Meredith Telus, MPP

MHCDS offers a blend of the leadership courses I was looking for, integrated with considerations on data interpretation and utilization that are necessary in a medical delivery setting. Additionally, the faculty talent offered by this program was very hard to pass up.

I serve as the Director of the Division of Program Quality and Integrity at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In my twenties, after some years traveling in Europe and Asia teaching English as a second language, I went back to school for a degree in Public Policy. From there, I moved to New Hampshire to work in the state legislature and have been a dedicated bureaucrat ever since! After I worked for Senator Maggie Hassan as her Budget Director (when she was Governor), I landed at DHHS. Currently, my work entails establishing the supporting systems for our program areas across the Department — be it Public Health, Foster Care, Medicaid, Long-Term Supports and Services, or any other program areas. In a day I could spend time with staff perfecting our vendor evaluation for contract quality management, managing and mitigating audit findings, recovering funds from overpaid providers, or working with staff on the Medicaid Quality Strategy or selecting metrics for MCO accountabilities. 

I love all things outdoors and traveling, and preferably both at the same time!

Why did you decide to take the MHCDS program?

I wanted to learn more about all healthcare delivery systems so I could better understand how the Medicaid program intersects other payers and can improve healthcare outcomes. MHCDS offers a blend of the leadership courses I was looking for, integrated with considerations on data interpretation and utilization that are necessary in a medical delivery setting. Additionally, the faculty talent offered by this program was very hard to pass up.

What has been the best part of the program for you – so far? 

My fellow students! Hearing from my cohort has been incredibly valuable as they relate the classwork to their individual experiences in the healthcare setting. And everyone is incredibly supportive and interested in what we can learn from each other.

How have you used the MHCDS experience/skills/knowledge you have gained so far?

After learning more about how successful teams interact, I hit a “pause and reset” button on a couple of my teams! Seeing the teams in action shows me it was worth it to do a mid-point review.