KellyAnn Light-McGroary, MD, MHCDS
Principal
Health Management Associates
Chicago, IL
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A visionary physician executive, Dr. KellyAnn Light-McGroary has successfully reimagined the delivery of care, improving member and provider experiences and driving outcomes. With extensive experience redesigning traditional programs and providing strategic direction to national teams and health plans in new and incumbent lines of business, she has made significant contributions to Medicaid healthcare management.
Prior to joining Health Management Associates, Dr. Light-McGroary was vice president of medical services with United Healthcare’s Request for Proposals (RFP) Excellence Office and Community & State (Medicaid) Government Operations. Collaborating closely with key national and health plan stakeholders, she offered strategic support for the procurement of both new and existing Medicaid business. Dr. Light-McGroary streamlined the bid approach for utilization management, pharmacy, quality, care management, clinical operations, and long-term services and supports, merging a deep understanding of state interests and the local healthcare landscape with UnitedHealthcare’s unique abilities. Her efforts were crucial in winning existing business in Nebraska and new markets in Indiana and New Mexico.
Previously, Dr. Light-McGroary served in several roles with UnitedHealthcare, including interim Medicaid national chief medical officer, Medicaid central region chief medical officer, national senior medical director for Medicaid Clinical Operations, and chief medical officer for the Medicaid Community Plan of Iowa. Leveraging her clinical, financial, and relationship-building expertise, she played a pivotal role in successful market remediation of several key health plans and the launch of multiple new Medicaid markets, establishing herself as a national leader in clinical strategy and operations.
Dr. Light-McGroary has developed and implemented national clinical policies. As national senior medical director, she acted as a clinical expert within the national Medicaid clinical policy development and implementation team. As the regional chief medical officer, she supported local medical directors and provided clinical leadership in national operations, including coordination of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to policy support, Dr. Light-McGroary has driven national and local affordability and clinical innovation. Working with the national Medicaid clinical operations and quality team, she supported individual markets with developing effective affordability, cost containment and remediation opportunities, implementing support frameworks and further refining utilization management strategies. Her relationship-building skills have led to innovative provider relationships, guiding the Iowa Medicaid program through a period of aggressive cost containment, affordability initiatives and the launch of value-based care strategies. Her guidance resulted in an ultimately actuarially-sound managed care program.
Dr. Light-McGroary is a strategic innovator, with experience in Medicaid, Medicare and hospital value-based purchasing (VBP) programs. She has redesigned national clinical models and has helped launch a new managed care health plan in a market transitioning from fee-for-service. As an associate professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, she has developed programs to improve patient experience and outcomes. With over 30 years of clinical experience focusing on cardiology and heart failure, she has been recognized for her expertise in integrating palliative care and hospice services for patients with advanced chronic illness.
Dr. Light-McGroary has a master’s degree in healthcare delivery science from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. She earned her medical doctor degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, completing her residency in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and her fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of Iowa. She also has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of Mount St. Vincent.