10 prior authorization operations experts
Prior authorization operations differ by side, and these people cover three: five hold or held director titles at Cigna, UnitedHealth Care Military & Vetrans and Blue Cross Blue Shield (three), three at MedImpact, Navitus and Evernorth whose titles pair prior authorization with utilization management or specialty pharmacy, and two lead provider-side teams at St. Luke's and Carle Health. Plans tightening turnaround times and providers cutting denials can each find their side.
Professionals to explore
Angela Feldpausch
LinkedInExperience: Nurse Executive, Director of Medical Management · Blue Cross Blue Shield
As Nurse Executive, Director of Medical Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield since 2022, Angela Feldpausch describes leading a Medical Management department that includes prior authorization, acute and post-acute concurrent review, auditing and reporting, behavioral health and medical claims review teams. Angela suits questions on how prior authorization connects to concurrent review and claims review.
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Chantal Davis, RN, BSN, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Former National Operations Director Prior Authorization Utilization Management · Cigna Healthcare
Chantal Davis, RN, BSN, MBA held National Operations Director Prior Authorization Utilization Management at Cigna Healthcare (2018-2023) and National Director Clinical Precertificaiton at CIGNA Healthcare (2009-2023), and is National Operations Director Pre Post Utilization Management at The Cigna Group since 2022. That record suits questions on prior authorization operations at national scale.
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Jeana Sherry
LinkedInExperience: System Director Patient Access · Carle Health
Jeana Sherry has been System Director Patient Access at Carle Health since 2023, serving the Champaign-Urbana, Richland County and Hoopeston-Danville, Illinois markets and leading hospital and clinic based teams including prior authorization and insurance verification. Jeana was Manager Patient Access (2022-2023) and a Supervisor (2015-2022) at Carle Health, a fit for health system authorization workflow questions.
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Joan Brillo
LinkedInExperience: Former Director of Prior Authorization · Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Joan Brillo was Director of Prior Authorization at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (2022-2023), Regional Director at UnitedHealth Group (2017-2019) and Regional Director of UM at Molina Healthcare (2013-2017). Joan cites "over 30 years of experience of being a nurse" and 13 years in utilization management, a fit for nurse review and regional UM questions.
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Judy Surprise
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Operations - Patient Access - Prior Authorizations - Specialty Pharmacy · Evernorth Health Services
Specialty pharmacy authorizations are Judy Surprise's area: Director Of Operations - Patient Access - Prior Authorizations - Specialty Pharmacy at Evernorth Health Services since 2021, managing authorization and re-authorization work, alongside a current Senior Manager Eligibility title there. Judy was Specialty Pharmacy Operations Senior Manager at Cigna Healthcare (2018-2019).
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Julianne Emoto
LinkedInExperience: Director of Prior Authorization and Utilization Management · MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
Julianne Emoto has been Director of Prior Authorization and Utilization Management at MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. since 2018, describing influence over a team of over 400 pharmacists, technicians and ancillary staff. Julianne was Director of Clinical Pharmacy Operations at Health Net (2005-2018) and holds a Pharm.D., a fit for pharmacy prior authorization staffing questions at scale.
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Laura Semrow
LinkedInExperience: Former Director, PA and Utilization Management · Navitus Health Solutions
Laura Semrow spent 2015 to 2025 in Navitus Health Solutions prior authorization roles, from Manager, Prior Authorization Operations (2015-2017) and Sr. Manager (2017-2019) to Associate Director Prior Authorization (2019-2023) and Director, PA and Utilization Management (2023-2025); their LinkedIn profile now says "Sr. Director, Utilization Management." Laura was earlier a Registered Nurse at Wisconsin Resource Center.
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Michelle Silvaggi
LinkedInExperience: Director of Medical Management for Commercial and Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization programs · Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Michelle Silvaggi holds Director of Medical Management for Commercial and Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization programs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a role held since 2004, with responsibility for BCBSM's Utilization Management. Michelle was also Director of Wellness, Care Management and Health Promotion Programs there (2011-2013), a fit for commercial versus Medicare Advantage program questions.
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Migdalia Maderas
LinkedInExperience: Network Director · St. Luke's University Health Network
Migdalia Maderas is Network Director at St. Luke's University Health Network since 2022, leading approximately 180 employees across prior authorization, financial navigation, insurance verification and denial prevention. Migdalia held Supervisor and Service Manager roles at Lehigh Valley Health Network (2014-2018) and worked as a Medical Biller, so provider-side denial prevention questions fit well.
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Stephanie A. Weiss
LinkedInExperience: Former Director Utilization Management-Prior Authorizations · UnitedHealth Care Military & Vetrans
Stephanie A. Weiss was Director Utilization Management-Prior Authorizations at UnitedHealth Care Military & Vetrans (2015-2018) and Senior Director Utilization Management at Centene Healthcare (2018-2023). Stephanie also held Manager, Medical Management Administration at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (2013-2015) and Director Referral Management and PQC at TriWest Healthcare Alliance (2009-2013), useful for military and veterans plan authorization questions.
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Choose the right perspective
If you review requests, pick a plan-side director: Chantal Davis for national Cigna operations, Angela Feldpausch or Michelle Silvaggi for medical management at Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Pharmacy authorization questions fit Julianne Emoto, Laura Semrow or Judy Surprise, and if you submit requests for patients, Migdalia Maderas and Jeana Sherry lead provider-side teams that include prior authorization.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How should prior authorization intake be staffed and routed so urgent and standard requests both meet their turnaround times?
- 02Which medical or pharmacy request types are safest to move to auto-approval, and what data justified the change?
- 03On the provider side, which steps before submission cut prior authorization denials the most?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.