Dr. Kennedy’s primary areas of concentration are clinical and leadership in Medicaid initiatives and BH system transformation. She has worked with clients across a range of industries, including state agencies, psychiatric hospitals, health plans, community mental health agencies and emergency services. Through these experiences, she has led the transformation of BH systems through Medicaid program initiatives, designing and implementing CCBHCs and other BH programs, and BH benefit design.

Prior to her consulting career, Dr. Kennedy served as the CEO/Market President for Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania and Maryland. In these roles, she ensured responsiveness to BH plan clients; introduced innovative programming and technology; managed medical loss ratios; and led a team of over 160 staff members.

Previously, Dr. Kennedy spent 15 years with the New Jersey Department of Human Services, where she implemented the Substance Abuse Waiver approved by CMS for the state’s Medicaid program; integrated BH services into at-risk management; led the transition of mental health and addiction services from cost-related contracts to fee-for-service models; oversaw Medicaid policy and BH services for Medicaid enrollees; participated in the implementation of New Jersey’s Medicaid expansion under the ACA; developed and implemented CCBHCs; and managed the state’s block grant for coordinated state and federal funding of BH services. For 18 years,  she maintained a private practice providing psychotherapy to individuals and families with mental health and substance abuse issues and spent over 10 years providing psychiatric crisis services in an urban emergency department setting.

Dr. Kennedy earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in social work administration from Temple University and a doctorate in clinical social work from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice. Her dissertation was titled, “Evaluating Integrated Care Models for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness.” She is currently a LCSW in Pennsylvania and Florida.