Insurance
10 Medicaid managed care operations experts
These ten health plan leaders have run Medicaid managed care operations, with Medicaid named in their own job titles or in the descriptions of their own roles. A reader can learn how Medicaid managed care plans organize and run their day-to-day operations.
Professionals to explore
01—10Daisy Sinha, MBA, MHSA, PMP
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Operations · Centene Corporation
Vice President of Operations at Centene Corporation since 2019, a role the profile says leads healthcare operations across claims, provider data, configuration, grievance and appeals, and operational transformation for one of Ohio's leading Medicaid health plans. The profile also lists Director, Portfolio Management Office at Buckeye Health Plan at Centene Corporation (2017–2019).
Derrick Lee MS, MBA, CRC
LinkedInExperience: Chief Operations Officer · Humana
Chief Operations Officer at Humana since 2024, a role the profile says covers the strategic development and oversight of operations for Humana's Virginia Medicaid Plan, including meeting operational contract requirements. The profile also lists Vice President, Medicaid MLTSS Governmental Programs (2017–2018) and Vice President, Health Operations & Systems (2009–2017) at Virginia Premier.
Dexter Trivett, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Director I, Medicaid Health Plan Operations, Healthy Blue Louisiana · Elevance Health
Former Director I, Medicaid Health Plan Operations, Healthy Blue Louisiana at Elevance Health (2015–2017) and Director II & Chief Operating Officer, Healthy Blue Louisiana there from 2017 to 2022. The profile also lists Vice President, Health Plan Operations at Molina Healthcare since 2025 and Manager Sr, National Medicaid Provider Relations Programs & Operations at Elevance Health (2014–2015).
Jonathan Copley
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Medicaid Operations (National) · Molina Healthcare
Vice President, Medicaid Operations (National) at Molina Healthcare since 2024. The profile also lists Southeast Territory Leader (Regional Vice President), Aetna CVS Health Medicaid at Aetna, a CVS Health Company (2020–2022), a role it says led the performance of large health plans in Kentucky, Virginia, Florida and West Virginia, including P&L responsibility for $5B+ in revenue.
Joseph Smith
LinkedInExperience: Interim President Medicaid Health Plan · Elevance Health
Former Interim President Medicaid Health Plan at Elevance Health (2024–2025), a role the profile says carried responsibility for the fiscal, strategic and operational management of the health plan, including managing its P&L. The profile also lists Regional Vice President Provider Solutions NY at Elevance Health since 2025 and Director of Provider Solutions there (2019–2025).
Kathy Messer
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, State Programs · Independent Health
Vice President, State Programs at Independent Health since 2009, a role the profile describes as covering Medicaid Managed Care, Child Health Plus and the NYS Essential Plan. The profile says the role includes ensuring that the managed care organization remains compliant with regulatory requirements, and it mentions a product operations team.
Kendra Case
LinkedInExperience: Chief Operating Officer · Texas Children's Health Plan
Former Chief Operating Officer at Texas Children's Health Plan (2024–2025), a role in which the profile says this person led clinical and operational business functions for a Medicaid health plan with over 450,000 members. The profile also lists Chief Operating Officer, Louisiana Healthcare Connections at Centene Corporation (2014–2020) and Vice President, Healthcare Services (TX) at Molina Healthcare since 2025.
Lindsey Hanson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Medicaid Market Operations & Performance · Centene Corporation
Vice President Medicaid Market Operations & Performance at Centene Corporation since 2026 and Vice President Operations- Wellcare of North Carolina there from 2022 to 2026. The profile describes experience across claims operations, health plan operations, appeals and grievances, vendor management and regulatory operations in Medicaid and Medicare managed care, and it also lists Director, Claims Audit and Contract Services Buckeye Health Plan (2020–2022).
Nancy Wohlhart
LinkedInExperience: VP, IL Medicaid Operations · Health Care Service Corporation
Former VP, IL Medicaid Operations at Health Care Service Corporation (2018–2023) and President Medicaid there since 2023. The profile also lists Vice President Network Management at Wellcare Medicare (2014–2015) and VIce President, Network Development & Ops at Molina Healthcare (2013–2014), and it describes over twenty years in the healthcare industry, including network management and operations.
Nick Watsula
LinkedInExperience: Chief HealthChoices Officer and COO State contracts · UPMC Health Plan
Chief HealthChoices Officer and COO State contracts at UPMC Health Plan since 2023, with Medicaid, CHIP and CHC (MLTSS) named in the profile alongside that title. The profile also lists Chief Operating Officer State Contracts VP Medical Assistance, CHIP, and Individual Products (2019–2024) and Vice President Medical Assistance, CHIP and MarketPlace Exchange Products (2013–2024) at UPMC.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's level to your question, since a plan chief operating officer sees the whole operation while a market or functional operations leader knows specific areas such as claims, provider data or appeals in depth. Also consider which states and programs matter to you, because Medicaid contracts and requirements differ from state to state.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you track and meet the operational requirements in a state Medicaid contract?
- 02Which operational areas, such as claims, provider data or appeals, cause the most trouble during a state audit?
- 03How do you prepare health plan operations for a new state contract or a procurement change?
Reaching Medicaid managed care operations experts
How can I contact one of these Medicaid managed care operations experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including Centene Corporation, Humana and Elevance Health, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Medicaid managed care operations experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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