Neva Kaye, Policy Fellow
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Neva Kaye rejoined the NASHP staff as a part time Policy Fellow in July, 2016 to work on the State Innovation Model (SIM) evaluation. She first joined the organization in 1994 as director of the Medicaid Managed Care Resource Center. During her over 20 years at NASHP she served as program director, senior program director and, finally, managing director. She worked with teams of staff to develop and implement projects supporting state efforts to address a variety of health policy issues, including Medicaid, purchasing, medical homes, behavioral health, and children’s health. During her time at NASHP she led learning collaborative designed to support young children’s healthy mental development, advance medical homes, and improve the delivery of care provided to children in foster care. Before joining NASHP, Neva served as director of Wisconsin’s Medicaid managed care program where she established several innovative managed care programs including some of the earliest programs serving people with disabilities and youth involved with the juvenile justice system. Neva holds a BS in industrial engineering and psychology from the University of Wisconsin.
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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. 
