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Achieving Financial and Operational Sustainability in Children's Behavioral Healthcare

Wednesday, May 20 | 9:30 - 11:00 AM

This session shares the successful operating model from Sheppard Pratt, one of the country’s largest and most well-regarded nonprofit behavioral healthcare systems, and addresses critical operational and financial barriers that prevent health systems from sustaining comprehensive behavioral health services. Presenters will examine evidence-based strategies across three key domains: revenue cycle optimization, patient care flow efficiency, and expense management. Attendees will learn practical tactics for enhancing reimbursement capture, streamlining clinical workflows, and implementing cost-effective operational models. The session provides tools for health system leaders seeking to build high quality programs that deliver access to care without compromising financial performance.

Learning Objectives: 

  1. Identify revenue maximization strategies specific to behavioral health service lines.

  2. Apply workflow optimization techniques to improve patient throughput and clinical efficiency.

  3. Implement expense management frameworks that preserve care quality while ensuring financial sustainability.

About the Presenters: Stephen Merz, FACHE & Dr. Stephanie Snider, PhD, MPH

Steve is Chief Operating Officer of Sheppard Pratt Solutions, a division of Sheppard Pratt, one of the largest, most well-regarded behavioral healthcare organizations in the nation. Stephen’s career spans nearly 30 years including roles as Executive Vice President, Operations and Interim President and CEO at Diamond Healthcare, President/CEO of Maine Behavioral Healthcare, and as Vice President & Executive Director of Behavioral Health at Yale New Haven Hospital. Stephen’s work focuses on integrating behavioral health care into the overall healthcare system, including establishing alternatives to acute care settings, developing novel approaches for chronic conditions such as depression and ensuring behavioral healthcare services are financially strong. Stephen has served on national and regional boards, including the National Association of Behavioral Healthcare, chair of the Behavioral Healthcare Councils of the Maine and Connecticut Hospital Associations, and as ACHE Regent for Connecticut. Stephen holds a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Social Media Handle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-m-2448304/

 

 Dr. Stephanie Snider brings over 25 years of clinical and public health expertise to the leadership role of Director on Sheppard Pratt Solution’s consulting team. Most recently, Stephanie led behavioral health thought leadership on the Vizient/Sg2 Strategic Intelligence team where she assisted clients on business strategy and program development decisions related to the enterprise, behavioral health, and primary care. Stephanie has over a decade of clinical mental health experience working with both children and adults. She has worked as a behavioral health and quality improvement consultant for the last 10 years with companies such as Diamond Healthcare and Premier Healthcare. Additionally, she has worked on several federal contracts related to improving the health care of the American public.   Stephanie holds a Master’s degree in counseling psychology and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology. Her Ph.D. is in public health epidemiology with dissertation research investigating disparities in care among cancer patients with comorbid depression.

Social Media Handle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssnider1845/