Claudia Jo Crawford RN, BSN

Consultant, Peek Consulting

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Home Health Aide Training

Claudia Crawford has been OCHCH’s HHA Live Training Instructor since the OCHCH HHA Training Program was launched in 2022. Claudia started her career as a home health aide, also working as a state tested nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility. Claudia earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bowling Green State University. She has over 30 years of nursing experience providing direct patient care and in nursing administration. She worked at Medical College of Ohio hospital as a staff nurse in oncology and as a hospital shift nursing administrator. She then went on to work for Hospice of Northwest Ohio providing direct patient care in both an inpatient setting and in homecare. She has spent the last 22 years in supervision of a branch of a homecare, hospice, and private duty regional agency overseeing all aspects of daily operations including providing and managing patient care, staff development, referral and insurance management, and community outreach. Claudia works as a consultant to assist agencies with clinical compliance to regulations and best practices in patient care.

Katie Eisel

Payer Relations Director, OCHN

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Payer Relations

Katie Eisel is an expert in her field, serving the needs of Ohio’s home care field as the Payer Relations Director at the Ohio Community at Home Network. She delivers informed support to agencies through her experience in managed care contracting, clinical implementation & care strategy, and a deep understanding of federal and state regulations. Katie’s career in post-acute care includes ten years in Network Relations and Development from ACO’s, SNF’s, and Home Health; over a decade of consistently following and understanding payment models and methodology in Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial Payers; and years of understanding payer relevancy and payer influence within each market area and how to grow both Payer and Provider footprints. Katie has served on the OCHCH Board and is a current member of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio’s advisory group.

Katie Gallenstein

Development and Policy Director, OCHCH

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Medicare & Medicaid

Katie is an accomplished leader with 20 years as a Registered Nurse, 16 years in Home Health, 6 years in Hospice leadership, and over 13 years leading multi-site agencies running the gamut of clinical, quality, operations, executive leadership, and M&A across several different states. Katie has accomplished industry certifications of COS-C and CEHCH and was an OCHCH Board Member from 2020-2023. Katie is particularly passionate about leadership and maintaining a culture of continuous learning and progress. She is a fierce proponent for people to be able to remain in their home or setting of their choice for the duration of their life.

Zach Holzapfel

Vice President, Hicks Partners

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Advocacy & Political Affairs

Zach is an accomplished government relations professional with over 20 years of experience. He develops legislative strategies for public and private-sector clients and represents client matters before the Governor’s office, cabinet members, regulatory boards, the Ohio General Assembly, members of Congress and local governments. He analyzes and assesses the impact proposed rules & legislation will have on client operations and evaluates the best course of action through appropriate policy strategy. His career spans positions in the Ohio Attorney General’s office and the Ohio Governor’s office before going on to work as a Legislative Liaison for the Ohio Department of Health. Zach has helped develop capital budget items, implemented policy and helped negotiate compromises on legislation and proposed rules throughout his career. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Capital University.

Erik Mikkelson, Esq.

Managing Member, Mikkelson Law

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Legal Estate Planning

Erik is the Managing Member for Mikkelson Law LLC where he focuses on estate planning, business, and real estate law. He also has extensive experience in the executive and legislative branches of government where he has worked on numerous policy areas impacting energy, healthcare, and juvenile justice issues. His private practice experience coupled with stints at the Ohio Senate, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Franklin County Municipal Court provide him a unique skillset when counseling his clients. Mikkelson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Ohio State University and his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School.

Kristy Pyles

Principal Consultant, In Your Corner Consulting

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)

Kristy brings over two decades of invaluable experience in the compliance industry, having served at both county and state levels. Her recent tenure at the state level involved leading the implementation of Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) as a state payer. Witnessing firsthand the substantial burden placed on providers and their vendors to uphold compliance with state and federal regulations, Kristy recognized a critical need for support in this industry. Kristy founded In Your Corner Consulting to provide comprehensive assistance to providers and technology vendors across the country, specializing in EVV implementation and compliance. Notably, Kristy has been instrumental in leading efforts for CMS EVV certification in five distinct states. Moreover, her team diligently collaborates with providers to navigate and mitigate the challenges posed by EVV claims denials, ensuring minimal revenue impact.

Sean Welch, Advisor

Strategy & Special Projects, OCHCH

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Financial Management & Accounting

Sean is the former OCHCH Treasurer of the Board and a former board member of OCHN. He brings twenty years of financial and operational leadership experience to his new role as Advisor, Strategy & Special Projects for the Council. Sean is also a CPA (nonpracticing) and has a passion for community-based care and service to others.

Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Healthcare Compliance & Legal Affairs

Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC (BMD) is a full-service law firm serving entrepreneurs and businesses driven by the spirit of innovation. True to the entrepreneurial spirit, we take on the challenges and opportunities of our clients while fiercely protecting their businesses and organizations. BMD’s health law attorneys possess a number of strengths in health law ranging from healthcare policy and strategy and regulatory compliance to reimbursement strategies and physician hospital partnerships. We serve not only as legal counsel, but also as business and strategic advisors to our healthcare clients. BMD is a member of the OCHCH Expert Panel, supporting the OCHCH Help Desk. The firm has offices in Akron, Beachwood, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, and Youngstown, Ohio.

The HAP Foundation

OCHCH Expert Panel Contributor: Hospice

The HAP Foundation is an independent nonprofit that provides education, advocacy, workforce development, and research on hospice, palliative care, and grief for all ages. With four decades rooted in direct patient care, it currently focuses on educating communities and professionals on hospice and palliative care; engaging in community-based research to better understand and impact disparities in hospice, palliative care, and grief support; expanding the workforce in serious illness care through apprenticeship and continuing education for providers; and advancing policies that assist individuals and families during end of life. The HAP Foundation also offers association management and consulting services for health care organizations.