Tamara has been with the Oregon Health Authority for 10 years, currently managing the Program Integrity Audit Unit at Oregon’s Office of Program Integrity. While at OHA, Tamara has held various positions in behavioral health licensing and certification, Medicaid provider services and quality assurance and compliance and Medicaid behavioral health policy. Tamara holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Leadership Studies, emphasis in strategic and organizational communication and a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science, emphasis in psychology. Outside of work, Tamara enjoys relaxing at home, cooking, reading, writing, quilting (her newest hobby), shopping and eating out.

I manage the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Detection and Prevention Team in the Office of Program Integrity for the Oregon Health Authority. After studying Applied Mathematics as an undergraduate at Boise State University, I worked as a data analyst for a national power sports distributor. My passion for data and analytics led me to obtain my Master’s in Statistics from Oregon State University before joining Oregon’s Program Integrity as a research analyst in 2021. Now I lead a team of nine analysts, fraud examiners, and auditors to find and resolve issues of FWA. I enjoy being outside or on the lake, playing disc golf, and playing board games with friends and family in my free time.

Tamara has been with the Oregon Health Authority for 10 years, currently managing the Program Integrity Audit Unit at Oregon’s Office of Program Integrity. While at OHA, Tamara has held various positions in behavioral health licensing and certification, Medicaid provider services and quality assurance and compliance and Medicaid behavioral health policy. Tamara holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Leadership Studies, emphasis in strategic and organizational communication and a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science, emphasis in psychology. Outside of work, Tamara enjoys relaxing at home, cooking, reading, writing, quilting (her newest hobby), shopping and eating out.

Joan has worked at the Medicaid Agency for 20+ years and previously worked at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General in various roles. Joan earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law. Joan is also a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Healthcare Compliance, and a Licensed Attorney.

Lori Stiles is the manager of Medicaid Program Integrity for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare. She has worked in Medicaid program integrity for over 20 years.

Ms. Vanessa Templeman is the current Inspector General for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of AHCCCS and has been in this role since March 2022. She has been with AHCCCS since 2011. The OIG exists to prevent, detect, and recover improper payments due to Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. Ms. Templeman has 22 years of experience in the health insurance industry spanning both private and government sectors. During her tenure with AHCCCS, Ms. Templeman has served in a variety of roles, a few of which include; Regional Representative for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Technical Advisory Group regarding fraud, waste, and abuse, Instructor at the Medicaid Integrity Institute through the National Advocacy Center, Advisory Committee Member for the ASU Health Care Compliance and Regulations Program and is currently the President of the National Association of Medicaid Program Integrity (NAMPI).

Frank has led OMIG since February 2021 and is committed to enhancing the Medicaid program integrity through education, transparency, and collaborative engagements with health care stakeholders. In this capacity, he provides executive direction and oversight of a professional staff of more than 500 dedicated public servants who are responsible for completing approximately 3,000 audits and investigations annually. Frank has been a NAMPI member since 2022, serving as a Regional Representative, and was appointed to the NAMPI Board in 2024.

I am a free-lance writer of non-fiction and fiction, currently a Senior Researcher at The New School and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Futures Studies (Stockholm) and the Vienna Centre for Societal Security. I studied at Oxford (DPhil, Rhodes Scholar), Harvard (BA, summa cum laude), and Alief Hastings High School in rural east Texas, home of the Fighting Bears. After that, I worked as an associate in M&A at Goldman Sachs in their London and Frankfurt offices, and I studied classical guitar in Seville, Spain with América Martínez, a disciple of Andrés Segovia. I've lived or worked in 48 countries. My most recent book, How to Make a Killing, is a look at the world of the US healthcare through the lens of the dialysis industry, where a miracle cure has become a nightmare for many patients. My previous books are: Crisis of Conscience (Penguin Random House, 2019), a cultural history of whistleblowing and fraud; and Extra Virginity (W W Norton, 2013), a New York Times best-selling account of olive oil culture, history, and crime. My articles have appeared in the New Yorker, National Geographic Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, and elsewhere, and have been included in anthologies like Best American Science Writing and Best American Travel Writing. I am currently performing research supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to improve dialysis and chronic kidney disease treatment in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.

Ms. Pu is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of Qlarant Capital. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in the creation of Qlarant’s predictive analytics and visualization software solutions. Ms. Pu has successfully led large-scale implementations for both federal and state government program’s needs. Advanced analytics software built and sold by Pu has been used by over 800 Medicare Advantage health plans and state Medicaid agencies in the US.

Ms. Vanessa Templeman is the current Inspector General for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of AHCCCS and has been in this role since March 2022. She has been with AHCCCS since 2011. The OIG exists to prevent, detect, and recover improper payments due to Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. Ms. Templeman has 22 years of experience in the health insurance industry spanning both private and government sectors. During her tenure with AHCCCS, Ms. Templeman has served in a variety of roles, a few of which include; Regional Representative for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Technical Advisory Group regarding fraud, waste, and abuse, Instructor at the Medicaid Integrity Institute through the National Advocacy Center, Advisory Committee Member for the ASU Health Care Compliance and Regulations Program and is currently the President of the National Association of Medicaid Program Integrity (NAMPI).

Johnny R. Brooks is the Director, Program Integrity for the Georgia Department of Community Health, Office of Inspector General. Johnny oversees the Medicaid agency’s Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) activities and coordinates audits and investigations of Medicaid providers. He also collaborates with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and Managed Care Organizations to maintain a viable Medicaid program for the citizens of Georgia. Johnny is a retired U.S. Army veteran and holds a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University and is a Certified Inspector General. He has over 18 years’ experience investigating Medicaid fraud. Prior to joining the Department, he served as Chief Investigator, Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. In 2018, he received the U.S. Attorney’s Office Award (Northern District of Georgia) for his dedication and commitment to the pursuit of justice.

Derik Ciccarelli is the Director, Fraud Scope Operations for Codoxo. His experience investigating insurance fraud and insurance defense spans 30 years across healthcare, property and casualty, workman’s compensation, disability, and life insurance. At Codoxo, Derik assists healthcare payers and agencies with detecting fraud, waste, and abuse through AI models and data-driven business intelligence, which includes defining and refining business analytics and logic related to pattern-based and deterministic detectors. Derik’s collaborates with our partners through the implementation, Go Live, and investigative processes. His expertise is in conducting risk assessments of national, regional, and corporate healthcare policies along with providing exceptional service to clients to ensure compliance with all legal requirements and professional standards.

Dr. Gary Call is a board-certified family physician and senior healthcare executive with extensive experience across managed Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, commercial health plans, and state employee health benefit programs. His background spans medical management, quality, pharmacy strategy, and risk adjustment, supported by deep clinical and operational expertise. Dr. Call is nationally recognized for his leadership in payment integrity and fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) prevention, including advanced analytics, clinical review strategies, and technology enabled solutions that protect both government and commercial payer programs from improper payments and emerging integrity risks. As Chief Medical Officer at Gainwell Technologies, Dr. Call oversees Payment Integrity, Care Management, Clinical Analytics, and Population Health Solutions, driving innovation and clinical program development that improve outcomes, strengthen program integrity, and support the financial sustainability of state healthcare programs.

Will O’Neill joined Gainwell-HMS as Vice President of Cost Containment Analytics & Product, with an initial focus on Payment Integrity solutions. Will is responsible for managing the end-to-end lifecycle of the HMS analytic library and product roadmaps, which are strategic growth drivers of client value for HMS’ COB, Payment Integrity and Eligibility Verification product suite. Will brings 18 years of experience delivering innovative analytics and technology solutions across Payer and RCM markets.

With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Ms. Kaperak currently serves as the Assistant Bureau Chief for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s Medicaid Program Integrity team. In this role, she leads dedicated teams focused on recovering overpayments and enforcing sanctions, all while working diligently to reduce fraud and abuse within the Medicaid program. Ms. Kaperak is a proud graduate of Florida State University and holds esteemed credentials including AHFI, CFE, and CIGA. She is a respected speaker, having presented at numerous conferences such as NHCAA, NAMPI, FIFEC, and the Medicaid Integrity Institute, where she shares her insights and expertise. Outside of her professional life, Ms. Kaperak enjoys giving back to her community, attending sporting events, and traveling.

Brian Dunn is the Inspector General for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, where he oversees program integrity efforts for the state's Medicaid program. In this role, he directs criminal and civil investigations, audits, and compliance reviews, and the data analysis that supports this work. Prior to this, Brian served as First Deputy Inspector General and General Counsel for the City of Chicago's Office of Inspector General. Before leading government oversight work, Brian's legal career included serving as General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, a litigation associate for a global law firm, and a law clerk for a federal district judge.

o April Minton is a Data Scientist with Washington State Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division. April previously worked for Health Care Authority (our single state agency) in both the Program Integrity Unit as well as the Dental Authorization Unit. Prior to state service April worked in private practice as a certified dental assistant for 13 years.

Naomi Smith is a Managing Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Unit with the Washington State Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division. Naomi earned her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law in 2015. She has been with MFAD for 3 years, previously working as a criminal defense attorney.

Adam Thurston currently serves as the Section Chief for the Trade, Fraud, and Financial Facilitation Section of FinCEN’s Research and Analysis Division. Mr. Thurston has worked at FinCEN since 2005 in a variety of roles, most of which involved international financial crime issues.

Katie Pass serves as Director of Stakeholder Engagement at Alliant Health Solutions, where she leads strategic partnerships and initiatives that advance quality, accountability, and healthcare transformation. With experience spanning long-term care, behavioral health, hospital operations, and CMS-funded programs, she has supported state and national efforts focused on patient safety, access to care, rural health improvement, care coordination, and performance improvement. Katie specializes in building collaborative relationships across healthcare, community, and government sectors to develop practical solutions that strengthen program effectiveness, improve outcomes, and support responsible stewardship of healthcare resources.

Ms. Forrest is a director with Myers and Stauffer, bringing more than 25 years of public and private sector experience in various forms of Program Integrity (PI) work for the state of Indiana, including contract implementation and oversight, evaluation and implementation of data analytics, audit coordination, and provider/stakeholder relations and education. Ms. Forrest also provided oversight of the development and implementation of a comprehensive program integrity, case tracking, and analytics system. With that experience, Ms. Forrest serves as a Subject Matter Expert to incorporate the State PI perspective in the design and implementation of program integrity case-tracking solutions. Ms. Forrest provides oversight to multiple state Recovery Audit Contract (RAC) operations – with responsibilities ranging from policy/procedure impact analysis to evaluation of state guidelines to identify potential vulnerabilities. She has overseen the independent review of inpatient, outpatient, professional, long-term care and other provider type claims – with most recent focus on applied behavioral analysis and non- emergency medical transportation services, as well as review of home and community- based service providers. Ms. Forrest utilizes her extensive state PI experience to provide fraud, waste, and abuse detection technical expertise to the firm’s Benefit Program Integrity (BPI) unit and serves as a resource on false claims and litigation support engagements.

Ms. Goel is a Senior Manager at Myers and Stauffer. She supports engagements related to Medicaid program integrity and consulting review efforts. She manages Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) audits across multiple states. Additionally, she assists in overseeing state Procurement Reviews of School Food Authorities under the School Lunch Program. Ms. Goel has also managed various consulting projects focused on policy analysis. In her role at the firm, she is responsible for project oversight alongside conducting research, writing, data analysis, and documentation of policies and procedures. Her program integrity experience includes performing post-payment reviews of credit balances, Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) audits, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) audits, and various inpatient services. Ms. Goel has contributed to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) project, focusing on performance measures and return on investment for Medicaid program integrity. She also has experience working with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) data, including conducting data analysis and preparing reports for transparency and external quality review (EQR) projects in multiple states.

Mr. Lott is a senior manager with Myers and Stauffer LC and brings 16 years of experience in SQL development and data analytics, including 13 years specializing in Medicare and Medicaid claims data. He has significant experience serving in technical leadership roles and as a Project Manager for Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) engagements, where he has assisted multiple states and hospital stakeholders in identifying and addressing fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid claims data. In addition to his work on RAC projects, Mr. Lott has contributed to program integrity efforts across four states, providing advanced technical and analytical support. He has developed specialized analyses to support Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigations, collaborating with the U.S. Department of Justice and MFCU teams to deliver critical data and insights that have driven fraud investigations. Furthermore, he has provided expert opinions to support litigation for a state’s Office of the Attorney General. Before joining Myers and Stauffer, Mr. Lott worked at a recovery audit firm supporting Medicare RAC operations across three regions. In this role, he developed processes to optimize revenue cycle management and ensure compliance with CMS requirements.

Mr. Melton, a senior manager with Myers and Stauffer, is an experienced professional in healthcare auditing and consulting. Throughout his career, he has managed compliance and performance audits, financial audits, and bid pricing tool audits of Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Additionally, he has served as the project manager for program integrity reviews conducted for the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since 2003, Mr. Melton has worked closely with Medicaid agencies, primarily focusing on overseeing program integrity engagements. His responsibilities include reviewing completed engagements, supervising staff, engaging with providers and Medicaid agency personnel, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with contract requirements. In addition to his auditing expertise, Mr. Melton has worked on consulting engagements with state agencies to modernize child welfare rates. He has supported states in reforming child welfare payment methodologies to enhance service delivery and ensure fair, efficient allocation of resources. Mr. Melton has also collaborated with several states on performance and administrative expense audits of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) that participate in state insurance programs. His work with CMS includes audits of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan bid pricing. His expertise spans audits related to Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA), Part D Effectuation Timeliness, Part D Clinical Decision Making, Part D Grievances, Enrollment/Disenrollment, and Late Enrollment Penalty components of performance and compliance audits for plan sponsors. He has also overseen examinations of financial information for Medicare Advantage Organizations and Prescription Drug Plans.

Jay Derby is a Senior Consultant and AI Architect at Public Consulting Group (PCG), where he leads the design and delivery of AI-enabled solutions for government health and human services programs. With expertise spanning product strategy, and compliance-driven technology, Jay focuses on helping public sector organizations modernize operations while maintaining the highest standards of security, transparency, and accountability.

Shavasya Jacob is an Audit Supervisor at the NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General. She is a seasoned healthcare compliance professional with over a decade of dedicated experience in Medicaid program integrity as well as other state oversight programs. She currently serves as a subject matter expert, leading an innovative audit approach defined by a unique, data-driven method to program integrity. This idea was initiated by the regional audit director, but the methodology was designed and planned by Shavasya during a highly selective professional development program, where she conducted intensive research and development to optimize fraud, waste, and abuse detection in the multi-payor Medicaid landscape. A specialist in regulatory compliance and operational excellence, she holds a Master of Public Administration in Inspection and Oversight from John Jay College (CUNY). Shavasya is dedicated to safeguarding public healthcare resources through rigorous, forward-thinking oversight strategies.

Leads the best team in Nebraska Medicaid to protect the program from fraud, waste, and abuse, and the clients from harm and exploitation. Educated at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Spends free time collecting craft supplies and making things.

I manage the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Detection and Prevention Team in the Office of Program Integrity for the Oregon Health Authority. After studying Applied Mathematics as an undergraduate at Boise State University, I worked as a data analyst for a national power sports distributor. My passion for data and analytics led me to obtain my Master’s in Statistics from Oregon State University before joining Oregon’s Program Integrity as a research analyst in 2021. Now I lead a team of nine analysts, fraud examiners, and auditors to find and resolve issues of FWA. I enjoy being outside or on the lake, playing disc golf, and playing board games with friends and family in my free time.

Aaron Ziska is a fraud investigator with a broad background in data. Beginning in labor market economic research, then moving to Nebraska Medicaid analysis, Aaron joined Nebraska Program Integrity at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. He has spent sixteen years with the State, 10 of which have been with Medicaid. With a background in data analysis, he functions as a SME for data synthesis amongst Medicaid systems. He enjoys spending time outdoors exploring with his family, and spending time playing D&D and other board games with his friends.

Tasha Gardner is a Special Deputy Attorney General with the North Carolina Department of Justice - Medicaid Investigations Division (MID) and is cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina. As a Medicaid criminal enforcement attorney, Tasha has been prosecuting Medicaid provider fraud in both federal and state courts since 2020. Prior to joining MID, Tasha served as an Assistant District Attorney for more than 16 years.

F. Edward (Eddie) Kirby, Jr. is the Director of the Medicaid Investigations Division (MID) at the North Carolina Department of Justice. He has served with MID since 2008 and has been the Director since 2018. MID is the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) for North Carolina. Eddie is appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in all three federal districts of North Carolina. He currently serves as Vice President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU).

Kevin Lownds is the Division Chief in the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Medicaid Fraud Division, where he investigates and prosecutes health care fraud in federal and state court. Kevin has been in the Medicaid Fraud Division since May 2017 and has conducted investigations and led prosecutions of mental health providers and private equity investors, clinical laboratories, nursing homes, home health agencies, and physicians. Prior to this role, Kevin was at WilmerHale LLP in Washington, DC, where he practiced white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. Kevin is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Tufts University.

Kevin Lownds is the Division Chief in the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Medicaid Fraud Division, where he investigates and prosecutes health care fraud in federal and state court. Kevin has been in the Medicaid Fraud Division since May 2017 and has conducted investigations and led prosecutions of mental health providers and private equity investors, clinical laboratories, nursing homes, home health agencies, and physicians. Prior to this role, Kevin was at WilmerHale LLP in Washington, DC, where he practiced white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. Kevin is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Tufts University.

Joan has worked at the Medicaid Agency for 20+ years and previously worked at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General in various roles. Joan earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law. Joan is also a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Healthcare Compliance, and a Licensed Attorney.

As Deputy Inspector General, Tabitha Ramminger oversees a workforce of over 100 professionals dedicated to preventing fraud, waste, and abuse within public assistance programs at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Her extensive public service background includes serving as the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Response Team Deputy Incident Commander and leading key Medicaid service authorization programs, including the design of the Autism Treatment Benefit. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Certified Inspector General, and Certified Welfare Fraud Investigator, Mrs. Ramminger holds an M.S. from the Florida Institute of Technology and actively volunteers with the local Scouts programs alongside her husband and three children.

Kaye Lynn Wootton is a prosecutor in the Utah Attorney General’s office and serves as Director of the Utah Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Division. She began her career as a Registered Nurse over 35 years ago and now combines her nursing and attorney skills as she continues her mission to protect patients and safeguard the Medicaid program. Kaye Lynn also serves as President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU). Kaye Lynn regularly serves as a presenter and facilitator for state agencies, provider groups, NAMFCU and various national organizations. Kaye Lynn is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership.

Aaron Ziska is a fraud investigator with a broad background in data. Beginning in labor market economic research, then moving to Nebraska Medicaid analysis, Aaron joined Nebraska Program Integrity at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. He has spent sixteen years with the State, 10 of which have been with Medicaid. With a background in data analysis, he functions as a SME for data synthesis amongst Medicaid systems. He enjoys spending time outdoors exploring with his family, and spending time playing D&D and other board games with his friends.

Justin Gates is a Chief Special Agent in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the Ohio Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Section. In this capacity, he supervises the unit’s Intake Team, Evidence Team, and Three Investigative Teams. Justin has over twenty years of investigative experience with the Ohio Attorney General’s office where he has worked as an Economic Loss Investigator investigating claims against Ohio’s Crime Victim Compensation Program; and as a Special Agent and Special Agent Supervisor investigating health care providers accused of defrauding the state’s Medicaid program, as well as those who abuse or neglect individuals in long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities throughout the state of Ohio.

Ben has served as the Section Chief of the Health Care Fraud Section and Director of the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office since November of 2020. Ben began his career as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Columbus City Attorney’s Office in Columbus, Ohio. After spending 5 years as a courtroom prosecutor, Ben moved on to the world of Medicaid Fraud Control Units at both the Washington, D.C. Office of the Inspector General and eventually back home to Ohio at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Ben has handled both provider fraud cases as well as patient abuse and neglect cases. Ben is the current President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. Ben is a graduate of Capital University Law School and received his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. Ben lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and two boys.

Ms. Vanessa Templeman is the current Inspector General for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of AHCCCS and has been in this role since March 2022. She has been with AHCCCS since 2011. The OIG exists to prevent, detect, and recover improper payments due to Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. Ms. Templeman has 22 years of experience in the health insurance industry spanning both private and government sectors. During her tenure with AHCCCS, Ms. Templeman has served in a variety of roles, a few of which include; Regional Representative for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Technical Advisory Group regarding fraud, waste, and abuse, Instructor at the Medicaid Integrity Institute through the National Advocacy Center, Advisory Committee Member for the ASU Health Care Compliance and Regulations Program and is currently the President of the National Association of Medicaid Program Integrity (NAMPI).

With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Ms. Kaperak currently serves as the Assistant Bureau Chief for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s Medicaid Program Integrity team. In this role, she leads dedicated teams focused on recovering overpayments and enforcing sanctions, all while working diligently to reduce fraud and abuse within the Medicaid program. Ms. Kaperak is a proud graduate of Florida State University and holds esteemed credentials including AHFI, CFE, and CIGA. She is a respected speaker, having presented at numerous conferences such as NHCAA, NAMPI, FIFEC, and the Medicaid Integrity Institute, where she shares her insights and expertise. Outside of her professional life, Ms. Kaperak enjoys giving back to her community, attending sporting events, and traveling.

Ben has served as the Section Chief of the Health Care Fraud Section and Director of the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office since November of 2020. Ben began his career as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Columbus City Attorney’s Office in Columbus, Ohio. After spending 5 years as a courtroom prosecutor, Ben moved on to the world of Medicaid Fraud Control Units at both the Washington, D.C. Office of the Inspector General and eventually back home to Ohio at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Ben has handled both provider fraud cases as well as patient abuse and neglect cases. Ben is the current President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. Ben is a graduate of Capital University Law School and received his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. Ben lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and two boys.

Josh Porter is a native Nevadan with 14 years of Program Integrity experience within the Nevada Health Authority’s Surveillance and Utilization Review (SUR) Unit. Throughout his tenure with SUR, he served as a caseworker, analyst, project and data coordinator, and spent the past four years as the Northern SUR Manager. His work included leading projects, managing cases, and overseeing nearly 500 payment suspensions and referrals to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for credible allegations of fraud—fortunately there have been far fewer administrative appeals. In July 2026, Josh became the Health Bureau Chief for the NVHA Office of the Inspector General. He currently oversees the SUR, Provider Enrollment, and the Nevada Recovery/Medicaid Estate Recovery Units.

Mikhial Jerzak is a Technical Architect for Peraton, and the Innovation Lead on the CMS Fraud Prevention System (FPS) program. He has over 10 years of experience in software development, platform infrastructure, and enterprise solution architecture to drive continuous modernization of AI/ML systems. He operates as the lead technical architect for the Rapid Fraud Intelligence (Rapid FI) platform. Throughout his career, Mikhial has demonstrated a consistent track record of bridging technical execution with strategic vision. He combines hands-on development experience as a software engineer with technical leadership to guide his cross-functional team of developers. His innovations have been recognized as a GovTech Connects Accelerate’25 Award Winner (Rapid FI), and 2025 FORUM Disruptive Tech Award Winner (CMS FPS). He and his innovation team have the overall aim of securely governing technology initiatives in support of program integrity. During this session, he will discuss securely deploying analytics platforms at scale, using a flexible architecture to meet state infrastructures where they are on their AI and analytics journey.

Kyle Walters is a seasoned Training Lead and Project Manager with over 13 years of experience specializing in large-scale healthcare software implementations, organizational change management, and analytics platforms. Currently serving as an Account Manager and Training Lead at IBM, Kyle excels in directing complex, multi-state health initiatives with a sharp focus on Program Integrity, data ecosystems, and robust project execution. Combining deep analytical capabilities with extensive knowledge of Medicaid systems, Fraud/Waste and Abuse, and advanced data tools (such as Power BI, Cognos, Tableau, and Snowflake), Kyle bridges the gap between complex technical architectures and end-user proficiency.

Kevin Hutchinson is VP of Growth and New Business Development of Optum State Government Solutions. He serves as the primary point of contact for state governments in the Southeast US. For more than two decades, he has served as a consultant, manager, and leader dedicated to innovation and transformation of state Medicaid and health and human services plans and programs. His background is in developing and delivering solutions using data, technology, and high-quality staff. His career has been recognized for bringing a data-driven approach, establishing baselines to make decisions, and measuring outcomes to evaluate effectiveness. He employs technology as needed to execute solutions, designing, developing, and implementing systems to drive performance. Mr. Hutchinson’s background includes the public sector, where he served in the North Carolina Office of the Governor, the private sector working with multiple consulting and technology firms, as well as the non-profit sector as a homeless outreach advocate. Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Public Policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. He lives outside Raleigh, NC with his wife, two teenage children, and two dogs.

James Lukenbill serves as the Strategic Product Manager for Analytics at Optum State Government Solutions. In this role, he leads a team dedicated to the design and implementation of advanced healthcare data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning solutions tailored for state government clients. With over two decades of experience in analytics, James brings deep expertise in Medicaid and health and human services data, driving innovation and actionable insights in public sector healthcare.

Dave Etling was InComm Payments' 40th employee and has held various leadership positions, including business development, sales, product management, and merchant services. Dave uses his broad knowledge of InComm Payments' technologies and services to establish deep and mutually beneficial business relationships with our customers that extend far beyond the basic delivery of stored-value cards into reward points redemption directly at retail POS, single-use digital coupons for specific retail SKU redemption and card-based, by-SKU affinity promotions. He has been a key asset to InComm Payments' growth over many years by improving product partner acquisition and successful retail launches of products for major industry leaders.

Leads the best team in Nebraska Medicaid to protect the program from fraud, waste, and abuse, and the clients from harm and exploitation. Educated at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Spends free time collecting craft supplies and making things.

As Deputy Inspector General, Tabitha Ramminger oversees a workforce of over 100 professionals dedicated to preventing fraud, waste, and abuse within public assistance programs at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Her extensive public service background includes serving as the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Response Team Deputy Incident Commander and leading key Medicaid service authorization programs, including the design of the Autism Treatment Benefit. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Certified Inspector General, and Certified Welfare Fraud Investigator, Mrs. Ramminger holds an M.S. from the Florida Institute of Technology and actively volunteers with the local Scouts programs alongside her husband and three children.

Sarah Geduldig is the Provider Integrity Section Manager at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Sarah has worked for the last 10 years in Medicaid Program Integrity focusing on provider screening issues, provider terminations for cause, provider compliance with program rules, and preliminary fraud investigations. Prior to her work with Colorado Medicaid, Sarah worked with several different government and legal aid organizations focusing on issues surrounding consumer protection.

As Deputy Inspector General, Tabitha Ramminger oversees a workforce of over 100 professionals dedicated to preventing fraud, waste, and abuse within public assistance programs at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Her extensive public service background includes serving as the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Response Team Deputy Incident Commander and leading key Medicaid service authorization programs, including the design of the Autism Treatment Benefit. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Certified Inspector General, and Certified Welfare Fraud Investigator, Mrs. Ramminger holds an M.S. from the Florida Institute of Technology and actively volunteers with the local Scouts programs alongside her husband and three children.

Brian Dunn is the Inspector General for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, where he oversees program integrity efforts for the state's Medicaid program. In this role, he directs criminal and civil investigations, audits, and compliance reviews, and the data analysis that supports this work. Prior to this, Brian served as First Deputy Inspector General and General Counsel for the City of Chicago's Office of Inspector General. Before leading government oversight work, Brian's legal career included serving as General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, a litigation associate for a global law firm, and a law clerk for a federal district judge.

Andrea Rakes has been a Medicaid Provider Fraud and Abuse Investigator for the State of Nebraska since 2024. Her career with the State of Nebraska started in 2022 when she joined the Provider Screening and Enrollment team as an Administrative Programs Officer. She represented the Department in many appeals and gained an array of knowledge of the Medicaid Program requirements, provider enrollment rules, and compliance processes. That knowledge of the Medicaid Program has boosted her ability to find potential loopholes and patterns that providers use to commit fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicaid Program. Outside of work, Andrea enjoys getting lost in a good book, spending time with her children, baking bread, and cooking.

Maricruz Bonfante serves as the Deputy Director for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid for the Center for Program Integrity, where she leads the Division of Vulnerability Strategy in advancing efforts to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse across Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace programs. She brings extensive expertise in regulatory analysis, program risk assessment, and fraud prevention strategy, developed through years of service in senior roles across CMS. Her background includes significant leadership in reviewing healthcare regulations, managing high impact program integrity initiatives, and collaborating with federal, state, and private partners to strengthen fraud prevention efforts. A licensed attorney, she has deep experience in health law, policy development, and legal analysis supporting Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Marketplace programs. She has been recognized with numerous CMS and HHS awards for excellence, innovation, and mission impact throughout her career.

Amanda Burrows is currently serving as a Subject Matter Expert Manager with the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership (HFPP) Trusted Third Party (TTP) where she has been working since 2023. Ms. Burrows previously worked as a Fraud Lead Analyst with a pharmacy benefit manager, and several years as a Senior Investigator in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Neda is a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD), supporting state and territory learning. She has led learning programs on an array of emerging issues and trends including but not limited to program integrity, applied behavioral analysis, and financing issues. Before joining NAMD, Neda worked in Medicaid managed care consulting, supporting procurement, strategy, and implementation projects. She received her Master of Science in Public Health in health policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Kevin O’Donnell is the Director of the Division of Program Integrity for the D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, the District’s Medicaid agency. He has served in that role since November 2021. In that capacity, he oversees the Medicaid agency’s Fraud, Waste, and Abuse activities, coordinating and supervising audits and investigations of Medicaid enrolled providers. To ensure the Medicaid program is effectively rooting out FWA, Mr. O’Donnell collaborates with public and private partners, including law enforcement agencies, regulatory agencies, Managed Care Organizations, and others. Prior to becoming the Director of the DPI, Mr. O’Donnell spent 7 years as an Attorney-Advisor in DHCF’s Office of the General Counsel, where he defended the agency in administrative appeals before the D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings. Mr. O’Donnell is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Law and a native Washingtonian.

Kaye Lynn Wootton is a prosecutor in the Utah Attorney General’s office and serves as Director of the Utah Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Division. She began her career as a Registered Nurse over 35 years ago and now combines her nursing and attorney skills as she continues her mission to protect patients and safeguard the Medicaid program. Kaye Lynn also serves as President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU). Kaye Lynn regularly serves as a presenter and facilitator for state agencies, provider groups, NAMFCU and various national organizations. Kaye Lynn is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership.

Craig Diena is a team leader and social science analyst in the Office of Evaluation and Inspections of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. In this role, he has contributed to evaluations on a range of topics in Medicaid, including the referral of fraud in Medicaid managed care. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Michael started his career with the OIG in 2002 with the Office of Evaluation and Inspections and has primarily focused on conducting oversight of Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

Erin McAlister is employed at the Louisiana Department of Justice, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Operations. She began her law enforcement career in 2006, and prior to that spent 10 years in the healthcare field. Her main interest is data analytics.

Anton Dutchover is the Deputy Inspector General of Audit and Inspections at the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Inspector General Inspector/Evaluator (CIGE) with nearly 20 years of auditing experience. Over the past 10 years, he has specialized in identifying and addressing fraud, waste, and abuse through audits and inspections of Medicaid providers, managed care organizations, and Texas Health and Human Services programs. His expertise includes strengthening program integrity, evaluating compliance, and improving oversight to help ensure public resources are used effectively.

F. Edward (Eddie) Kirby, Jr. is the Director of the Medicaid Investigations Division (MID) at the North Carolina Department of Justice. He has served with MID since 2008 and has been the Director since 2018. MID is the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) for North Carolina. Eddie is appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in all three federal districts of North Carolina. He currently serves as Vice President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU).

Kaye Lynn Wootton is a prosecutor in the Utah Attorney General’s office and serves as Director of the Utah Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Division. She began her career as a Registered Nurse over 35 years ago and now combines her nursing and attorney skills as she continues her mission to protect patients and safeguard the Medicaid program. Kaye Lynn also serves as President of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU). Kaye Lynn regularly serves as a presenter and facilitator for state agencies, provider groups, NAMFCU and various national organizations. Kaye Lynn is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership.

Daniel Miller has been with the AZ AGO for several years. Prior to that Daniel was a sworn officer with the Arizona State University Police department. He has served in a variety of roles including health care fraud and abuse, Major Fraud, and ICAC. He is currently the Assistant Chief Special Agent at the AZAGO.

Ms. Vanessa Templeman is the current Inspector General for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of AHCCCS and has been in this role since March 2022. She has been with AHCCCS since 2011. The OIG exists to prevent, detect, and recover improper payments due to Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. Ms. Templeman has 22 years of experience in the health insurance industry spanning both private and government sectors. During her tenure with AHCCCS, Ms. Templeman has served in a variety of roles, a few of which include; Regional Representative for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Technical Advisory Group regarding fraud, waste, and abuse, Instructor at the Medicaid Integrity Institute through the National Advocacy Center, Advisory Committee Member for the ASU Health Care Compliance and Regulations Program and is currently the President of the National Association of Medicaid Program Integrity (NAMPI).