AUDREY DUNKEL
Topeka,KS
Summary
Strategic healthcare finance executive with 20+ years of experience in Medicaid policy and reimbursement. Led multimillion-dollar financing initiatives and redesigned payment programs to enhance financial performance and transparency. Expertise in stakeholder engagement, CMS negotiation, and legislative strategy, effectively transforming complex regulations into actionable financial solutions.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Medicaid & Legal Affairs
Kansas Hospital Association
Topeka, KS
01.2025 - 08.2026
- Supported expansion of state directed payment program from $500m to $1b by updating workflows, reviewing analytics, and assisting with advocacy strategy to strengthen CMS alignment.
- Guided statewide Medicaid reimbursement strategy by advising hospitals and state partners on financial and regulatory impacts to improve operational outcomes.
- Managed legal affairs and updated HIPAA compliance processes, partnering with external counsel to improve regulatory alignment.
- Prepared federal regulatory comments and coordinated policy strategy with national experts to keep Kansas program compatible with federal reforms.
- Built relationships with state agencies, provider organizations, and healthcare coalitions to support financial and regulatory priorities.
- Created hospital-specific data dashboards to improve transparency and clarify quarterly Medicaid payment calculations for stakeholder understanding.
- Coached government relations and reimbursement staff to strengthen internal consulting capability and policy analysis skills.
Vice President, Government Relations
Kansas Hospital Association
Topeka, KS
09.2020 - 12.2024
- Directed statewide advocacy strategy, supporting government relations and regulatory affairs teams and coordinating cross-departmental initiatives.
- Built legislative strategy to advance reimbursement, regulatory, and operational priorities for Kansas hospitals.
- Served as primary liaison to legislators, committees, and regulatory bodies, delivering expert testimony and fiscal analysis.
- Implemented $500M Medicaid state directed payment program, managing CMS submissions, contractor coordination, hospital education, quarterly reporting, and legislative coordination to strengthen funding for Kansas hospitals.
- Maintained compliance as treasurer of KHA PAC, guiding fundraising strategy to strengthen political influence and advocacy efforts.
- Led behavioral health policy initiatives as staff lead for behavioral health committee, advancing legislative priorities and improving mental health services.
Vice President, Financial Advocacy
Kansas Hospital Association
Topeka, KS
09.2017 - 08.2020
- Supported redesign of Medicaid provider assessment program, raising reimbursement from $111M to $500M and assisting approval work with CMS and congressional delegation.
- Managed statewide financial advocacy efforts to improve reimbursement processes, reduce denials, and strengthen payer relationships.
- Worked with Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers to resolve financial and operational issues, supporting more effective solutions.
- Guided hospitals through reimbursement changes by providing financial modeling, education, and strategic advisory support for smoother transitions.
Senior Director of Financial Advocacy
Kansas Hospital Association
Topeka, KS
06.2016 - 08.2017
- Supported hospitals in legislative and regulatory forums by providing financial impact analysis and policy interpretation for decision-making.
- Reviewed CMS, state, and federal proposals to evaluate reimbursement implications for hospital operations.
- Served as liaison between statewide patient access and account management groups to support communication and coordination.
- Built relationships with external partners, vendors, and customers in order to foster collaboration.
Director of Financial Advocacy
Kansas Hospital Association
Topeka, KS
11.2012 - 05.2016
- Analyzed Medicaid expansion impacts across hospitals, legislative districts, counties, and statewide planning needs.
- Built ACA and Medicaid expansion resources to help hospitals meet compliance and readiness requirements.
- Supported statewide financial advocacy operations with reimbursement improvements, billing guidance, and patient access strategies.
Principal Fiscal Analyst
Kansas Legislative Research Department
Topeka, KS
12.2009 - 10.2012
- Advised legislators on fiscal impacts of policy proposals, supporting budget decisions.
- Provided statewide fiscal modeling and budget analysis, helping inform decisions for major programs.
- Directed fiscal staff work and coordinated analysis, aligning team outputs across functions.
Senior Fiscal Analyst
Kansas Legislative Research Department
Topeka, KS
07.2002 - 11.2009
- Supported advanced financial analysis, built cost models, and reviewed trends to guide funding decisions for state programs.
- Handled special fund reporting and developed legislative financial systems to strengthen transparency and accountability.
- Reviewed legislation for fiscal impact within Kansas Legislative Research Department.
- Prepared bill summaries for Kansas Legislature bill review.
- Checked agency budgets and appropriation requests for accuracy.
Fiscal Analyst
Kansas Legislative Research Department
Topeka, KS
10.1998 - 07.2002
- Reviewed budget bills and fiscal notes for Kansas legislative committees.
- Prepared fiscal notes and bill summaries to explain legislative effects and support appropriations amendments.
- Supported analysis of state agency budgets for legislative committee decisions.
- Checked revenue estimates, spending requests, and appropriation language for accuracy.
- Wrote fiscal research summaries for legislators and committee staff.
Education
Juris Doctor -
University of Kansas School of Law
Lawrence, KSBachelor of Arts - Political Science
Fort Hays State University
Hawks, MISkills
- Medicaid finance optimization
- Regulatory strategy
- Legislative strategy
- Compliance & Legal Oversight
- Financial Modeling & Forecasting
- Data visualization
- Program redesign
- Operational Transformation
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Stakeholder advisory
Accomplishments
- Led statewide development and implementation of Kansas Medicaid state directed payment program, resulting in the value of the program increasing from $111M to $1B, redesigning processes, analytics, and developing statewide and federal partner advocacy strategy to secure CMS alignment and improve statewide transparency, focusing on CMS requirements and priorities to ensure acceptance of two significant program value increases, from $111M to $500M, and then from $500M to $1B.
- Developed hospital-level dashboards improving visibility into quarterly Medicaid payments for 100+ hospitals.
- Delivered fiscal modeling and statewide budget analysis for Kansas Legislature, supporting major policy decisions across multiple sessions.
- Strengthened compliance infrastructure, overseeing legal affairs and initiating HIPAA compliance modernization for a statewide association.
Timeline
Vice President, Medicaid & Legal Affairs
Kansas Hospital Association
01.2025 - 08.2026
Vice President, Government Relations
Kansas Hospital Association
09.2020 - 12.2024
Vice President, Financial Advocacy
Kansas Hospital Association
09.2017 - 08.2020
Senior Director of Financial Advocacy
Kansas Hospital Association
06.2016 - 08.2017
Director of Financial Advocacy
Kansas Hospital Association
11.2012 - 05.2016
Principal Fiscal Analyst
Kansas Legislative Research Department
12.2009 - 10.2012
Senior Fiscal Analyst
Kansas Legislative Research Department
07.2002 - 11.2009
Fiscal Analyst
Kansas Legislative Research Department
10.1998 - 07.2002
Juris Doctor -
University of Kansas School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Fort Hays State University