Quality Assurance Unit

In the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (DSDS), the Quality Assurance Unit works to ensure the health and welfare of recipients through the monitoring and oversight of services to participants and their families. Unit staff conduct case record reviews, oversee critical incident reporting, review mortalities, conduct complaint investigations and monitor and report on data.

The Quality Assurance Unit strives to provide technical assistance as needed, deliver excellent customer service, and to collaborate with stakeholders and other DHSS agencies to meet our Division’s mission of promoting health, well-being and safety for individuals by facilitating access to quality services.

The Quality Assurance Unit is responsible for the following activities:

  • Case Record Review of Medicaid Waiver Participants
  • Critical Incident Report Review, Investigations, Remediation and Reporting
  • Mortality Review, Investigations, and Reporting
  • Investigation of participant related complaints and noncompliance
  • Critical Incident Report (CIR) Investigation as related to system compliance
  • Quality Monitoring Reporting for system improvement activities

Quality Assurance Unit Staff Contacts

  • Meg Sampson – Unit Manager, Health Program Manager III
    907-269-3969
    Manages and oversees all functions of the Quality Assurance unit.

Screening and Investigations

  • Esther Hayes – Health Program Manager II
    907-334-0889
    Supervises QA investigators, incident screeners, mortality reviews and provides technical assistance.
  • Karen Engstrom– Health Program Manager II
    907-269-3658
    Complaint investigations, technical assistance and quality monitoring reporting.
  • Brittney Hayden – Health Program Manager II
    907-269-4742
    Complaint investigations, technical assistance and quality monitoring reporting.
  • Vacant– Heath Program Manager II
    Complaint investigations, technical assistance and quality monitoring reporting.
  • Christina Kent – Health Program Manager II
    907-754-3547
    Complaint investigations, technical assistance and quality monitoring reporting.
  • Amber Champagne – Health Program Manager I
    907-754-3514
    Mortality Reviews, incident report screening, investigations related to incident reports and technical assistance.
  • Frances Stuckley – Health Program Manager I
    907-269-3651
    Mortality Reviews, incident report screening, investigations related to incident reports and technical assistance.

Service Authorization

  • Bonnie Olsen-Lee – Health Program Manager II
    907-269-4134
    Supervises Service Authorization staff, technical assistance, utilization reviews and reporting
  • Kenzie Bailey– Medicaid Program Specialist I
    907-375-7730
    Service authorizations, utilization review and technical assistance.
  • Brenda Martin – Medicaid Program Specialist I
    907-375-7730
    Service authorizations, utilization review and technical assistance.
  • Lori Gaetzman – Medicaid Program Specialist I
    907-269-3451
    Service authorizations, utilization review and technical assistance.
  • Sarah Blastick – Medical Program Specialist I
  • 907-334-2639
    Service authorizations, utilization review, technical assistance and incident report screening.
  • Donna Heilman – Office Assistant II
    907-268-4450
    Unit Support

Fair Hearings, Mediations and Appeals

  • Victoria Cobo – Medicaid Program Specialist III
    907-344-0890
    Fair Hearing representative
  • Terri Gagne – Medicaid Program Specialist III
    907-754-3548
    Fair Hearing representative

Resources