Position Spotlight: Manager of Medical Economics


Lauren lives in Middlefield, CT with her husband Brenton, their two boys, Jack (6), Ben (3) and their dog Leo. She earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management from the University of Connecticut and her MBA from the University of Tampa. Before starting with Contessa in March of 2022, she spent the last decade working in contract analytics at Aetna. She enjoys traveling, drinking coffee and crafts with her boys. 
 

What does a Manager of Medical Economics do at Contessa? 

The Medical Economics team is responsible for creating episode-based pricing proposals. To do this we analyze historical payer data and advise on the financial impact of different scenarios. We support financial analysis across the Contessa continuum of care. Medical Economics works with several teams internally including Analytics, Payer Engagement, Operations, Business Development and with external partners as well. We also work on creating new payment models, drilling down into data to provide support for negotiations and any other ad hoc requests that come our way. 

Why did you choose a career in medical economics? Specifically, this career?

My first job out of college was as a healthcare analyst at a consulting company. I enjoyed working with teams and learning how to take large data sets and turn them into a story that clients could understand and act on. From there I stayed in roles where I could use these skills. 

How does the work you do at Contessa differ from other jobs?

At Contessa we are encouraged to be innovative and everyone’s ideas matter. The pricing work we complete is truly to support providing high quality care for patients at home and not just towards a bottom line.     

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is being part of a team that is so motivated to see the company succeed and to provide high quality care to patients. The work the Medical Economics team does at Contessa has a direct impact on the profitability of the company and we are able to see that. 

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is that, in a way, we are all entering unchartered territory. We are working together to change the face of a very complex healthcare system and provide care to patients in their homes. There is no guidebook, so innovation is key! 

What inspires you to come to work every day?

I am inspired by the team at Contessa and what everyone has accomplished so far. Everyone is willing to brainstorm ideas, share information, and collaborate across teams to get the job done. I also love reading the patient spotlight stories from real patients that have benefited from our services.