For the past three years, as a President of Health Services for Children with Special Needs Inc. (HSCSN), Anna Dunn has been leading the health plan strategic direction and performance for developing and implementing business strategies consistent with the organization’s mission. She has ensured compliance with established objectives and the realization of quality, economical healthcare services. Anna has built a framework for addressing access and advocacy by developing culturally and person-centered processes, policies, and standards to produce effective clinical outcomes, strong financial performance, and exemplary membership satisfaction. HSCSN is a local non-profit organization focused exclusively on improving the health and quality of life of children and young adults with complex needs who reside in the District of Columbia. The mission is to coordinate innovative, high-quality, community-based care for individuals with complex needs and their families. Anna’s efforts at HSCSN are focused on providing excellent service to the families of more than 5,000 children with special needs in the District of Columbia, including babies born to HSCSN enrollees and youth in the custody of DC’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA).
Since 2012, Anna has served on the HSCSN board and various committees of HSCSN and its parent organization before she joined as HSCSN’s leader in 2020. Anna is an accomplished leader with 20+ years of healthcare experience across multiple industries, including payor, provider, government, and consulting. Anna has served as a Mayoral appointee on The Ryan White Health Planning Council, which is the entity responsible for community planning related to HIV/AIDS care for federally defined Eligible Metropolitan Areas that encompasses the legal jurisdictions-the District of Columbia, five Maryland counties, eleven Virginia counties and two counties in West Virginia. At the Council, she worked on establishing priorities for the allocation of Ryan White Part A funds in each of the legal jurisdictions within the EMA. In addition, she participated in developing a comprehensive plan for the organization and delivery of coordinated health services and in developing the statewide coordinated statement of needs. Her work at the Council also helped to ensure that people with HIV/AIDS receive timely and quality health care and support services, including substance abuse treatment. In addition, Anna served as a co-chair on the Advisory Board for DC Cohort – a research study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The study aims to establish a clinic-based city-wide longitudinal cohort that will describe clinical outcomes and improve the quality of care for outpatients with HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC. In this capacity, Anna provided recommendations to the DC Cohort Research Study Executive Committee on issues related to the study, such as planning, rollout, enrollment, data collection/security, announcing results, and suggested actions to improve the quality of HIV patient care in DC. As a PrEP Community Advisory Board, Anna advises on the strategic direction of pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) outreach programs to HIV-negative youth in the DC metro area.
Anna is not a stranger to the intricate work required within the disability community to ensure access, resources, and navigation to families with children, youth, and adults with medically complex needs. Working with the Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) communities regarding payment methodology, state plan amendments, and access to services, she has led projects to ensure a comprehensive approach is considered that includes the family impact and community resources to meet the needs. She is a voice for the voiceless, inspiring to challenge the status quo through advocacy and education. Her work has been in the interest of the families residing in the children and geared towards empowering and acceptance, an invaluable asset to families on how to advocate for themselves.
Before leading HSCSN, as a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, she ran a portfolio of healthcare compliance projects supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in implementing the Affordable Care Act to reduce expenditures and improve the quality of care provided to beneficiaries. In November 2019, Ms. Dunn was awarded the “Professional Services Heroine of Washington” title by the March of Dimes for her advocacy efforts and contributions to improving the healthcare of children in the District of Columbia.
Ms. Dunn has worked tirelessly in making HSCSN a health plan with national significance by making it a model of national standards for care coordination for children and young adults with complex medical needs.