Vikki Wachino and Barb Coulter Edwards join CMSO team

I was thrilled to see two very capable public servants, Vikki Wachino and Barb Coulter Edwards, agree to return to public service as part of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations team. Both were appointed to their positions earlier this week by CMSO Director Cindy Mann.

Vikki will serve as the Director of the Family and Children's Health Programs Group, which oversees the children and family aspects of the Medicaid program as well as CHIP.  She is a nationally recognized expert on health coverage issues with particular expertise in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) policy.  Vikki served as the lead consultant on CCF's Strengthening Medicaid project where we worked together on, among other things, a series of issue briefs designed to identify constructive ways to improve the Medicaid program. Her in depth knowledge, commitment to beneficiaries, and dedication to her work will be extraordinary assets to CMS as it continues to implement CHIPRA, works to strengthen the EPSDT benefit for kids in Medicaid, and, should something pass, plays a key role in implementing health insurance reform changes.

Barb will serve as the Director of the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group.  Barb is the former Ohio State Medicaid Director and is also a nationally recognized expert in Medicaid policy, including managed care, cost containment, long-term care, and State and federal health care reform. Barb also spent six months as the Interim Director of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors.  In the small world category, Barb actually co-authored a paper with Vikki for our Strengthening Medicaid series program management in Medicaid so the two of them will be ready to hit the ground running as a team!! 

Vikki and Barb will be invaluable to CMSO as it faces the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  We applaud their return to public service and look forward to working with them.