Jennifer A. Perkins, M.S.

Medicaid
expertise
that moves
systems.

Donovan Medicaid Strategies

Explore Services
01
25+ Years
Medicaid, HCBS, and program integrity
02
State to Federal
Deputy director, CMMI senior advisor, Olmstead author
03
3 Frameworks
Proprietary methodologies built from practice
04
Selective by Design
Committed to outcomes, not volume
About

I've sat at every seat at the table.

Olmstead Strategic Advisor
New York State: overseeing, project managing, and authoring NY's first comprehensive Olmstead Plan
Senior Advisor, CMMI
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation
Deputy Director, Medicaid & Long-Term Care
Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Medicaid & Developmental Services Leadership
Vermont Agency of Human Services
Founder & Principal Consultant
Donovan Medicaid Strategies LLC

As a state deputy director, federal advisor, executive director of a provider agency and now independent consultant, I've seen Medicaid from every angle: the policy desk, the budget room, the provider floor, and the federal review. That full-system perspective is what I bring to every engagement.

I founded Donovan Medicaid Strategies LLC to give states, managed care organizations, and provider agencies access to senior-level Medicaid expertise without the overhead of a large firm. You get direct access to me, not a junior team translating my thinking.

My work is grounded in results: compliant systems, sustainable programs, and services that actually reach the people who need them.

I am selective about the engagements I take on because I am committed to outcomes. When we work together, you get my full attention and the benefit of frameworks tested in real systems under real pressure. I do not take on work I cannot do well.

Jennifer A. Perkins, M.S.
M.S. · LSSEGB
Lean Six Sigma Executive Green Belt

What I do for you.

Whether you need a strategic partner for a complex transformation, an embedded leader during a transition, RFP support to win a Medicaid contract, or an expert voice for your next conference, I offer flexible engagements built around your actual needs.

01
Medicaid & HCBS Strategy
Waiver design and amendment, HCBS settings compliance, Olmstead planning, person-centered systems design, and long-term services transformation for states and agencies.
Strategy
02
Fractional Leadership
Senior Medicaid expertise embedded in your organization on a part-time or interim basis. Ideal for states in transition, MCOs building LTSS capacity, or provider agencies needing strategic direction.
Leadership
03
Program Integrity & FWA
Fraud, waste, and abuse strategy, audit readiness, surveillance system design, compliance frameworks, and corrective action planning grounded in my proprietary 5-3-3 Framework.
Compliance
04
Managed Care Strategy & RFP Support
MCO product design for I/DD, LTSS, and HCBS populations. RFP strategy and writing support for health plans pursuing Medicaid contracts. Quality strategy, utilization management, FWA compliance, and network adequacy consulting for plans entering or expanding in Medicaid managed care.
MCO
05
Provider Agency Consulting
Compliance readiness, billing integrity, quality improvement, documentation systems, and workforce strategy for HCBS and DD provider organizations navigating a complex regulatory landscape.
Provider
06
Speaking & Training
Keynotes, executive education, and association convenings on Medicaid transformation, HCBS policy, program integrity, and the future of long-term services. Available nationally.
Speaking
07
RFP Writing & Strategy
Full RFP support for managed care organizations competing for I/DD, LTSS, and HCBS Medicaid contracts. I bring competitive strategy, technical writing, FWA and program integrity narratives, and quality framework development. I know what state procurement teams are looking for because I have been on that side of the table.
RFP

The full ecosystem of Medicaid.

01
State Agencies
Medicaid directors, HCBS program leads, and DD agency leadership navigating federal compliance, waiver renewals, and systems transformation.
02
Managed Care Organizations
Health plans designing or expanding I/DD, LTSS, and HCBS products, competing for Medicaid contracts, building FWA and program integrity infrastructure, or strengthening compliance and quality in Medicaid managed care.
03
Provider Agencies
HCBS and DD providers seeking compliance support, billing integrity, quality improvement, or strategic direction in an evolving regulatory environment.
04
Associations & Conferences
State and national associations seeking expert voices on Medicaid policy, HCBS transformation, Olmstead, and program integrity for member convenings.

Thinking built from practice, not theory.

These frameworks were built through years of doing the work: implementing systems, managing compliance, navigating federal oversight, and fighting for people who rely on Medicaid to live in their communities. They are proprietary, and they deliver results.

01
The 5-3-3 Framework
Program Integrity & FWA Strategy
A systems approach to Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse detection and prevention. It integrates surveillance, compliance, and corrective action into a unified operational model.
5-3-3 Framework
Program Integrity Model
5
Risk Domains
3
Control Layers
3
Phases of Outcomes
02
Innovative Program Design
HCBS & Housing Philosophy
Most systems start by asking how can we keep you safe. I start somewhere else. How do you want to live? Then we figure out how to do it safely, and what you want to do within those boundaries. This flips the design question and produces programs built around the person, not around risk avoidance.
03
Olmstead Strategic Planning
Plan Authorship & Systems Transformation
I don't just advise on Olmstead. I write the plans. From goal development and stakeholder engagement to the final deliverable, I provide end-to-end authorship and project management for comprehensive, legally defensible Olmstead plans built to withstand federal scrutiny.

Ideas worth saying out loud.

I bring 25 years of lived policy experience to every stage. Not slides filled with definitions, but real insight into how Medicaid systems work, where they break, and what it actually takes to fix them.

Inquire About Speaking
01HCBS Transformation: What States Get Wrong and How to Get It Right
02Olmstead in Practice: Building Plans That Hold Up
03Fraud, Waste & Abuse: A Systems Approach to Program Integrity
04Rethinking HCBS from the Ground Up: Designing Around How People Want to Live
05Dignity, Privacy, and Rights in Disability Services: What Policy Often Gets Wrong
06Medicaid Managed Care & LTSS: What MCOs Need to Know
07Person-Centered Systems: From Policy to Practice
Available Formats
Keynote presentations
Executive roundtables
Association convenings
State leadership training
Webinars and virtual sessions
Multi-day workshops

What I'm seeing in the field.

Policy moves fast. I write about what it means for the people running these systems and the people depending on them: program integrity, dignity, privacy, and what real community integration actually requires.

For Families & Advocates

You deserve to understand the system too.

Medicaid is complex by design, but that complexity should never be a barrier to getting what you or your loved one is entitled to.

You don't need to know the right terminology or have a formal question ready. If something isn't working, if you've been told no, if you don't understand what your loved one is or isn't entitled to, reach out.

I offer a free 15-minute call to any family or self-advocate who wants to understand their options. No obligation. No jargon.

Having an address in a community is not enough. Real integration means belonging to someone.
Effective Public Comment
When states propose changes to Medicaid waivers or HCBS programs, you have the right to comment. I can help you understand what's being proposed and write a comment that gets taken seriously.
Advocacy That Actually Works
Effective advocacy requires knowing who makes decisions, what they respond to, and how to frame your story in a way that moves policy.
New Service Models
Self-directed services, microboards, supported decision-making, innovative housing models: there are more options than most families are ever told about.
Know Your Rights
Olmstead means you have the right to services in the most integrated setting. PASRR protects against unnecessary institutionalization. Fair hearings let you challenge decisions you disagree with.
Support for Advocacy Organizations
Training, strategic consultation, and policy analysis to strengthen your work. I understand both the policy side and the human side.
For Associations
State and national disability advocacy associations can bring me in for member education, conference sessions, and policy briefings.
Free Downloads

Let's talk about what you need.

Whether you're ready to start a project, exploring a speaking engagement, or just want to understand what working together might look like, reach out. I respond personally.

Emailjennifer@donovanfoundation.org
LocationRemote, Available Nationally
EngagementsProject, Retainer, Fractional, Speaking
ResponseWithin 48 hours
Not ready to fill out a form?
Schedule a free 15-minute call. No agenda required.

I am selective about engagements because I am committed to outcomes. A short call is the best way to understand whether we are a fit before either of us commits to anything.

Schedule a 15-Minute Chat

A quick conversation to understand your needs and explore how I can help.

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