About MTAC

The Medicaid Technical Assistance Act of 2021 established the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center (MTAC) as “a cross-system educational resource to strengthen the business infrastructure of health care provider organizations in Illinois to ultimately increase the capacity, access, health equity, and quality of Illinois' Medicaid managed care program, HealthChoice Illinois, and YouthCare, the Medicaid managed care program for children and youth who receive Medicaid health services through the Department of Children and Family Services.” [305 ILCS 75, Sec. 185-10]

• MTAC is a partnership between Illinois Healthcare and Family Services and the University of Illinois and is organized under the University’s Office of Medicaid Innovation.
• MTAC works closely with HFS to provide training, technical assistance, and direct support to current and prospective Illinois Medicaid providers.
  

Lizzie Kepler  
Associate Director, MTAC
ekepler@uillinois.edu

Lizzie has spent the last 30 years fostering and supporting behavioral health providers’ engagement with the Illinois Medicaid program, working closely with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In her role with the Medicaid Technical Assistance Center, she is eager to bring this experience and passion to a broader population.  

Candace Kovacs, LCPC, NCC
Assistant Director, MTAC Enrollment & Support Initiatives
ckovacs@uillinois.edu

Candace has over 20 years of experience working in behavioral health, including community-based behavioral health services with a focus on crisis, conducting training and offering technical assistance on the use of the Illinois Medicaid Comprehensive Assessment of Needs and Strengths (IM+CANS), and helping the Office of Medicaid Innovation (OMI) establish the provider enrollment support program for behavioral health providers, including Behavioral Health Clinics (BHC) and other behavioral health initiatives.  Candace is excited to expand technical assistance support for providers seeking to learn more about the Illinois Medicaid program.

Kendra Larimore 
Training Coordinator, MTAC Training
kendra22@uillinois.edu

Kendra came to MTAC from the University of Illinois School of Social Work’s Office of Learning and Development where she served as a Program Manager for the DCFS Training department, bringing 4+ years of training experience. Prior to that Kendra had close to 20 years of experience working in Human Services, Community Services, and Social work.   

Sara Williams, LCSW 
Senior Enrollment Coordinator, MTAC Enrollment Support
slinds2@uillinois.edu

Sara has 20 years of experience in community mental health that included work in prevention and wraparound services, child and adolescent therapy, and crisis management. Sara enjoys using her experience on the MTAC team to assist providers in navigating enrollment in Medicaid behavioral health programs.

Christi Sullivan, LCSW, LCPC 
Enrollment Coordinator, MTAC Enrollment Support 
clsulliv@uillinois.edu

Christi has close to 30 years of experience working with children and families.  She earned a BS in Psychology from Western Illinois University and a MSW from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. She began her career in social work as a job coach through the Supported Employment Program working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  She has 20 years of experience working in various capacities with the Department of Children and Family Services through the Office of Training.  She served as the Manager for Child Welfare Employee Licensure for 10 years. Christi spent five years working for the UIUC School of Social Work through a partnership with Health Care and Family Services serving as the Interim Relief Manager placing youth in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Programs as part of EPSDT provisions of the Medicaid Act.  Her work now focuses on enrollment for behavioral health providers and Adaptive Behavioral Support (ABS) services.

Marie Bongiorno, LSW (she/her)

Enrollment Coordinator, MTAC Enrollment Support

bongior3@uillinois.edu

Marie has close to a decade of experience working with individuals across the lifespan in direct social work practice. She earned a BS from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MSW from the University of Missouri Columbia. Her career has primarily focused on the provision of behavioral health services within a variety of medical settings, translating policy into clinical practice. She is excited to bring her clinical experience to MTAC to support behavioral health providers in serving their community through the Illinois Medicaid Program.

Heather Vose

Enrollment Coordinator, MTAC Enrollment Support

hnvose@uillinois.edu­­

Heather has 15 years of experience in behavioral health services and program management. She is an MTAC Enrollment Coordinator at the Office of Medicaid Innovation, University of Illinois System, assisting providers with Illinois Medicaid enrollment and offering technical support. Previously, she oversaw the MTAC Learning Center as Training Program Coordinator and held roles as Training Program Specialist and Assistant Director of Certification and Licensing. Heather holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Illinois State University. She is an MLC Certified Medicaid Professional and licensed as a Child Welfare Employee and Social Worker in Illinois. Heather is dedicated to promoting high standards in behavioral health services and supporting quality care for those in need.

Brooke Bragg
Senior MTAC Support Specialist, MTAC Enrollment Support
bbragg@uillinois.edu

For the last several years, Brooke has worked with children and families, providing school and home-based case management to newly arrived refugees, facilitating group therapy sessions with youth and parents, completing crisis risk assessments, and more. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree, specializing in Child and Family. Brooke enjoys working with behavioral health providers seeking to expand their specialty services and the populations served in their community by engaging in Illinois’ Medicaid program.

Will Smith
MTAC Support Specialist, MTAC Enrollment Support
ws25@uillinois.edu

Will has experience working in both crisis and residential mental health services, casework with Intact Family Services, and an enlistment with the Illinois Army National Guard as a medic. Will’s work with the MTAC team focuses primarily on assisting behavioral health providers enroll in Medicaid services. 

Estelle While, MHA, CPOSP

MTAC Support Specialist, MTAC Enrollment Support

bane1@uillinois.edu

Estelle has 10 years of experience working in various healthcare administration roles, including experience with HFS Medicaid services focusing on the Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities. Estelle’s work with the MTAC team focuses primarily on assisting behavioral health providers enroll in Medicaid services. 

Alycea Hardin (She/Her)

MTAC Support Specialist, MTAC Enrollment Support

alyceah@uillinois.edu

Alycea has experience working with children and families in residential, systematic, and community services. She has assisted children with processing grief, loss, and trauma as well as assessing risk and safety for children and families. She possesses a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mississippi State University. Alycea’s work with the MTAC team focuses primarily on assisting behavioral health providers enroll in Medicaid services. 

Erica Derochea 
Administrative Aide, MTAC Assist
erderoch@uillinois.edu

Erica works as an Administrative Aide with MTAC, working the IM+CANS Provider Portal and working/overseeing the HFS Provider Complaint Portal. Erica has worked for the University of Illinois for the past seven years and has extensive experience in provider billing, medical reimbursement, and customer service. 

Stacy Biggers 
Administrative Aide, MTAC Assist 
slbigger@uillinois.edu

As an Administrative Aide with MTAC, Stacy provides support for the HFS Provider Complaint Portal. With seven years of experience working for the University of Illinois, Stacy has developed a strong background in administrative support. 

Annie Miles 
Administrative Aide, MTAC Assist 
anmiles@uillinois.edu

Annie works as an Administrative Aide with MTAC, assisting with the HFS Provider Complaint Portal. Annie has worked for the University of Illinois for the past four years and has over 15 years’ experience in provider billing and medical reimbursement.