Louisiana Healthcare Connections, the state’s largest Medicaid health plan with more than 475,000 members and offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Covington, and Lafayette, has added three individuals to its leadership team.
Steven L. Higgs has been named the vice president of network development and contracting. Formerly of Chattanooga, Tenn., Higgs holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Montevallo in Alabama, and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. An avid volunteer for diabetes- and multiple sclerosis-focused organizations, he has also worked with Tennessee’s Breast Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Higgs leads all aspects of provider network and contracting strategies, including incentive-based contracting, process improvement, and network operations.
Michael P. Smith has been named the vice president of product development. A New Orleans native, Smith holds a Master’s in Management with healthcare concentration from Troy University, and a BBA in Finance from Loyola University. He brings more than 20 year of experience in managed care and healthcare operations to Louisiana Healthcare Connections. Smith has oversight responsibility for products and programs designed to support the further growth of Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and represents the organization in relationships with key stakeholders related to product development.
Akiko Barrow has been named the director of provider network performance. With more than 12 years of experience in provider relations, including six with Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Barrow holds a BBA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has a leadership role in the development and implementation of programs and resources to support providers in delivering quality, cost-effective care. She is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders, Mewelde Moore’s Knowledge First Foundation, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.