Earlier this year, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officially began covering doulas through Medicaid. State Senator Erika Geiss (D – Taylor) and Kiddada Green, Founding Executive Director at Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association, shared their insights about Michigan’s newly enacted policy. State of Reform: What inspired you to compose your … Read more
Tracy Gruber is the Executive Director of the newly merged Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The merger of DHHS became official July 1st in efforts to streamline operations between the Department of Health and Department of Human Services. In this Q&A, Gruber discusses the benefits of the merger and the next steps … Read more
Jared Sanford is the President and CEO of Valley Behavioral Health in Utah. Before Valley, Sanford was President and CEO of Lifeline Connections, a substance use and mental health treatment facility in Vancouver, WA. In this Q&A, Sanford talks with State of Reform about how workforce shortages are impacting Valley’s work, how the workforce shortage … Read more
Linda Vail is the Health Officer at Ingham County Health Department. Before that, she spent 11 years as Director of Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services. She recently spoke about how misinformation has impacted health care at our 2022 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference. In this Q&A, Vail discusses how her work is … Read more
Matt Hansen is the Executive Director of the Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah (HHAU). Previously, he worked as an independent strategic consultant with a health care industry focus. Hansen recently spoke on the implications of moving care into the home at our 2022 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference in Salt Lake City. … Read more
Stephen Foxley is the director of public affairs and government relations at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. Before that, he worked as an associate at Foxley & Pignanelli. Foxley is speaking about this year’s legislative session at our upcoming 2022 Utah State of Reform Health Policy Conference on April 7th in Salt Lake City. In … Read more
Peter Weir, M.D. is the executive medical director of population health at University of Utah Health (U of U Health). Weir helps lead the Intensive Outpatient Clinic (IOC), a clinic focused on addressing the social determinants of health by integrating physical and behavioral health. Weir will speak about Utah’s continuing effort to address social determinants … Read more
Dianne Primavera is the Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and leads the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care and the Office of eHealth Innovation. She was formerly a state legislator and the CEO of Susan G. Komen Colorado. In this Q&A, Primavera discusses her work in the legislature, future efforts at the Office of … Read more
Q&A: Matt Slonaker discusses Medicaid redetermination concerns and how COVID will change Utah. Matt Slonaker is the executive director of Utah Health Policy Project (UHPP). He has been with UHPP for around ten years, aiming to bring every Utahn health insurance coverage and lower the uninsured rate. Slonaker will be speaking on the topic of … Read more
Jennifer Strohecker is Utah’s new Medicaid director. Before she was appointed by Governor Spencer Cox, Strohecker was the director of the Bureau of Healthcare Policy and Authorization and the Medicaid pharmacy director. In this Q&A, Strohecker discusses her priorities in her new role, addressing the opioid crisis in the state, and preparing for the end … Read more