Joel has a strong and compassionate commitment to improving health status and quality of life for high-need populations, to using taxpayer funds as efficiently as possible, and to replacing traditional fee-for-service coverage models (as well as ineffective coordinated care programs) with highly effective approaches. Joel has led hundreds of consulting engagements that involve the design, development, improvement or evaluation of coordinated care programs, including Medicaid initiatives in 40 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Joel has worked extensively for Medicaid agencies and other state clients, for health plans, and for national and state trade associations. He has played a significant role in the design of many states’ coordinated care programs.
He regularly supports Medicaid MCOs in bidding for state contracts. Joel has assisted many health plans in successfully entering new states and/or maintaining their presence in existing markets. Joel plays a lead role in developing and using datasets to enhance The Menges Group’s consulting portfolio and to help our clients strengthen their analytics and operational performance. Joel has also served as lead author of a wide array of policy papers that have shaped and expanded the role of coordinated care for high-need populations.
Joel’s personal endeavors have included tennis, coaching soccer, and distance running – with the latter including induction in Kalamazoo College’s Athletic Hall of Fame and winning the U.S. national marathon championship in 1982. He is, however, unable to keep up with his four toddler grandsons around the house.