The Medicaid program plays a significant role in the treatment of diabetes, one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States. In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020, they provide the following statistics: 34.2 million Americans—just over 1 in 10—have diabetes. 88 million American adults—approximately 1 in … Read more
Chronic diseases account for an incredible 90% of the United States’ $3.5 trillion in annual health care costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The pandemic drove increased access to, and utilization of, telehealth, and preliminary analysis of the telehealth experience for both patients and providers has been positive. Considering the … Read more
The year 2020 is almost over, and it is safe to say, there is a collective desire to put this year behind us. As we look to the future, what can we anticipate for Medicaid programs? Here are some trends to keep an eye on. Enrollment Increases The Affordable Care Act began allowing for … Read more
As Covid-19 cases rise across the country, we are continuing to see the important role that telehealth can play in our healthcare system, particularly during emergencies. While the public health emergency caused by the pandemic is unique in that it does not result in the destruction of infrastructure, the benefits of telehealth could still be … Read more
The first step Medicaid managed care organizations need to take to deliver care to their members seems simple. They need to connect with members and engage them to be active in their health. Often that is more challenging than it sounds. It is a common refrain: Medicaid members are difficult to engage with. But many … Read more
John A. Kasbar founded his accounting firm, Kasbar & DeLucia established in 1977. A University of Miami graduate with a BBA in Accounting and is an Enrolled Agent (EA). John has provided expert financial guidance to various businesses and has served as CFO for several clients.
In addition to his work in the financial section, he is actively involved in the thoroughbred industry, participating in all aspects of breeding and racing. John is proud to be associated with Best Foot Forward, an organization committed to supporting health insurance providers with integrity and helping them achieve a growing position in the industry.
Active in his community, John has served as the past president of the Hollywood-Sunrise Kiwanis Club and holds key roles in local community banks as a founder, advisory board chairman, and member of loan committees. He lives in North Miami Beach with his wife Janice Kasbar, and is the proud father of four children, a grandfather to 13 grandchildren, and great grandfather to one. His career and personal life reflect a deep commitment to family and community.
Byron Dennis began his career on a rare path among other sales and marketing executives. Having earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Clark Atlanta University and finishing his course work for his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Howard University, he accepted his first position with The Packard Electric Div. of General Motors Corporation. There he gained extensive plant operations experience and earned a promotion to plant capital expenditures manager. Identified for the general management program, Byron was intrigued by the “world” of business management. Thus, he obtained his MBA in Marketing.
His technical education and experience have honed his analytical skills, which he has used to help build brands and drive business growth. In 2008, Byron launched Best Foot Forward Sales Inc. enabling a return to his grassroots: operations and business management, as a marketing and business consultant to developing companies and practices—a natural fit.
In 2014, Byron Dennis approached Rich about starting a new business in healthcare that they could build from the ground up. The healthcare division of Best Foot Forward was created to support health insurance providers in locating, educating, and engaging with the significant number of members who they were unable to engage. The success of the business has been substantial.
Byron lives in Fort Lauderdale with his wife, Lucrecia, and son (Devin). Their daughter (Samara) is a senior on the Lady Volunteers basketball team at the University of Tennessee. When not working, Byron enjoys boating, and skiing and is a committable golf nut.
Mr. Green is a senior healthcare executive and top corporate officer with proven achievement in operational efficiency, portfolio management, strategic planning, financial forecasting, corporate financial operations, and nationwide technology rollouts. He is recognized as a facilitator and builder of M&A strategies and joint ventures. As a highly strategic business partner, negotiator, and boardroom leader, Mr. Green possesses a track record of managing a multimillion-dollar P&L. He consistently delivers effective strategies to drive growth, maximize profitability, and exceed targets.
Most recently, Mr. Green served as the COO at Modivcare – HomeCare, a publicly traded provider of personalized daily living services to those who receive care in the home. While there, he redesigned KPI reporting and instituted performance tracking processes that included state‐level monthly operating reviews, branch level P&L reviews and weekly outlier calls, as well as helped to create a culture of rigor and leader accountability.
Prior to that position, he served as CEO of Centrata Pain Partners in Denver, CO, a leading Interventional Pain Management provider focused on the treatment of spine, back, neck, and joint pain. Years earlier, he also served as President and CEO of United Medical Systems (UMS), in Westborough, MA, where he led and implemented the strategic direction of a $100 million private equity‐backed Urology Services organization with more than 500 teammates covering 26 states.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Green also served as the President and CEO of United Medical Systems in Westborough, Massachusetts, where he established, led, and implemented the strategic direction of a $100 million private equity-backed healthcare organization, with 500 teammates covering 26 states.
During his tenure as President and CEO, Mr. Green led the organization through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID pandemic. He drafted and implemented a highly effective cost-reduction and layoff plan in response to a 70% drop to Q1 and Q2 volumes. This plan allowed for a seamless restart of operations and drove exceptional Q3 and Q4 growth that resulted in meeting the adjusted annual EBITDA target.
Additionally, Mr. Green created a growth team, rewrote the job descriptions, and restructured the sales and operations teams’ compensation plans that directly led to a Y/Y EBITDA increase in a key initiative, from $3 million to year-end projected $10 million.
Prior to his role with United Medical Systems, Mr. Green served as Senior Vice President, Operations for Envision Physician Services where he drove labor and saving and operational efficiencies across service line covering 46 states, 500 locations and 500 clinicians, including integration of newly acquired and organically grown practices. He also held the Chief Operating Officer at Alliance Spine and Pain Centers, where he created and drove the operational efficiencies for an interventional pain management practice, with $90 million in revenues that included 25 physicians and 20 Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). He also held director-level positions at Davita Healthcare Partners, Inc., Holmes Regional Medical Center, and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. In addition, he has served in the military as a Staff Judge Advocate and Captain at the U.S. Marine Corps Logistics in Albany, Georgia.
Most recently, Green served as the COO at Modivcare – HomeCare, a publicly traded provider of
personalized daily living services to those who receive care in the home. While there, redesigned KPI reporting and instituted performance tracking processes that included state‐level monthly operating reviews, branch level P&L reviews and weekly outlier calls, as well as helped to create a culture of rigor and leader accountability.
Mr. Green received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Villanova University; a J.D. at George Mason University’s School of Law; and a M.B.A. at the University of Central Florida. His expertise is complimented by licensure with the State Bar of Georgia.
Julie Graves, MD, MPH, PhD studied in the Rice Kinesiology Department when it was called Health and Physical Education, graduating with a double major, along with Biology, in 1979. She played intramural softball and racquetball, was on the Brown Beer-Bike and powderpuff football teams, and worked in the University’s sports information office.
Dr. Graves earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas and graduate degrees from the University of Texas School of Public Health. Board certified in family medicine, she has worked in academic medicine, private practice, and government agencies. She served as medical consultant to the Texas HealthSteps (preventive care for children), Children with Special Health Care needs, and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Surveillance programs, as medical services coordinator for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services’ State Supported Living Centers, and as consultant to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Dr. Graves has published in major medical journals and textbooks and has lectured to medical students, nurses, physicians, and health policy makers across the country. She has served as a monitor and investigator for the Texas Medical Board. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, recipient of the C. Frank Webber Award for Excellence in Oncology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of the American Public Health Association’s Science Board. In 2014 Dr. Graves was visiting professor at the Tanzania Training Center for International Health and taught public health and behavioral medicine to medical students on St. Maarten in the Dutch Caribbean.
After 20 years away, she returned to Houston in early 2015 to take on the role of Regional Medical Director for the 6/5 South region of the Texas Department of State Health Services, where she is responsible for the planning, developing, organizing, and directing of regional public health activities. Dr. Graves is also responsible for liaison with local health departments, healthcare delivery systems, health academia, and public officials in the region, and for providing public health and medical consultation in support of the Department of State Health Services.
Dr. Graves is an avid scuba diver and hiker, enjoys cheering on the Owls and Brown College at sporting events, and is a member of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Steven Williams is a highly accomplished IT and cybersecurity executive with over three decades of leadership experience across diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals, finance, insurance, manufacturing, healthcare, and telecommunications. With a career that spans multiple C-suite roles, including full-time, interim, and virtual CIO, Steven is recognized for his ability to drive transformative IT strategies that align with business objectives and foster innovation.
Steven’s expertise lies in orchestrating large-scale digital transformations, managing technology integration for mergers and acquisitions, and modernizing infrastructure for global organizations. He has successfully built IT organizations from the ground up, revamped underperforming departments into strategic partners, and led cyber risk management initiatives to safeguard complex IT and OT environments. His work includes designing and implementing global cybersecurity frameworks that span over 100 sites and 60,000 users, as well as conducting cybersecurity risk assessments for leading pharmaceuticals laboratories.
Known for his strategic vision, Steven has advised CEOs, CIOs, CISOs, and business leaders on aligning technology with business growth, addressing cyber gaps, and creating long-term digital roadmaps. His accomplishments also include leading service-oriented cloud computing strategies, enhancing network security, and optimizing IT performance for major corporations.
Steven has help leadership positions with companies live Abbvie, Abbot, VMware, Deloitte Consulting, and Merrill Lynch. His educational background includes a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, complemented by ITIL certification. Whether advising on cybersecurity risk or driving technology innovations, Steven excels at translating complex IT challenges into tangible business value, making him a trusted leader in the evolving digital landscape.
Rich began his career in healthcare as a Medical Technologist after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Illinois. With a goal of merging science and business in the emerging healthcare industry, he earned his Master’s in Management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern with three majors. His first position following Kellogg was with the laboratory division of Baxter Healthcare, where he had success introducing new technologies to hospitals as a Product Manager and in sales management.
Rich joined a struggling laboratory business in the mid-90s, Corning Clinical Laboratories, as a Vice President of Sales. His aspiration was to help transform the business. A few years later, the business was spun off from Corning and a new public company, Quest Diagnostics Inc., was created. In a very short time, Quest Diagnostics became the largest clinical laboratory business in the world.
Rich retired after the success of Quest Diagnostics to go fishing all over the world. He also participated in the Professional Walleye tour.
In 2014, Byron Dennis approached Rich about starting a new business in healthcare that they could build from the ground up. The healthcare division of Best Foot Forward (BFF) was created to support health insurance providers to locate, educate, and engage with the significant number of health plans that were unable to engage with their members. The success of BFF has been quite substantial.
Rich resides just outside of Chicago in Northwest Indiana. He continues to fish the rivers, lakes, and oceans around the world as often as he can.