Barbara Edwards

Barbara Coulter Edwards is a Principal with Health Management Associates, Inc.  Ms. Edwards has almost 30 years of public and private sector experience in health care financing.  She is a nationally recognized expert in Medicaid policy, including managed care, cost containment, long term care, and state and federal reform.  In 2008, she served as the Interim Director of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors for six months. Ms. Edwards is a frequent national presenter on Medicaid trends, Medicare Part D, and state health policy challenges.  She has extensive experience in leading strategic planning and organizational change initiatives in public agencies.  Prior to joining HMA, Ms. Edwards served 8 years as director of Ohio’s $12 billion Medicaid program.  She served on the federal State Pharmacy Assistance Program Transition Commission regarding implementation of Medicare Part D, served on the National Quality Forum Steering Committee which recommended standards for nursing home care, and was vice chair of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors.  Ms. Edwards has testified before both the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding state Medicaid and SCHIP programs.