FARGO, N.D. (March 22, 2022) – Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (Noridian), a leader in developing solutions for federal, state and commercial health care programs, has promoted two current employees to senior roles in the company’s clinical services and medical review departments. Smitha Ballyamanda, M.D., CAQSM, has been promoted to senior contractor medical director, and Katie Shequen has stepped into a newly formed role as vice president of clinical services. Dr. Ballyamanda and Shequen will create policy development and clinical review strategies vital to Noridian’s customers’ operational services.
“Noridian’s experienced team of medical physicians, nurses and other health care clinicians ensure we are accurately creating and reviewing appropriate policies to help minimize abuse and avoid waste for our customers,” explains Troy Aswege, senior vice president of operations at Noridian. “In addition, Dr. Ballyamanda and Shequen’s extensive clinical and Medicare leadership experience will impact best practices as we grow into other markets.”
Dr. Ballyamanda is responsible for clinical appropriateness and standard of care for Noridian’s durable medical equipment (DME) contracts. Her work directly relates to the efficiency of programs and processes throughout the Medicare program. Shequen will lead all clinical services management and staff. Her role supports the expansion of clinical services to the government and private enterprise and ensures the division is offering the best possible service, while meeting contract expectations and remaining in budget.
Beginning her career with Noridian in 2018, Dr. Ballyamanda was hired as a DME contractor medical director for Jurisdiction A and has contributed to all the company’s Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) activities and processes. She brings 13 years of experience in family medicine, sports medicine, occupational medicine and urgent care services, as well as six years of Medicare experience in physician reviews, medical policy and administrative law judge casework. Dr. Ballyamanda will execute her role from Fort Mill, South Carolina, where she lives with her family.
Shequen joined Noridian in 2010 as a clinical reviewer in the DME Jurisdiction D contract. Since then, she has held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility thanks to her leadership, planning and relationship building. She will execute her position from her home near Waubun, Minnesota, where she lives with her family.
To learn more about Noridian’s administrative services, visit Noridian.com for more information.