Nimble service line portfolio management is one of those mission-critical skills that executive teams need to ensure organizations’ long-term success and financial sustainability. It includes adjusting your service portfolio when needed—deciding which services to add, which to eliminate, which to change, and which to grow.
The OPEN MINDS Service Line Strategies Learning Path is a series of interactive sessions focused on those who are developing and managing a successful service line portfolio. This learning path is integrated into the institute and is designed to allow attendees to evaluate the success of growth strategy.
Making Health Plan Partnerships Work: The 2025 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On Current Contract Optimization & Creating New Opportunities
Across the country, managed care organizations are successfully delivering treatment services to large populations and doing it in a way that saves states significant sums of money. These demonstrated savings show that value-based reimbursement and managed care arrangements aren’t going anywhere. For executives, this means they must find a way to position themselves to work closely with managed care companies. And provider organizations need to move from an understanding of the key competencies required in the VBR model to tactical initiatives for implementing the talent, technology, and systems that deliver quality and value.
How? By developing relationships with the payers in your market, considering what metrics they are tied to and how you can help them to meet their performance requirements, discussing how you can align programs and services with the goals of the payers and health plans in your market, and providing data that proves your service lines can achieve both high quality outcomes and lower costs. In this crucial seminar, we will discuss:
- How to start strategic conversations with health plans
- How to confirm the foundational components of infrastructure needed for VBR are in place and demonstrate your organization’s value in a way that will capture health plan’s interest
- How to secure and optimize service agreements with health plans and implement approaches to realign service models to ensure success in a value-driven market
Michael Allen
Michael Allen brings over 30 years of experience in the non-profit behavioral healthcare industry to the OPEN MINDS team. He currently serves as an Executive Vice President in our consulting practice, where he provides executive oversight and leadership to provider and payer client engagements for OPEN MINDS.
Mr. Allen was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of SummitStone Health Partners, the largest non-profit behavioral health service provider in Larimer County, CO. In this role Mr. Allen was responsible for the planning deployment, communication and accomplishment of SummitStone Health Partners’ overarching corporate strategy. He managed a budget of $80Million and was responsible for more than 750 full time employees and over 12,000 clients annually.
Prior to SummitStone Health Partners, Mr. Allen served as the Vice President of Managed Care & Operations at AspenPointe (now Diversus Health). At AspenPointe he developed and managed a system of accountability for monitoring and evaluating provider performance in seven Colorado counties. He was also responsible for the quality management oversight of all business lines, as well as managing a substance abuse treatment contract with the Colorado Division of Behavioral Health and a child welfare services agreement with El Paso County Department of Human Services.
Previously, Mr. Allen was the Director of Clinical Care for Connect Care, (rebranded as AspenPointe in 2010). In this position Mr. Allen provided supervision to the clinical staff, as well as developing clinical guidelines and services. He was also the project director for the 4th Judicial District Family Reunification Grant and he oversaw care coordination and voucher management functions for Colorado Access to Recovery Grant.
Before Connect Care, Mr. Allen was the Director of Child Welfare Services for Signal Behavioral Health Network, a non-profit that has been managing and expanding substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services in northeast Colorado for over 25 years. Mr. Allen managed a network of Substance Use Disorder treatment providers, programs and services across 35 Colorado counties.
Mr. Allen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design/Psychology from Brigham Young University, a Masters in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Colorado State University. He is a Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Addictions Specialist in Colorado.
Margaret Mays
Margaret Mays brings over 20 years of health care industry experience to the OPEN MINDS team. Ms. Mays currently serves as a Senior Associate at OPEN MINDS. Her areas of expertise include quality program design and metrics-based programs, training development, health care processing systems, policy development, and accreditation/regulatory requirements.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Mays served as the Vice President of Quality Improvement at Magellan Health Services, where she provided comprehensive quality leadership, developed high-performance teams, and improved metrics. She launched the Magellan Lean Six Sigma Training Institute resulting in an ROI of $1.7 million. Ms. Mays cultivated a high-performance team of over 20 staff members and improved department productivity through mentoring and coaching.
Prior to her role at Magellan Health, Ms. Mays served as the Director of Quality Management at TLC Family Care Healthplan, a division of Amerigroup, where she successfully managed MCO NCQA accreditation and directed all HEDIS processes. Ms. Mays helped produce a 27% improvement in Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment. She also achieved 95% and above performance on state audits through a full-spectrum quality improvement program.
Previously, Ms. Mays served as the Director of Quality and Compliance at Magellan Health Services, where she managed a wide range of quality processes, developed high impact reporting, and collaborated with cross functional teams to improve data accuracy. At Magellan, Ms. Mays achieved a track record of exemplary audit scores through implementing state-of-the-art practices.
Ms. Mays received a Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She holds a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Washington. She previously earned a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Administration from the University of Alabama.
The Future Of Value-Based Contracting In Autism & I/DD Services: A Fireside Chat
This panel will explore the emerging landscape of value-based contracting in autism and I/DD services. Experts from provider and payer organizations will discuss how value-based care models are improving outcomes for individuals in this population, by focusing on quality over quantity of care. Panelists will examine the opportunities and challenges associated with shifting from fee-for-service models to value-based contracts, with insights into cost efficiency, personalized care, and better coordination of care. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the potential impacts on service delivery, payment structures, and patient outcomes, as well as the future of autism and I/DD services in an increasingly data-driven environment.
Neil Hattangadi, M.D.
Healthcare innovation is Neil’s driving passion. Drawing on his training as a physician and scientist, Neil has spent his career leading, advising, and investing in the medical and biotech industries. His experience spans established, market-leading corporations to groundbreaking, early-stage start-ups. Neil holds degrees from Duke University, Harvard Medical School, and Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
Matt Holder, M.D., MBA
Dr. Matthew Holder is recognized as an international leader in the care of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
Dr. Holder began working on what would result in Developmental Medicine becoming a recognized medical expertise soon after starting his career. In 2002, he took over the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). Since then the AADMD has set the curriculum and standards that guide medical students, residents and fellowship-level physicians to better treat and understand patients with IDD. Medical schools and residency programs around the world have implemented curriculum changes based on the work done by Dr. Holder and the AADMD.
In 2005 Dr. Holder became Global Medical Advisor for the Special Olympics. Dr. Holder has trained thousands of healthcare providers in addressing the health needs of athletes with IDD. He also assists the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association in developing and passing resolutions that improve the lives and healthcare of IDD patients.
Dr. Holder, alongside colleague Dr. Henry Hood, designed and developed a unique, interdisciplinary patient care and teaching model that meets the health needs of adults with IDD living in the community – the first of its kind in the nation. Today the Lee Specialty Clinic exists as a testament their shared vision.
Dr. Holder is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Innovative Approaches To Treating Serious Mental Illness With Solace Behavioral Health
Explore cutting edge strategies and emerging models in the treatment of serious mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and sever depression. Featuring advances in pharmacological therapies, digital mental health tools, and community-based interventions, these case studies will provide evidence-based, patient-centered innovations that improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with SMI.
Hear from Solace Behavioral Health, a behavioral health and addiction treatment center with three locations in Florida, on their use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), as well as ketamine and other psychedelics, to treat serious mental illness.
Attendees of this session will:
- Understand the clinical and operational benefits of using alternative approaches to treating SMI
- Identify key challenges and solutions for integrating these therapies into existing practices
- Gain actionable insights for navigating regulatory, training, and implementation hurdles
Tanveer Chaudhry, M.D.
Dr. Chaudhry is the Chief Executive Officer of Solace Behavioral Health. With over 20 years of experience, he is expanding the footprint of Solace Behavioral Health to several centers in multiple counties, as well as expanding their scope of services through integrating care with lifestyle modifications and chronic disease management to improve outcomes. Dr. Chaudhry received his Doctor of Psychiatric Medicine from the University of Miami School of Medicine, and has clinical expertise in the inpatient, outpatient, and forensic settings.
Advances In Early Intervention Service Models For Children & Families
Focusing on innovative approaches and evidence-based practices, this session will highlight how early intervention can effectively address behavioral health challenges, promote positive outcomes and enhance overall well-being in today’s youth. Attendees will gain insight into integrated service models, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the importance of family involvement in supporting children’s mental health.
Hear how Trillium, a Medicaid Health Plan, implemented its Child First home visiting model throughout eastern North Carolina over the past decade. This home visiting model focuses on the child and primary caregiver for children aged 0-5 and has had great success in helping children and families thrive. Learn how Trillium partnered with Coastal Horizons, a provider organization located in over half of the counties in North Carolina, to bring this early intervention program to consumers.
Senitria Goodman
Ryan Estes, MSW, MBA, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
Ryan Estes is the Chief Operating Officer of Coastal Horizons, a leader in mental health and substance use treatment, justice services, child welfare, and integrated health programming. Coastal Horizons has been a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for three years. Ryan is charged with overseeing eighty million in programming and nearly seven hundred staff to meet the mission of healthier lives, stronger families, and safer communities. Ryan received his BA in Psychology from Wake Forest University, an MSW from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from UNC-Wilmington. Ryan has been in the behavioral health field for over twenty years as a clinician and director. Ryan holds licenses in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. Additionally, he is a Certified Clinical Supervisor with the NC Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board. Ryan is the former Treasurer on the National Association of Social Work board and an alum of the Annie E. Casey Foundation Child and Family Fellowship. Ryan teaches part-time for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the College of Health and Human Services.
Transforming Care: How Magellan Health Is Improving Access & Enhancing Outcomes For High-Risk Consumers
Magellan Health is paving the way to improved access to care for complex consumers through the latest integrated care models to support providers where they are in providing care. As the health care environment becomes more intricate, organizations are tapping innovative approaches to meet the complex needs of at-risk customers. Join keynote Caroline Carney, who will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how Magellan Health is implementing integrated care models to identify, diagnose, and treat at-risk consumers, thus improving access to care and clinical outcomes both in the short and long-term. Plus, how they’re measuring quality in behavioral health on a national scale.
Magellan Health is a leading health plan organization with almost 20 million members in over 250 locations world-wide. With over 50 years in the behavioral health sector and a team of over 5,000 employees, they are passionate about helping people lead healthy, vibrant lives.
Caroline Carney, M.D., MSc, FAPM, CPHQ
Dr. Caroline Carney is the president of behavioral health and the chief medical officer of Magellan Health, a company focused on improving the quality and delivery of behavioral health care across health plan, Medicare, Medicaid, Exchange and Federal services covered lives. An active clinician, she is board-certified in both psychiatry and internal medicine. Her previous experience at Magellan Health includes serving as the Chief Medical Officer for Magellan Rx Management where she led the development of patient-centered clinical programs, quality, and drug information. She also served as SVP Chief Medical Officer of Magellan Behavioral Health and Magellan Specialty Health. Her prior managed care experience included the role of chief medical officer for regional health plans where she gained experience in Medicaid, Medicare, Exchange, and commercial populations.
Previously, Dr. Carney served as the medical director for the Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, helping to launch the Medicaid expansion product as well as the behavioral health transformation for the state’s community mental health services. While in Indiana, she served on the Governor’s Mental Health Commission. She is a frequent speaker about behavioral health services, integrated and collaborative care, the role of digital technologies in health care, the importance of self-care during and following the pandemic, and parenting in a digital age.
Dr. Carney is a published author and co-author for over 100 peer and non-peer reviewed publications focusing on issues surrounding comorbid medical and behavioral health conditions. She was a tenured associate professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at Indiana University, and developed the psychosocial oncology program for Indiana University’s NCI accredited cancer center.
She started her medical and academic career at the University of Iowa where she earned her medical degree, as well as a master’s degree, and directed the Med-Psych residency program. She continues to engage in regular clinical work through supporting the behavioral health team at a federally qualified health center.
Developing An Intensive Community Treatment Program: The Kaiser Permanente & Telecare Corporation Case Study
Join us for this special case study to learn how Kaiser Permanente, a major health plan and hospital system, and an external provider, Telecare Corporation, married their programs together to address the needs of high risk patients. Discover the outcomes, benefits, and challenges that stemmed from the administrative collaboration, the integration of their EHR and technology platforms, and the creation of a bundled payment model.
Telecare Corporation is an award winning provider of recovery-focused services for persons with mental illness and complex needs across five states. They design their services to respond to local needs and function as a strategic, accountable, and experienced partner within systems of care.
During this session, attendees will take away:
- The challenges and opportunities of a complex collaboration model
- Specific criteria for quality measures and how they exceeded those criteria
- The successes from such a partnership, including intensive treatment for the most complex consumers resulting in reduced readmission rates, and support for internal staff
Jennifer Hinkel, Ed.D.
Shannan Taylor, MFT
Stuart Buttlaire, Ph.D., MBA
Stuart Buttlaire has over 35 years of clinical, management, and leadership experience. His career includes diverse experience in both the public and private sectors of healthcare providing leadership and direction in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Buttlaire currently serves as the Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine for Kaiser Permanente. In this role, Dr. Buttlaire designs and oversees a broad continuum of services and programs for both inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency settings for mental health and addiction medicine. Dr. Buttlaire previously served as the Regional Director of Inpatient Psychiatry and Continuing Care at Kaiser Permanente and the lead Mental Health Representative within Kaiser Permanente’s State Program Initiatives including Medicaid and Medicare.
Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire served as a regional leader in the development of best practices at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Buttlaire developed and led major program redesigns including Integrated Urgent Services for adults and youth with mental health and substance use disorders, Kaiser Permanente Post-Acute Center (SNF) Behavioral Health Program, mental health and emergency room consultation and suicide prevention, multi-family groups for adults and teens in treatment of severe psychiatric conditions, and intensive outpatient treatment programs for adults and youths. Recently, Dr. Buttlaire implemented a mobile application for eating-disordered patients that won Kaiser’s Innovation Award. Dr. Buttlaire also developed and implemented two psychiatric inpatient units at Kaiser Permanente, one of them was a medical/psychiatric unit to treat those members with both medical and psychiatric co-morbidities and the other, was a free-standing psychiatric health facility.
Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire often provides expertise and consultation on state and federal legislation and its impact on behavioral health within Kaiser Permanente, the State of California, and nationally. Dr. Buttlaire is currently the Board President of the Institute for Behavioral Health Improvement. He was selected to the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board for Western Section after serving as AHA’s Chair of Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse section. He is currently on the Board of Directors of NAMI California, and the California Hospital Association’s Advisory Board of Behavioral Health.
Dr. Buttlaire is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management, Finance, and Marketing. Dr. Buttlaire also graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from California State University, Humboldt, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Colorado.
An Update On Innovative New Payer Programs At The Association For Behavioral Health & Wellness & CVS Health/Aetna: A Roundtable
Join our payer panel to hear the latest in innovative programs that top health plan industries are implementing today. This series will feature different payers from across the nation at each 2025 event.
Debbie Witchey, MHA
Debbie Witchey began her tenure as the President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) in 2024. ABHW member companies provide coverage to over 200 million people in both the public and private sectors to treat mental health, substance use disorders, and other behaviors that impact health and wellness.
Previously, Debbie served for more than 20 years as the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), an alliance of leading health industry CEOs representing all sectors of health care. She also built an award-winning community health program for a hospital system in Charleston, SC and served as deputy assistant secretary at the US Treasury Department in both a Republican and Democrat administration.
Debbie has a master’s in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Duke University.
Deborah Fernandez-Turner
Innovations In Virtual & Non-Traditional Service Delivery
As the demand for accessible and flexible mental health services continues to rise, this session will explore cutting-edge solutions that expand the reach of care through telehealth, digital platforms, community-based and mobile approaches. Attendees will gain insight into the effectiveness of these models, including their role in increasing engagement, reducing barriers to care, and promoting continuity of services. Key topics will include the integration of technology, challenges in maintaining quality of care remotely, complexities of prescribing in non-traditional settings, and emerging trends in virtual and mobile service delivery.
Erin O’Callaghan, Ph.D.
Melissa M. Matos, Ph.D.
Melissa M. Matos, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with focused expertise in rehabilitation and health psychology, and specialized training across medical and psychiatric settings, including the VA healthcare system. She currently serves as Director of Therapy Programs at Brightside Health, where she collaborates on clinical quality initiatives, supervises clinically diverse teams, and advances inclusive, equitable care. Her work is informed by lived experience and driven by a commitment to health equity, identity-affirming care, and reimagining service delivery through non-traditional models.
The Next Generation Of Integrated Care: Making It Work With Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County & The Children’s Institute
Weighing the importance of social determinants of health in addition to your clinical services is a must in today’s world of integrated care. Join us for two case studies from leading provider organizations who are taking a person-centered approach to address not only a patient’s clinical needs, but that are also assisting with social needs to thwart chronic illnesses and poverty.
Children’s Institute is a provider organization with three main locations in California and that impacts 30,000 children and families annually. Hear their whole family approach that provides support across generations at critical stages throughout consumer’s lives, and their pilot program consisting of a door to door household assessment which fosters a continued relationship with consumers and allows for intervention before chronic illnesses have a chance to develop.
Then hear from Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, an organization that helps people of all cultures and beliefs rise up out of poverty and overcome the barriers to self-sufficiency and wellness. Their Footsteps initiative is a consumer-centric approach to behavioral health care which leads families out of poverty long-term, by not just focusing on food or housing or jobs or health care, but a combination of those things to address what is unique for each individual or family.
Monica Dedhia, LCSW
Closing Keynote
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S. is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its chief executive officer, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field – and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Ms. Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement, rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Ms. Oss served as an executive with a nationally managed behavioral health organization, responsible for market development, actuarial analysis, and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Ms. Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided Congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Ms. Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include the examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns, development of provider rate structures for government entities, creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.