Administrative Entity
Background
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has partnered with Health Management Associates (HMA) as the Administrative Entity for the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence (COE). In this role, HMA will:
- Provide project management and oversee the COEs.
- Coordinate technical assistance efforts on Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) to county behavioral health entities, their providers, and systems.
- Support DHCS in standardized data collection and reporting.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across behavioral health initiatives, as appropriate.
HMA is a leading independent national research and consulting firm that provides technical assistance and training, facilitation and strategic planning, research and evaluation, policy development and recommendations, and analytical services with a focus on improving the administration and delivery of public health, health care, and social services programs. HMA also engages with specialty subcontractors to supplement our internal teams for specific purposes. These subcontractors are seamlessly integrated in the HMA project teams alongside HMA colleagues.
Meet the Team
Our project team and subject matter experts consists of former state/clinical administrators and behavioral health providers who have led and participated in statewide EBP training and implementation to fidelity.
Patrick Meadors, PhD, Project Director / Patrick is a Senior Consultant with subject matter expertise in behavioral health, delivery systems, and integrated care. Previously, he served as a director of operations within ambulatory behavioral health and integrated care settings and faculty within academic medical centers. At HMA, Patrick works with federal, state, and county government and health systems on stakeholder engagement, provision of training and technical assistance, development of behavioral health strategic plans, and implementation of targeted solutions. Additional bio here.
Kelly Wright, MA, Project Manager / Kelly is a Senior Consultant who has extensive experience leading large, multi-year state behavioral health projects, including training, technical assistance, and targeted county-level engagement. She most recently served as project manager of a statewide project that aimed to increase access to medications for addiction treatment (MAT) and substance use services in correctional facilities and counties across California. She is a detailed, task-oriented project manager with a specialty in ensuring high-quality deliverables. Additional bio here.
Serene Olin, PhD, Project Advisor / Serene is a Principal with subject matter expertise in behavioral health, implementation science, and the use of quality metrics to drive equitable health care access and outcomes. Previously, she was deputy director of a National Institute of Mental Health and New York State-funded center focused on the dissemination, training, and evaluation of EBPs for providers serving youth and families in public mental health systems. At HMA, she works with clients to tackle implementation issues in a real-world context, including several statewide behavioral health initiatives. Additional bio here.
Angela Bergefurd, MPA, Senior Advisor / Angela is a Managing Principal with more than 25 years of health care experience related to state policy, program development, and strategic implementation. Angela previously held roles at the Ohio Department of Medicaid and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. She devoted her time and expertise to creating behavioral health and Medicaid policy, building and implementing programs, and developing reimbursement methodologies. She collaborated with stakeholders, including several of Ohio’s COEs, to support and strengthen programs and policies. Additional bio here.
The HMA leadership team is supported by many internal subject matter experts in EBPs, behavioral health, project coordination, data analysis, training and technical support, and training content development and review.
Additional Support
Merritt+Grace, Communications Support / Merritt+Grace is a full-service communications agency serving clients in the behavioral health, governmental, and arts and culture spaces. Merritt+Grace was founded in 2014 by Allison Hastey and Frances Tourtelot, and is certified as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA). Additional bio here.