Dena Hasan
Dena Hasan is the Interim Director of the Health Care Reform and Innovation Administration within the District of Columbia’s (DC) Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), which is DC’s Medicaid agency.
Dena is passionate about engaging both Medicaid beneficiaries and key policy decision makers into the health care delivery and outcomes conversation—particularly around issues that impact health equity. She led the completion of DC’s State Health Innovation Plan that describes the collaborative approach DC will continue to accomplish its value-driven, person-centered health system.
Dena oversees programs that integrate behavioral, physical and acute health care and social services for chronically-ill Medicaid recipients; better coordinate care for those dually-eligible for Medicaid and Medicare programs; and those that use alternative payment models to incentivize providers’ delivery of whole-person, high-quality care. She is also responsible for the operations of DC’s Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, and cooperative agreements with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to launch new and link existing health information technology/exchanges.
Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare and Health Equity
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
