DAY 1 – NOVEMBER 18

Keynote

Zabeen Chong

CMS

Zabeen Chong serves as the Director for the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Zabeen is responsible for leading initiatives to streamline provider screening and enrollment for over two million providers and implementing policies and systems to prevent fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This includes the development of Medicare and Medicaid provider enrollment operating policy and procedures, oversight of the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System, and providing outreach and education to the provider community. She is also responsible for the identification of vulnerabilities and implementation of administrative action processes directed at protecting Medicare and Medicaid provider enrollment. Zabeen has a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Johns Hopkins University. 

Telehealth and Teleradiology

Joseph Schultz

CMS

Joseph Schultz serves as a Deputy Director of the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations and the Director of the Division of Quality and Compliance (Medicaid) within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Mr. Schultz is responsible for developing enrollment policies and working with the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and other stakeholders on provider enrollment and program integrity related issues. He has over 13 years’ experience in Medicare for both the public and private sector. Joseph has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Utica College in NY and undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Cortland.

Provider Enrollment Site Visits

Allison Steven

CMS

Alison Stevens serves as a Health Insurance Specialist in the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Ms. Stevens oversees the SVS (Site Verification Services) Contractors, works with MACs/NPEs and other stakeholders to resolve site visit-related issues, and develops technical guidance and policy. She obtained her Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University.

Nuha Muktar

CMS

Nuha Muktar serves as a Policy Lead in the Division of Enforcement Actions within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Ms. Muktar is responsible for overseeing the implementation of administrative actions to address fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare. Her work includes development of program integrity related policies and collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen program integrity efforts in the Medicare Program. Ms. Muktar holds a Master of Health Science from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

PECOS 101

Vani Annadata

CMS

Vani Annadata serves as the Director of the Division of Enrollment Systems within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. She is responsible for overseeing the National Medicare Provider Enrollment System (PECOS), and the provider enrollment screening system. Vani has been with CMS for over fifteen years. She has an extensive background in software and systems development for over 15 years in private sector and holds a degree in Engineering.

Provider Outreach & Education

Hafssa Zgidou

CMS

Hafssa Zgidou serves as a Health Insurance Specialist in the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Ms. Zgidou oversees Noridian, one of the Medicare Administrative Contractors, on provider enrollment and program integrity-related issues. She is also a member of the Survey and Certification Team, focusing on Ambulatory Surgical Centers and End-Stage Renal Disease facilities.

DAY 2 – NOVEMBER 19

Maintain Compliance with Enrollment Requirements and Regulatory Outlook

Charles Schalm

CMS

Charles Schalm has been serving as the Deputy Director for the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group at the Center for Program Integrity at CMS since 2013. He is responsible for overseeing the federal screening, enrollment, and enforcement actions for over 2 million providers and suppliers that serve over 70 million Medicare beneficiaries. Prior to joining CMS, Charles served in the private sector as a Program Integrity Director for Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. He also worked with Medicaid managed care organizations in Pennsylvania and Michigan. He served on the national Medicare/Medicaid Healthcare Drug Taskforce where federal agencies and private organizations came together to tackle the onset of the opioid epidemic. Charles went to school at the University of Michigan and Duquesne University, where he graduated with degrees in business and forensics.

Allison Bloom

CMS

Allison Bloom serves as the Deputy Director for the Division of Enforcement Actions within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. She is responsible for overseeing the review and implementation of administrative actions, including enrollment denials, deactivations, and revocation of Medicare billing privileges, as well as assisting in the development of new program integrity regulations and policies. She has been with CMS for over ten years.

PE 101

Alisha Sanders

CMS

Alisha Sanders serves as the Director for the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Ms. Sanders is responsible for developing enrollment policies and procedures across the Medicare program and working with the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and other stakeholders on provider enrollment and program integrity-related issues. Ms. Sanders has worked for CMS for over 25 years.

Certified Providers/SNF

Melanie Bovard

CMS

Melanie Bovard serves as a Health Insurance Specialist in the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Ms. Bovard works with the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and other stakeholders on provider enrollment and program integrity related issues. She is also part of the Survey and Certification Team, focusing on Skilled Nursing Facilities.

Dionna Johnson

CMS

Dionna Johnson serves as a Health Insurance Specialist and Survey and Certification Lead for the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Ms. Johnson provides oversight over one the Medicare Administrative Contractors, Palmetto GBA, and other stakeholders on provider enrollment and provider integrity related issues. Ms. Johnson holds a Master’s in Health Administration from George Mason University.

DME

Cher’rohn Ross

CMS

Cher'rohn Ross serves as a Health Insurance Specialist for the NPE contractors in the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. She is responsible for overseeing the DMEPOS enrollment operations, developing technical guidance and policy, and working with the NPEs and other stakeholders on program integrity related issues. Ms. Ross has her Master's degree in Healthcare Administration Management from the University of Maryland.

Adriana Allen

CMS

Adriana Allen serves as a Health Insurance Specialist in the Division of Enrollment Policy and Operations within the Provider Enrollment and Oversight Group in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS. Ms. Allen oversees the National Provider Enrollment (NPE) Contractors and supports other DMEPOS stakeholders on provider enrollment and program integrity related issues. Ms. Allen holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Virginia.