NNews-July-2023

33 July 2023 Former NJ Policy Leaders Offer even more Support through their Roles with Health Management Associates NJAMHAA members who have worked in the state’s behavioral healthcare system for a long time are probably familiar with Roxanne Kennedy, DSW, LCSW, who held several positions at the New Jersey Department of Human Services, most recently Director of Behavioral Health Management in the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS), and Caitlin Thomas-Henkel, MSW, who previously served as Senior Program Officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies. Today, Kennedy and Thomas-Henkel are Principal Consultants at Health Management Associates (HMA), a leading independent national research and consulting firm in the healthcare industry and a member of NJAMHAA’s Integrated Healthcare Council. “By being around the table with providers, we stay in tune with the challenges they are experiencing, share the national perspective and develop local solutions.” Thomas-Henkel said. “We are thought leaders,” Kennedy added and shared the example of helping prepare providers and the state for the move from a prospective payment system (PPS) to value-based payment (VBP). In fact, HMA has a wealth of experience with this type of transition with states and health systems across the nation. HMA has more than 500 consultants with an extensive array of expertise, including clinical, policy, research and finance. Much of Kennedy and Thomas-Henkel’s work focuses on crisis services and reimbursement. “In addition to having our own policy expertise and understanding of New Jersey’s providers, we work with financial experts to further support states and providers,” Thomas-Henkel said. For example, Kennedy worked with an actuary to help a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) determine its PPS2 rate. “The actuary determined what data the CCBHC needed to gain certain financial information and maximize reimbursement,” she said. Another illustration of their individual expertise and HMA’s offerings is Thomas-Henkel’s work with a jurisdiction, supporting providers with financial matters and legal agreements, including identifying what is needed to ensure cash flow and reserves. “We have certified professional accountants, actuaries and lawyers on the HMA staff. Together, we help providers prepare for the carve-in of services into Medicaid Managed Care and VBP. We learn so much and apply our expanding knowledge to support providers in other states,” she shared. HMA’S EXPERTISE HELPS NEW JERSEY PREPARE FOR MEDICAID MANAGED CARE To help New Jersey providers prepare for the carve-in of more behavioral healthcare services into Medicaid Managed Care, Kennedy is working with DMAHS to help providers work with the managed care organizations (MCOs), “whether risk or non-risk,” as she stated. “We can give presentations and provider-centric technical assistance,” Kennedy noted. Thomas-Henkel added that she and her colleagues could assist with change management. “We are translators of policy and help providers and states apply these translations to their preparations for managed care and other changes,” she stated. “Transformation efforts require a multidisciplinary team approach. Chief financial officers, clinical, information technology and other experts all have roles in working toward change,” she added and emphasized that “people must be engaged in the process and shaping decisions. Otherwise, the efforts will fail.” “Our work is anchored in helping states and providers operationalize changes and ensure that organizations understand and buy into the approach,” Thomas-Henkel stated. To learn more about HMA, please visit www.healthmanagement.com.