The mix of services needs involves medical, behavioral health, housing, employment, and family supports. The goal is to innovate and improve access to and quality of care for both incarcerated and post-release populations, to assist with their reentry into the community. Hear from a panel of experts on:
- Overcoming barriers to successful reentry and achieving optimal outcomes
- Attaining the right service line portfolio for stable jobs, housing, family supports, etc.
- Best practices and guidelines for reducing recidivism and managing costs
Tommie Baines, J.D., MSW, MPA
Tommie is speaking during New Approaches For Community Reentry Services For Corrections-Involved Consumers.
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Replication Of Successful Service Lines – Strategies For Market Expansion
Successful service lines align with consumer preferences, payer needs and generate a positive margin. Strategies that take them to scale like geographic expansion and remote technologies maximize the mission impact and financial sustainability of the organization. This session will focus on case studies of organizations that have successfully expanded the market for their services.
- Identifying markets for service expansion
- Financial modeling for market expansion
- Using technology to facilitate service line replication
Robert Poznanovich
Robert is speaking during Replication Of Successful Service Lines – Strategies For Market Expansion.
Ken Carr
Ken Carr brings over 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis and reporting experience in the health and human service field to OPEN MINDS. He currently ia a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he served as a subject matter expert in the OPEN MINDS consulting practice where he has led numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
Leveraging Technology To Improve Productivity & Consumer Engagement In Home-Based Programs
Impacted by the recent pandemic, individuals, families, employment, child-care, and supports for these groups and activities spiraled. As a result, challenges such as stress, lack of caregiving options and lack of treatment access increased. A great need existed for home-based services, while traditional service delivery was significantly impeded. Funding flexibility in service reimbursement and evaluation requirements to support the shift to virtual services was introduced. This presented an opportunity to utilize technology to engage care in home-based settings. During this time, home-based service programs quickly swiveled, strengthening access to high-quality services through technology in order to support gaps in care for families and individuals. Significant strategies included providing access to the internet, technology tutorials and increased access to care. The concept of virtual services was already seen as a promising method to access, engage, improve quality of care, and engage homebound individuals before the pandemic.
So, how can an organization work to improve productivity while engaging patients in home-based programs? In this session, attendees will learn:
- Examples of technology used to improve staff productivity
- Models of Consumer Engagement
- How to maintain a high rate of service provision (e.g., maintenance of services, home visitor caseloads, program completion rates)
April Rhodes, MBA, LAMFT
April Rhodes, MBA, LAMFT is President and Chief Executive Officer for Spectrum Healthcare Group. Through statewide community solutions, and focused care, April and her team are meeting the whole health needs of Arizona’s populations.
April has served at the forefront of healthcare and human services management for nearly two decades. Her unique brand of leadership has successfully launched whole healthcare delivery into new heights of innovation, defragmentation, integration, and cohesion.
April has a Master of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Arizona. April is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.
April Rhodes currently serves on the Board of Directors for Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, Yavapai County Board of Health, and Yavapai College Foundation Board. Additionally, she serves on the Contexture Board, the health information exchange for Arizona and Colorado. April is considered a subject matter expert on topics relating to leadership, whole-person healthcare, value-based purchasing, access to care, and criminal justice and mental health related community-based services.
April is speaking during Developing Home Care Programs For Consumers With Behavioral Health Needs: A Case Study Presentation and Leveraging Technology To Improve Productivity & Consumer Engagement In Home-Based Programs.
Frank Gutierrez
Frank has worked in healthcare IT departments since 2002 where he got his start at Siemen’s International, supporting branches of the Tenet Healthcare hospitals in Southern California. He studied programming in college from machine code to C++, where he discovered that he actually liked working and interacting with people instead of computer screens. With a base understanding of computer science, Frank has primarily been self-taught in modern programming languages, servers, systems, networks and business solutions for healthcare IT. For over eight years, he managed and supported the Northern Arizona region of LabCorp sites. He designed and wrote several custom programs for LabCorp, some of which are still in use today. He has also provided IT consulting services for various physicians and group practices in Arizona. He currently works as the VP of Information Technology at Spectrum Healthcare, where he can regularly be found providing services to patients or filling in wherever the need is greatest at the agency.
Frank is speaking during Developing Home Care Programs For Consumers With Behavioral Health Needs: A Case Study Presentation and Leveraging Technology To Improve Productivity & Consumer Engagement In Home-Based Programs.
Dee DeWitt
Lunch On Your Own
Post Lunch Pick Me Up
Need an after lunch break? Come pick up a snack in the exhibit hall!
Business Management Best Practices In Community-Based Organizations
Having exceptional practice management processes in place allows provider organizations to run more efficiently and effectively. This includes better revenue cycle management, financial and administrative operations. During this case study session, attendees will learn techniques on how to improve revenue reimbursement in their day-to-day operations, including:
- Improving financial performance, e.g., managing accounts receivable
- Preparing for compliance, audits, and financial reporting
- Building more efficient billing practices to closeout quicker and accurately
Sharon Hicks
Sharon Hicks has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Home-Based Service Models For Consumers With Cognitive & Physical Health Challenges
Behavioral health and health care is moving from the office to the home. The purpose of home health care is to promote, maintain, restore, or maximize the level of independence of care recipients while minimizing the effects of disabilities and illnesses. Home health care includes a range of medical and therapeutic services including applied behavior analysis (ABA), 24-hour residential support, Enhanced Case Management, Severe Behavior Services and Crisis Intervention. A growing number of healthcare services are being provided in the care recipient’s home due to the urgency of a continuing care plans, specialty needs, and as an extension or adjunct to primary care. Home health care offers the advantages of cost efficiencies, support in place and independence. Understanding the needs of providers and care recipients is vital to the optimization of whole-person health.
Attendees will learn:
- What is a “home” setting (group home, individual home)
- How to define the difference between home vs. community care
- Model programs, case examples and supports that are effective in the home-based models versus community-based model to provide effective treatment, quality of life and comfort of care.
Paula Pompas-Craven
Dr. Paula Pompa-Craven brings over 25 years of experience in non-profit leadership positions to OPEN MINDS as an Advisory Board Member.
In addition to her work with OPEN MINDS, Dr. Pompa-Craven is the Chief Clinical Officer and a Licensed Psychologist at Easterseals Southern California. In this role, Dr. Pompa-Craven leads the autism service line throughout an eight-county region in Southern California, including operations, clinical, project, and program management. She is responsible for the clinical and operational oversight including service provision to 12,000 individuals with autism and their families and 1400 staff throughout Southern California. Dr. Pompa- Craven also oversees the clinical case consultation for multi-diagnoses and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) clinical teams in this role. Dr. Pompa-Craven oversees a research lab focused on client outcomes, satisfaction, advocacy and staff retention. Dr. Pompa-Craven has several recent publications in peer reviewed journals.
In her long tenure at Easterseals Southern California, Dr. Pompa-Craven has held multiple positions. Prior to becoming Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Pompa-Craven was Regional Vice President of Easterseals Southern California. In this position, she led the start-up and development of a Residential Service line resulting in the development of 15 homes in the community for a number of people who had previously spent most of their lives in instinctual settings. Dr. Pompa-Craven also supervised The Directors of Residential Services and Support Living Services in this role. Dr. Pompa-Craven was also the Director of Foundations and Grants at Easterseals Southern California. In this position, she led and collaborated with the foundation’s team to develop appropriate funding targets and maintain grants and the foundation database. She researched, wrote, and provided consultation to Easterseals programs for federal, state, and community grants and foundation requests. Additionally, Dr. Pompa-Craven held the position of Northern and Western Los Angeles County Regional Director for Easterseals Southern California, where she led the operations of infant, child, and adult social service programs in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, and West Los Angeles areas.
After receiving her doctorate, Dr. Pompa-Craven was a Registered Psychology Assistant for Rene Folse, Inc., J.D., Ph.D. In this role, Dr. Pompa-Craven conducted psychological assessments on children and adults for regional center eligibility, social security benefits, requests for conservatorship, and individual educational planning. She also provided behavioral planning for individuals residing in a group home and provided training and monitoring of written behavioral plans.
Dr. Pompa-Craven was also a Consultant for the Kern Regional Center in California, where she provided and managed the person-center assessment, evaluation, and planning with individuals moving from State Development Center and provided technical assistance and training to the Inyo and Mono County Self-Determination Initiative. Dr. Pompa-Craven also participated in state-wide committees and conference presentations for both projects.
Dr. Pompa-Craven graduated with a Doctorate in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2000. Dr. Pompa-Craven also holds a Master’s in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 1995. In 991, Dr. Pompa-Craven graduated from the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Pompa-Craven is also a member of numerous boards and committees including the American Psychological Association, the Association for Behavior Analysis, the California Psychological Association, the Conejo Valley Parent Teacher Student Association, the Kaiser Permanent Autism Service Steering Committee, the Autism Society of America, California Associate for Behavior Analysis, Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, Easterseals Autism Spokesperson Network, and National Charity League Vista Robles Chapter.
Paula is speaking during Home-Based Service Models For Consumers With Cognitive & Physical Health Challenges.
Angela Yen
Angela Yen is a dedicated behavior analyst with over 15 years of experience working with complex, underserved populations. After receiving her master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in autism spectrum disorders, she pursued her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Since then, she has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, residential facilities, and community organizations, helping individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health disorders and other unique needs.
Angela has demonstrated a commitment to delivering innovative and effective individualized interventions for her clients. She has also provided training and consultation to other professionals and organizations, helping to expand the use of evidence-based practices in the field.
At Easterseals Southern California, Angela oversees both the Consultation Services and the Crisis Support Services Departments. She believes in collaborative approach that emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with individuals and their systems of support to create linkages and build capacity.
Angela is interested in research topics related to trauma informed care and organizational behavior management. She is passionate about what she does and looks forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of those she serves.
Angela is speaking during Home-Based Service Models For Consumers With Cognitive & Physical Health Challenges.
Rick Gutierrez, Ph.D., BCBA
Rick Gutierrez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist in California. He has a Doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology as well as a Masters in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. He has over 25 years of applied experience working in the clinical, community, and school settings. He has provided numerous workshops on Applied Behavior Analysis across Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. Further, he has provided international consultation to clinics serving individuals diagnosed with a developmental disability around the globe.
Currently, Dr. Gutierrez is the Vice President of Operations and Clinical Strategy for Easterseals Southern California Autism Services. He is responsible for the oversight of the intake, contracting, new development, and network provider services provided by Easterseals Southern California. Dr. Gutierrez has extensive experience in staff training, employee retention, employee engagement, as well as the treatment of individuals diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. He is an emotional intelligence trainer. He has published research in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. His research interests are in social skills, verbal behavior, problem behavior, and organizational behavior management.
Rick is speaking during Home-Based Service Models For Consumers With Cognitive & Physical Health Challenges.
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC, brings over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Ms.Cornette currently serves as a Senior Associate for OPEN MINDS and brings to the OPEN MINDS team noted expertise in strategic planning, grant writing and revenue development.
Previously, Ms. Cornette was the Vice President of Strategic Development for Tampa Family Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. In this role, she managed grants, contracts, front desk operations, training, quality assurance special assignments (risk assessments and responses to complaints), credentialing and billing functions. In a very short time period, she successfully procured funding to integrate behavioral health services, brought a system of processes to track health indicators and improve value-based care payment and service and became proficient in utilizing HRSA’s reporting portals.
As Counsel for Strategic Development at Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS) and Vice President of Business Development for Gracepoint (merger), Ms. Cornette directed strategic development, contract negotiations, revenue development, marketing and grants. In this capacity, she targeted funding sources and built a lucrative cash flow that provided needed services to vulnerable populations in need of behavioral health treatment.
Some of her most successful negotiations created best practice services for veteran’s programs, women’s services, as well those involved with the criminal justice system. Her portfolio includes a wide array of awards from a multitude of agencies including, but not limited to: SAMHSA, HUD, Centers for Medicaid, and the Department of Transportation and collaborations with private, non-profit and government entities. Most recently, she worked with Gracepoint to develop Hillsborough’s Centralized Receiving Facility, one of the first funded in the State of Florida. From a system of care for jail diversion to evidence based practices for individuals who are homeless with behavioral health needs, her awards have netted over $80 million dollars to our community.
In addition, Ms. Cornette served as the Vice President for the National Contract Management Association Suncoast Chapter, Vice President of ACTS Affordable Housing Board of Directors, Vice President of ACTS Foundation Board of Directors, and was a member of Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board. She is the recipient of University of South Florida’s 2018 Florida Outstanding Women of the Year in Public Health. Her Centralized Receiving Facility collaborative won a 2018 WEDU PBS Be Brilliant / Innovation Award. Her concept of Housing, Engagement and Retention Tenancy (HEART) program won the 2018 Heart for Homeless award through the Housing and Education Alliance.
Ms. Cornette received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Masters Degree in Health Administration from the University of South Florida.
Identifying & Addressing Burnout In Middle Management
Even before the pandemic, long-term stress and burnout was a significant issue facing the health and human service industry. Symptoms may include increased fatigue or irritability, lack of focus and concentration, physical or mental illness, diminished productivity, and apathy. However, by providing a culture where middle managers feel supported, provider organizations can reduce burnout and improve retention and productivity. Hear organizational case studies on how health and human service providers are approaching stress and burnout among middle managers, including:
- Developing a middle management wellness and support plan
- Creating a positive work culture
- Recruiting and retaining the right staff
Amanda Nugent Divine, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., LMFT
Dr. Amanda Nugent Divine, is the CEO of Kings View, a behavioral health and Information Technology company operating in thirty-six counties throughout the fifty-eight in California. As a Chief Executive Officer, Amanda brings experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit health related businesses. She is an enthusiastic leader dedicated to creating a positive and productive work culture, setting impactful strategies, building an effective and healthy executive team and company culture, and developing data driven processes that get results.
She holds a BA in Sociology, an MS in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Arts in Media Psychology, and a PhD in Psychology with a focus in Media and Technology. She is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and has worked as a Subject Matter Expert Consultant for the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences for over 5 years.
Additionally, Amanda serves as a board member for California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies and has experience working as a Clinical Director in both mental health and substance use disorder treatment settings, and teaching Psychology as adjunct faculty.
You might hear Amanda on KMJ, where she delivers regularly the “Mental Health Minute with Amanda Nugent Divine.”
Amanda attended university on a theater scholarship and worked in the film industry as an actress, writer, producer, and director for ten years in Los Angeles before meeting her husband Eric Divine and relocating to Fresno assuming her current role. In her free time, Amanda loves spending time outdoors traveling to remote corners of the world and hiking with her husband, their six children and their three dogs.
Amanda is speaking during Identifying & Addressing Burnout In Middle Management.
Ray Wolfe, J.D.
Raymond “Ray” Wolfe, J.D. brings over 40 years of experience in the health and human services sector to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Wolfe currently serves as a Senior Associate, a position in which he utilizes his expertise to successfully lead varying projects for OPEN MINDS. His areas of expertise include managed care and value-based reimbursement models, financial analysis and management, mergers and acquisitions, CCBHC certification, integrated care, performance improvement, and strategic planning.
Before joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Wolfe served in a 22-year tenure with Pittsburgh Mercy Health System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), where he was responsible for oversight of all system operations, strategic planning, and performance management. Under his direction Pittsburgh Mercy achieved Certified Behavioral Health Center status, earned over $850K in value-based reimbursement contract quality bonus awards, integrated three organizations through merger/acquisition, opened a primary care service that was integrated into programming for the severe and persistent mentally ill and homeless populations, and adopted a new performance management program for managers.
Before acting as Pittsburgh Mercy’s COO, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and was responsible for the development of internal costing methodologies, contract rate negotiations, and financial forecasting activities. In addition, he coordinated an integrated care program with local partner hospitals to develop a series of diversion and respite programs, as well as specialized primary care, integrated care management, and high utilizer teams, while maintaining 15 straight years of profitability.
Mr. Wolfe was promoted to CFO after serving as the Director of Fiscal and Information Security/Compliance for the health system. In this role, he was responsible for managing the transition of service contracts from fee-for-service (FFS), leading all compliance activities, and implementing a next-generation electronic health record (EHR) system.
Prior to his time at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Mr. Wolfe served as Chief Fiscal Officer with the Summit Center for Human Development in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he was responsible for reporting and budgeting functions and preparing Summit Center’s programs for FFS billing.
Previously, Mr. Wolfe served in billing and collections for two Pennsylvania-based hospitals. First, in his role as a manager for Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) and as an Accounts Receivables Manager for Brownsville General Hospital in Brownsville, PA, where he managed the accounting and billing system transition systems. Later as a Patient Account Manager for St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, where he improved collections to hit a 95% rate through the implementation of new billing software and department reorganization.
Prior to working in the health and human services market, Mr. Wolfe spent five years practicing as a Lawyer with at Law Offices of Arch A. Moore in Moundsville, WV. In this role, he provided general legal practice, created and established bylaws for multiple corporations, and handled West Virginia licensing of first vision insurance plan.
Mr. Wolfe earned his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University School of Law in Morgantown, WV and his Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Political Science and Sociology from West Liberty University, Wheeling, West Virginia, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Raffle Prize Drawing
Held in the exhibit hall – join us to see if you’ve won any of the great prizes provided by our generous exhibitors!
Lauren Evangelist
Going The Distance – Managing Through Times Of Uncertainty
Navigating through market turbulence in the health and human services industry rests on building a strong foundation. To keep systems and processes on track, while making strategic adjustments when markets shift, requires excellence in management and implementation of best practices throughout the organization. In getting the best out of serving consumers with complex needs, today’s leaders need to stay focused on talent management, service line optimization, maintaining peak performance, making wise technology investments, and more. Join us for our closing keynote with OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer, Monica E. Oss, as she discusses the organizational and management skills that executive leaders need to be successful and go the distance.
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S., Chief Executive Officer and Senior Associate, is the founder of OPEN MINDS. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. Ms. Oss is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field. She has unique expertise in payer financing models, provider rate setting, and service pricing. She has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, managed care programs, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.