Juli L. Morris
Lubbock,TX
Summary
Senior nurse executive with 20+ years of healthcare experience, combining a strong clinical foundation in acute and critical care, with a decade of progressive leadership in Medicaid managed care. Currently, Associate Vice President of Healthcare Services for the Texas STAR+PLUS program, overseeing statewide operations that support more than 150,000 members through a team of over 300 associates. Experienced in utilization management, service coordination, and clinical operations that ensure compliance, quality, and member-centered outcomes. Recognized for leading large teams through transformation, improving audit performance, and aligning program delivery with enterprise objectives, strategic goals, and evolving regulatory requirements.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Vice President, Healthcare Services
Molina Healthcare
Texas
09.2024 - Current
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for Texas STAR+PLUS programs with accountability for statewide program delivery, regulatory compliance, and member outcomes for aging, blind, and disabled populations.
- Direct statewide STAR+PLUS service coordination, guiding a team of 300+ professionals responsible for comprehensive care planning and service delivery for 150,000+ high-acuity Medicaid members.
- Support executive strategy development for healthcare services by aligning STAR+PLUS service coordination operations with Molina clinical strategy and Texas Medicaid contract requirements.
- Designed and implemented two cost-of-care initiatives that improved assessment accuracy for Personal Attendant Services (PAS). Built reporting tools to uncover systemic errors, led staff training, and drove operational changes that ensured appropriate service delivery and reduced waste, resulting in projected savings of $1.1M in 2025 and $3.1M in 2026.
- Collaborated with health plan leadership and IT teams to implement STAR+PLUS contractual updates, including redesigning assessment workflows, introducing new forms, and supporting system and rate changes. Led education and training efforts to ensure staff readiness and sustained operational continuity.
- Strengthen regulatory compliance and audit performance through enhanced documentation, monitoring, and issue resolution practices.
- Drive initiatives that improve timeliness, service quality, and workforce efficiency, resulting in measurable performance gains.
- Partner cross-functionally with quality, compliance, behavioral health, network, and operations teams to deliver integrated member care.
- Manage budgeting and workforce optimization to sustain service quality and fiscal stewardship.
Director II, Healthcare Management Services
WellPoint (Elevance Health)
Texas
04.2019 - 09.2024
- Directed statewide clinical operations for 1M+ Medicaid members across STAR, CHIP, STAR+PLUS, and STAR Kids programs.
- Directed utilization management, leading multidisciplinary teams of 150+ clinical and non-clinical professionals, setting clear expectations, monitoring performance, and providing coaching to sustain high-quality healthcare services operations.
- Oversaw utilization management delegation for Dell Children’s Health Plan, including delegation oversight monitoring, regulatory reporting, remediation activities, and collaboration with plan leadership.
- Managed adherence to contractual, accreditation, and regulatory requirements including TDI, EQRO, HHSC, and NCQA, and supported achievement of Medicaid quality and HEDIS performance expectations while leading all phases of audits and accreditation reviews from preparation through corrective action and sustainability.
- Sustained NCQA accreditation and led multiple audit cycles with zero deficiencies by implementing process improvements and enhanced documentation standards.
- Collaborated with the executive leadership team in developing RFPs and procurement strategies for STAR, CHIP, STAR+PLUS, and STAR Kids programs, contributing to proposal content and serving as an in-person participant in State oral presentations for both WellPoint (Amerigroup) and Dell Children’s Health Plan.
- Implemented organizational restructuring to improve productivity, reduce overtime costs, and increase staff engagement across clinical teams.
- Partnered with the Chief Medical Officer to co-develop an Enterprise Medicaid Heat Map using APR-DRG data to identify utilization trends across multiple Medicaid markets.
- Effectively decommissioned the delegation alliance with Dell Children’s Health Plan, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition process.
- Received the High Performer Award in 2020 and 2023, a distinction awarded to less than 1% of employees, recognizing exceptional performance and contributions.
Manager I, Healthcare Management Services
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Elevance Health)
Indiana
09.2017 - 04.2019
- Developed and implemented Indiana Medicaid utilization management processes following UM platform migration.
- Built and led a 60-member team; achieved all performance metrics within six months of program launch.
- Supported NCQA re-accreditation efforts by strengthening utilization management documentation, reporting, and adherence to clinical criteria and turnaround time standards.
- Partnered with finance and clinical accountability teams to improve oversight of high-cost hospital admissions, DRG outliers, and medical cost initiatives.
- Provided on-site support during integration of the Alliance with the Minnesota Health Plan to stabilize utilization management operations and support frontline teams.
Cardiac Cath Lab Registered Nurse
Lubbock Heart and Surgical Hospital
Lubbock, USA
02.2011 - 08.2016
Case Manager & On-Call Registered Nurse
Vista Care
Clovis, USA
03.2009 - 02.2011
Education
Associate Degree in Nursing - Registered Nurse
Clovis Community College
Clovis, New Mexico05.2000
Skills
- Texas Medicaid programs
- Service coordination
- Long-term services and supports
- Utilization management
- Regulatory compliance and accreditation
- Audit readiness
- Cost optimization strategies
- Workforce development
- Cross-functional leadership
- Budget oversight
- Medical cost management
- Quality improvement initiatives
- RFP development and procurement
- Strategic planning and execution
- Data-driven decision making
- Reporting and analytics
Education And Licensure
- Associate Degree in Nursing – Registered Nurse, Clovis Community College, Clovis, NM, 05/01/00
- Registered Nurse – Texas (Active License), Active
Timeline
Associate Vice President, Healthcare Services
Molina Healthcare
09.2024 - Current
Director II, Healthcare Management Services
WellPoint (Elevance Health)
04.2019 - 09.2024
Manager I, Healthcare Management Services
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Elevance Health)
09.2017 - 04.2019
Cardiac Cath Lab Registered Nurse
Lubbock Heart and Surgical Hospital
02.2011 - 08.2016
Case Manager & On-Call Registered Nurse
Vista Care
03.2009 - 02.2011
Associate Degree in Nursing - Registered Nurse
Clovis Community College