Skip to main content
  • Notice of Privacy Incident
  • Medicaid Provider Termination Alert: Revalidation deadlines are approaching. Failure by providers to revalidate will lead to termination and payment suspension. Check your account now at https://impact.illinois.gov/ to learn if your required revalidation is due this month. More revalidation information here.

Advisory Council on Financing and Access to Sickle Cell Disease Treatment and Other High-Cost Drugs and Treatment Membership List

Chair

Lizzy Whitehorn, Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Director of HFS or their designee

Members

Ifeanyi “Beverly” Chukwudozie

One member with lived experience as a person with sickle cell disease

 

Alexandra Carpenter

One member with lived experience as a person with a condition requiring access to new, innovate drugs or treatment.

 

Dr. James LaBelle, UChicago Medicine

One member representing providers treating sickle cell disease patients.

 

Dr. Ruchika Goel, Sothern Illinois University School of Medicine

One member representing providers treating patients with another condition requiring access to new, innovative drugs or treatment.

George Kitchens, Artia Solutions

 

Susan Stuard, Oregon Health & Science University

 

Two members with expertise in prescription drug rebate negotiations and outcomes-based agreements.

 

Steve Sproat, Aetna Better Health

 

Brian Smolich, Health Alliance Medical Plans

Two members representing the health insurance industry.

 

Melissa Creary, University of Michigan

 

Rachel Sachs, Washington University School of Law

Two members with published research in financing new, innovative drugs and treatments within public health insurance programs.

 

Dr. Anirban Basu, University of Washington

 

Rena Conti, Boston University

 

Two members with health economist or actuarial backgrounds.

 

TaLana Hughes, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois

One member representing sickle cell disease advocacy organizations.

 

Nathan Schaefer, National Hemophilia Foundation

One member representing advocacy organizations for a condition(s) requiring access to new, innovative drugs and treatment.

 

Dr. Radhika Peddinti, La Rabida

 

Mark Trusheim, NEWDIGS, Tufts Medical Center

Two at-large members who may or may not meet the qualification requirements for the other appointees.

 

 

State Agency Members

Joan Ehrhardt, Newborn Screening Genetic Counselor

One member representing IDPH

Adam Flores, Senior Insurance Advisor

One member representing DOI

Theodore (Ted) Tapas, Budget Analyst II

One member representing GOMB