HCBS-TA - Key Persons
Alena Vazquez, JD/MSW, serves as a HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She works on projects that focus on strategic planning, home and community-based services, and systems redesign centered on establishing individualized supports budgets for service recipients. Ms. Vazquez specifically manages resource allocation efforts, leads technical assistance efforts, and works on HCBS waiver redesigns. She received her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and a Master's of Social Work from the University of Iowa School of Social Work.
Alexandra Bonardi, MS (OT), MHA, serves as a HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She brings over 25 years of experience with HCBS for people with disabilities. Ms. Bonardi has managed disability and health research projects including community-based participatory research to engage stakeholders with disabilities in developing research and policy recommendations. Ms. Bonardi holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Suffolk University.
Caitlin Synovec, OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist providing consultative services to national and state organizations. She has clinical experience working with adults experiencing homelessness to improve quality of life and engagement in their preferred communities. Ms. Synovec is adept at program development for collaborative and interdisciplinary care. Both her clinical work and workforce development address the intersection of homelessness, poverty, traumatic brain injury, mental health, chronic conditions, and their impact on health and community living. Ms. Synovec's expertise centers around effective case management for individuals with a brain injury.
Camille Dobson, MPA, serves as a HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has experience in both the public and private sectors focused on Medicaid policy and compliance. Ms. Dobson's key areas of expertise include Medicaid managed care, with particular focus on managed LTSS (MLTSS) programs; quality measurement and improvement; stakeholder engagement; and Medicaid program design and compliance. Ms. Dobson is a nationally recognized expert in managed care and LTSS, and presents often to state senior leadership, state legislative committees and provider associations across the country. She has co-authored six issue briefs on MLTSS program implementation, ranging from emerging roles of community-based organizations to strategies for states seeking to implement programs for dually eligible individuals.
Erika Robbins, MA, PMP, strives to bring heart and stewardship to consultancy. She spent eleven years with Optum Serve Consulting (also known as the Lewin Group) as a Vice President and Learning and Diffusion Capability lead, directing large-scale projects and teams focused on changing the way that people who need long-term support access and are supported through publicly and privately funded health and social services. Ms. Robbins' work included managing the CMS National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center. She formerly worked for Ohio Medicaid and was responsible for services to approximately 400,000 Ohioans with disabilities equaling around $4.5 billion of Ohio's Medicaid budget; and developed Ohio's nationally recognized Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration, which has helped persons across age, disability, and needs to experience sustained community integration. Ms. Robbins has spent time across her career as a director, policy analyst, quality assurance manager, case manager, vocational specialist, and direct service worker. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Hanover College and a master's degree from the Wright State University Applied Behavioral Science Program. Ms. Robbins is an ambassador for Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC), a person-centered practice framework, and has certifications in Project Management, CtLC In Action Facilitation and CtLC Stakeholder Facilitation.
Jami Petner-Arrey, PhD, serves as a HCBS TA Senior Analyst on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Her work includes developing evidence-based supports budgets, aiding in successful implementation, and working with various stakeholders including government officials, managed care organizations, provider agencies, self-advocacy groups and people with developmental disabilities. Dr. Petner-Arrey is well versed in the areas of historical practices, person-centered planning, employment, validation, data driven solutions, advocacy, social justice and public policy. In addition to her work on resource allocation, Dr. Petner-Arrey leads technical assistance efforts; works on HCBS waiver redesign; and assists with the review and redesign of service models and contract design for services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Jeanine Zlockie serves as a HCBS TA Senior Analyst on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has been working in the field of developmental disabilities (DD) for over twenty years, which provides her with a strong foundation and understanding of Medicaid Policy and DD systems. Ms. Zlockie uses her background in Medicaid policy and system's transformation to provide technical assistance to states to modify their Medicaid-financed home and community-based waiver and state plan programs as well as Support Coordination change strategies.
Karen "Jill" Ferrington, MS, CRC, CBIS, serves as an HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ms. Ferrington has 27 years of experience working in publicly-funded systems including brain injury services and support and vocational rehabilitation. She was part of a core team that worked to develop and initiate the Health First Colorado (Medicaid) Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities. Ms. Ferrington currently supports states in their efforts to most effectively utilize public sector funding to meet the needs of individuals living with brain injury.
Katherine Murray serves as a HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has deep expertise relating to regulatory compliance in Medicaid-funded self-direction programs. Ms. Murray is also a regular speaker at conferences around the country on the Home Care Final Rule and other major issues impacting self-direction.
Laura Vegas, MPS, serves as a HCBS TA Senior Analyst on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has more than 24 years of experience working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Ms. Vegas was part of a team that led the effort to close a sheltered workshop and connect people to their community through person-centered planning and practices and witnessed the positive change in people's lives who were affected by the transition. With that background, Ms. Vegas has spent her career working for people, families and with organizations to promote systems change that will better support quality of life for people so that they may realize their dreams and personal goals.
Mary Sowers serves as a HCBS TA Senior Analyst on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She specialized in Medicaid home and community-based services, managed long term services and supports (including strategies for reducing institutional reliance), self-direction, and strategies to design person-centered systems of care. areas of expertise: program design; Medicaid compliance; managed LTSS. Ms. Sowers regularly developed policy and tools on waivers and demonstrations and provided technical assistance and support to CMS leadership and staff nationally. She regularly worked with state Medicaid programs in the development and implementation of these programs. She also led efforts around home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). Ms. Sowers managed two waivers serving more than 10,000 individuals, served as primary legislative contact on ID/DD issues, and led stakeholder input and advisory efforts, with a focus on building partnerships with self-advocates and families.
Merle Edwards-Orr, PhD, serves as a HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. After a career in higher education and health care, Dr. Edwards-Orr oversaw self-direction programs. He also worked on developing a self-directed option for all veterans needing LTC.
Molly Morris, MSW, serves as a HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She oversaw the development of numerous issue briefs, webinars, and publications on self-direction. Ms. Morris graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Social Work, specializing in Older Adults & Families, from Boston College.
Regina Rodriguez Sisneros is an HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has spent 14 years focused on Home and Community Based Services and issues of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion with the Colorado Department of Human Services as a Direct Client Services Contract Manager and Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Manager for MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network. Ms. Rodriguez Sisneros is a graduate of Georgetown University's Leadership Institute for Cultural Diversity & Cultural and Linguistic Competence. Her undergraduate work is from the University of Colorado with a focus in Ethnic Studies and a minor in Human Development. Currently, Ms. Rodriguez Sisneros is the Director of Equity Initiatives and System Innovations for the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Her experience related to disability started personally because of individuals with disabilities within her family, and her professional experience related to disability began in 2008 when she became a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
Stacy L. Nonnemacher, PhD, has more than 25 years of experience working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). In her various roles throughout the field, Dr. Nonnemacher has embraced the importance of positive behavioral supports and has influenced and informed policy and programmatic decisions related to state Medicaid programs focusing on clinical best practices and behavioral science to affect change and create best practices in supporting people, their families, and other supporters.
Stephanie Mote has worked in the field of developmental disabilities and mental health services for more than 15 years, with experience as a provider, service director, waiver manager, and waiver waitlist support person. She most recently served within the Virginia state government supporting HCBS program development along with regulation and policy management. Ms. Mote is a proud Wahoo from the University of Virginia. As a Senior Policy Analyst, Ms. Mote provides technical assistance to states on HCBS and other aspects of the Medicaid program impacting state I/DD systems. She serves as a key team member on projects, including service innovations, stakeholder engagement approaches, and equity efforts.
Teja Stokes serves as a HCBS TA Senior Analyst on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She provides a broad range of TA to states on issues related to Medicaid structure and quality, organizational success strategies, and effective service modalities. Ms. Stokes has nearly 30 years of experience in home and community-based services (HCBS) program development, implementation, quality, and policy, and provides the understanding and expertise to support state authorities and contract providers in developing and managing HCBS and PASRR programs. She also has expertise in change management, including quality improvement, process mapping, strategic planning, process improvement, and group facilitation, helping community-based service systems advance quality outcomes for people receiving integrated services and supports.
Wesley Anderson is an HCBS TA Subject Matter Expert on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He has been providing training and technical assistance to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and the agencies that support them for over 15 years. As a nationwide subject matter expert on employment services, Mr. Anderson has been responsible for developing documentation strategies for Medicaid-funded providers, facilitating strategic planning sessions, leading focus groups, and providing ongoing guidance during a system-wide shift to Medicaid fee-for-service. As Director of Employment and Community Services, he oversees a consortium of state I/DD agencies collaborating to improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.