Why I Serve Wisconsin

“We are committed to the improved health of our members and the betterment of our communities. As trusted stewards of public funds, we care for the whole person and well-being of all by offering services that promote independence, value diversity, and inspire self-advocacy.”  For some, these are words, but for me it is my driving force.  We support a marginalized community of disabled Wisconsinites and frail elders. I want each and every one of our members to have a successful and healthy life.  Their independence is very important, and I want to make sure we do everything we can to deliver on our promise not only for them, but also for their loved ones.

I am focused on community and member outreach.  My job is to educate the public on the benefits of the programs we support (Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and Medicare Dual Advantage), and to help them seek out more information and hopefully enroll whether with My Choice or another MCO.  The programs we support, not only benefit the prospective members but also their caregivers and even Providers that deliver the services to our members.  I want to make sure everyone knows these programs exist, and how they can help them.

One of my favorite experiences is working with our Member Advisory Committee members to provide us guidance and input on the work we do.  This group of wonderful people have given our organization so much.  It has been critically important to have their voice in our decision-making process.  They keep us grounded to the member and make sure we see the world from their viewpoint.  The MAC has not only been an instrument to ensuring I do my job correctly, but I have had an opportunity to develop friendships with them that will last a lifetime. 

Volunteering and community service are important to me because they are critical components of a well-functioning society that foster growth, compassion, and understanding amongst everyone involved. I also feel that it is my civic duty to use the advantages I’ve experienced in life to advocate for marginalized populations and to drive more equitable clinical and societal outcomes.

As a leader, it is my job to inspire a collective vision, foster collaboration, and ensure the highest quality of member care. I work hard to apply transformational and servant leadership methodologies, so interdisciplinary teams can effectively support and advocate for our members across the state.Having started my career as a nurse care manager, I’ve had firsthand experience in witnessing the profound impact our care teams have on transforming and saving lives. Not only do our care teams work tirelessly to coordinate care, secure necessary resources, and navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, but their efforts and support in critical situations have often made a difference between life and death for some of our members. I am very proud to be part of such an inspirational team that does incredibly meaningful work.

We all need people to help support us…whether it’s with our health, connecting to our community or getting through a tough time. It’s important to have a network of people to champion for us.  Many of the members we serve do not have other supports systems in place.  This is where we play that critical role to help improve the lives of those we serve. 

As Lead Supervisor of Healthcare Services, my goal is to make the lives the staff that I support easier and in turn, benefit the members.  Our jobs can be challenging at times, but we always want to listen with empathy, provide a supporting environment where staff can learn and grow and make the lives of those we serve better!  And then when our members, families or providers need extra support, we are here to provide an extra layer of assistance.

I recently had a situation where the provider felt strongly that a member should receive a durable medical equipment (DME) item.  When going through our process, the member was denied as they did not meet all the needed criteria per our policy.  I worked alongside the team to continue to submit more information and justifying our reasoning.  In the end, the team submitted enough documentation for the member to receive the DME.  It felt great for the team and the member!  This is a great example of how our teams continue to advocate for our members!

When I am out serving others in the community, I strive to embody qualities such as relatability, reliability, and friendliness. I work to establish connections with various community-based organizations and individual community members, aiming to be a resourceful and supportive presence. I am dedicated to assisting people whenever possible, sharing knowledge, and facilitating access to information that empowers individuals to succeed in life.

In a previous role where I led an HIV Prevention group for African American women in Wisconsin, there was a transformative moment with one participant who reached out to me following a discussion on Intimate Partner Relationships. Together we explored ways for her to make better decisions in her life. After completing the group, she took a bold step by enrolling in a Human Services Program at a local college and even interned with me. She credited our open conversations about personal experiences for inspiring her to make positive behavioral changes and become motivated to support other women facing similar challenges. Our connection grew into a friendship, and she continues to be a messenger of health information within our community. It’s a testament to the profound impact one person’s encouragement can have in fostering a culture of support and empowerment.

In my role as a growth and community engagement specialist, I actively engage with the community, building relationships and offering a range of culturally relevant resources and services. I see myself as a go-to person for various needs, whether it’s assisting with insurance coverage or connecting individuals to mental health services. I’ve cultivated a large network through my previous roles, allowing me to assist community members with multiple issues by making connections that resonate with their cultural context. Growing up in this community and witnessing the struggles of my family and others I know, I naturally have a deep-seated desire to lend a hand whenever possible. I see myself as a guardian of well-being, ready to attend to concerns and advocate for the needs of the community in spaces where their voices may otherwise be unheard. 

My daily work helps people get what they need.  Sometimes our members don’t know what benefits they have or where they can go to get the care they need. I am able to assist with that and ensure their needs are being met by connecting them to a variety of resources. The most common needs are food, housing, clothing, jobs, and assisting with finding providers and scheduling appointments.

I once worked with a member who was living in a homeless shelter after serving time for a hit-and-run, alcohol-related car accident. He was working so hard to turn his life around and become a better person. With the help of a collaborative team, I was able to find him stable housing and a job helping others. 

Making sure our members have access to quality providers in their community is critical to helping improve their health and quality of life. My team works to ensure Molina has a robust provider network for our members, across all lines of business. We perform analyses to ensure we are meeting or exceeding standards set by our regulators. In areas where we do not have an adequate network, we research and identify provider groups who would be a positive addition to our network.

My team also processes provider demographic updates and credentialing applications, which verify that the providers our members see are safe and high quality. It also ensures our provider online directory contains accurate information for our 30,000+ provider network so that members can rely on our website when they’re in need of care.

In 2023, as we prepared for a geographic expansion effective January 1, 2024, my team performed multiple iterations of network analysis. This work helped to provide quality care options for our Medicaid members in 10 new rural counties of Wisconsin. Many times, these members are left with few options due to the sparse nature of providers in the area or interest in health plans to expand to counties that offer fewer covered lives to serve. Together, we were able to start making a positive impact in their lives.

I was raised in a service-driven family. My dad volunteered for many organizations and events and showed us that giving back is a basic tenant of a community. In my community engagement role, I often meet people in need of assistance in one or more aspects of their lives and I work with organizations that provide services in the community. Connecting those in need to the resources they need, as well as to the people who can provide continued support, is what makes my work so rewarding and really shows firsthand that Molina cares.

I collaborate with community-based organizations on events, answer member questions, and connect community members with services. The greatest service I provide is listening to peoples’ needs and connecting them to local resources and to each other.

Going the extra mile and connecting members to people who can support them is why I love my role with Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin. We are making the community a safer, healthier place and I get to be on the frontlines. The work I do matters!

Every role I’ve held at Molina in my eight years has been directly tied to improving the lives of those we serve. As the Provider Quality and Practice Transformation Manager, I collaborate closely with provider groups, recognizing the profound trust people place in nursing (a profession I’m proud to represent).

Together with our providers, we strive to elevate healthcare quality for our members, ensuring better access to comprehensive care and ultimately fostering improved health outcomes. My work embodies the essence of population health, facilitating positive changes within provider offices to benefit a significant subset of our members. By streamlining processes, sharing resources, and offering support to our providers, I contribute to delivering the highest standard of care to our members, empowering both patients and healthcare professionals alike.

Additionally, working within the communities we serve holds personal significance for me because I am able to serve family, friends and neighbors. Understanding the barriers and stressors our community faces fuels my motivation to excel in my role every day. I value the close-knit connection we have with our members and appreciate the resources available to us. Being able to continue my passion for health education within this setting is fulfilling, and I’m grateful for the opportunities provided to me to serve and explore new avenues of impact.