Karen Gibson
Karen Gibson is the Director of the Health Care Eligibility and Access Division for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She has been with the Department for 23 years and for the last fourteen years has worked in health care programs eligibility policy development and implementation. She leads the development and implementation of eligibility policy for all populations for Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, MinnesotaCare, and the Minnesota Family Planning Program (1115 demonstration project). Ms. Gibson has a breadth of knowledge and experience across the range of eligibility policy issues including families and children, elderly and disabled, and long-term care. She has overseen the implementation of numerous federal and state legislative initiatives including changes in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Prior to coming to the Department she worked for several county human services agencies as an eligibility worker and supervisor. Ms. Gibson has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration.
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. 
