Judy Zerzan
As Chief Medical Officer/Director of Clinical Services Office at Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, Dr. Zerzan provides clinical guidance for medical and pharmacy benefits. Dr. Zerzan has a role in the design and implementation of benefits design, Colorado’s Accountable Care Collaborative, quality and health outcome improvement, and cost-containment efforts. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver.
Dr. Zerzan received her MD degree from Oregon Health and Science University in 1998 and her MPH in Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina in 1999. She completed the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at the University of Washington/Seattle VA in 2007. Dr. Zerzan was a 2008-2010 non-residential Health & Aging Policy Fellow in the office of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia. During her fellowship, she worked on Medicaid, benefits for those dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and prescription drug policies. Dr. Zerzan currently serves as chair of the AHRQ sponsored Medicaid Medical Director’s Learning Network.
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. 
