Debora Kuchka-Craig

Debora Kuchka-Craig is senior vice president of Managed Care for MedStar Health located in Columbia, Md.

In this role, Kuchka-Craig is responsible for the development and execution of third party payer initiatives for MedStar Health. In addition to contract negotiations and payer relations on behalf of MedStar’s hospitals, employed physicians and diversified healthcare businesses, Kuchka-Craig also serves a key role in health plan operations, with executive oversight for the provider network and credentialing functions supporting MedStar’s population health initiatives, which include commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare health plans.

With nearly 30 years of healthcare industry experience, Kuchka-Craig has served as both provider and payer. During the first decade of her career, she was employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland (now CareFirst) where she was responsible for directing the health plan’s provider network functions.

A fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), Kuchka-Craig served as national chair of HFMA, from 2010–2011, leading the 35,000 member association of healthcare finance professionals. Prior roles include serving as HFMA’s national chair-elect, secretary-treasurer, a three-year term on the national board of directors, and chair of the National Board of Examiners. She has been recognized for outstanding leadership by the association with various awards, including the Follmer Bronze, Reeves Silver, Muncie Gold, and Medal of Honor merit awards.

Kuchka-Craig currently serves the citizens of Maryland as an appointee on the Maryland Health Insurance Plan Board. A past recipient of Maryland’s Top 100 Women award, she has served on numerous community boards and organizations including United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland and Leadership-Baltimore County.

Kuchka-Craig received her Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Lehigh University, and a Master of Science in health planning and administration from The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md. (now the Bloomberg School of Public Health).