Alice Kuchinskas brings to OPEN MINDS over 20 years of experience in direct mental health and substance abuse contract negotiation for all levels of care, including shared risk and pay for performance contracting. Ms. Kuchinskas easily navigates the application, credentialing and contracting process with all major health plans, has an in-depth knowledge of payer contract structure and language and has experience counseling clients on important contract terms. She currently serves as a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice.

Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Kuchinskas served as the Vice President, Payer Relations and Utilization Review – Elements Behavioral Health/Promises Behavioral Health. In this position, Ms. Kuchinskas was responsible for execution of the company’s nationwide payer contracting strategy, including direct negotiation of payer contracts and pay for performance agreements, credentialing of facilities and professional providers, and ongoing payer relations.

Prior to her role at Elements Behavioral Health, she served as a Vice President, Network Strategy Western Region – Beacon Health Options, where she developed and implemented a strategic vision for provider network partnerships for Beacon’s Western Region, with a primary focus on California.

Prior to her role at Beacon Health Options, Ms. Kuchinskas served as Vice President, Operations Cypress Service Center – Beacon CBHM/Beacon Health Strategies, where she was responsible for overall operations of Beacon’s California Service Center and 2 IPAs, including clinical services, utilization management, network development, provider operations, claims, and quality management.

Ms. Kuchinskas has also held the position of Chief Operating Officer – Prototypes, Centers for Innovation in Health, Mental Health and Social Services , where she had oversight of all Prototypes substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, prevention and community programs, ensuring the quality of care and service, regulatory and contract compliance and sound fiscal management.

Ms. Kuchinskas earned a Bachelor of Art (B.A.) in Journalism from the University of Wyoming, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Marina Del Rey.