Health and Human Services

Access to needed health and human services is one of the most critical issues facing every community across our state; and yet the extremely complex system of state regulations and reimbursement processes can make the provision of and access to these needed services challenging. We help our health and human services clients with every stage of proactively advancing legislative and administrative changes. This can include:

• Working with the client to “translate” an idea for a policy or funding change into legislative language
• Facilitating needed collaboration with other impacted stakeholders including Minnesota state agencies
• Managing the complex process of moving a piece of legislation through the Minnesota legislative process
• Assisting with any needed partnering with state agencies to manage implementation of the change

Additionally, we assist clients in reacting to proposed legislative and administrative changes brought forward by the state or other health and human services stakeholders. We also have significant experience representing our clients as part of broader coalitions that have successfully enacted complex policy and reimbursement changes that impact multiple pieces of the health and human services system. Our expertise spans broadly across the health and human services system, including:

• Access to services for older Minnesotans or those with disabilities or complex health needs
• Acute health care and behavioral health and housing supports
• Public and commercial insurance coverage and contracting

The Fredrikson Government Relations group is committed to helping your organization best deliver on your mission.

Kevin B. Goodno

Prior to becoming a lobbyist, Kevin had extensive experience in state and local government, non-profit organizations and the private sector. Kevin served as commissioner of Minnesota’s largest agency, the Department of Human Services. In that role he then managed over 7,000 employees, and had an annual budget in excess of $9 billion. It also required him to work closely with other state agencies, county and tribal governments, and the federal government. Kevin also served on many high-level committees, including as a member of the Governor’s Health Cabinet, as co-chair of the Minnesota Mental Health Action Group, as co-chair of the Advisory Council to End Long-Term Homelessness and as a member of the Governor’s Drive to Excellence Sub-Cabinet. Before joining the Department of Human Services, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for twelve years being recognized for his leadership on health care and human services.

Anni O. Simons

Anni lobbied for and coordinated the grassroots efforts of a coalition of disability provider and advocacy organizations from 2008-2012. Since coming to Fredrikson Government Relations in 2012, she has worked each legislative session with clients to successfully remove and insert specific policy and funding provisions included in Minnesota’s Health and Human Services statutory language. For example, Anni has served as a leader over multiple legislative sessions of the Best Life Alliance, a statewide, nonpartisan coalition of more than 100 organizations that has successfully secured state investments in the reimbursement rates for Home and Community Based Disability Services. These reimbursement rate increases, implemented during multiple legislative sessions, have resulted in significant annual ongoing increased funding for the critical services that support Minnesotans with disabilities to remain living as independently as possible in the community.

Cody J. Holliday

Cody has developed an extensive network of relationships with legislators, staffers and agencies because of his ability to forge relationships and build bridges. Respected for his direct communication style, his responsiveness, and a deep understanding of policy, he utilizes this network to the benefit of his clients. This involves direct advocacy, connecting them with legislators and legislative staff, coordinating grassroots efforts and analyzing the policy that directly affects them. Cody’s policy expertise is focused on the areas of energy, taxes, health care and human services.

Prior to joining Fredrikson Government Relations, Cody served as a Legislative Assistant with multiple legislators in the Minnesota House and Senate where he gained an inside understanding of policy making and how to effectively work with legislators. Outside of his work with the legislature, Cody is involved in several community organizations, including the Saint Anthony Area Chamber of Commerce, the Saint Anthony Village Parks and Environmental Commission, and Reach for Resources. He prides himself on working creatively to promote accessibility to community resources, along with promoting public health and improving public health outcomes.

Jeffrey D. Hayden

Jeff’s work over twelve years as a three-term State Senator and two-term State Representative, as well as his professional background in housing policy, provide him with a deep understanding of the legislative process and relationships with key stakeholders. During his time in the Minnesota Senate, he served as the Deputy Caucus Leader. Jeff has been a go-to state legislator on several issues, including health and human services and equity policy and funding. As a State Senator, he advocated for policy and funding changes impacting his Senate district. Equity policy and funding are issues Jeff was involved with long before his election to the Minnesota Senate. These issues included moving Minnesota forward in the areas of economic justice, increased access to high quality health care for all Minnesotans and addressing the educational opportunity gap. Specifically, Jeff has been at the center of important legislation throughout his time in the legislature, much of it within the health and human services space.

Tara K. Mack

Having worked for eight years as a legislative staffer and as a legislator in the Minnesota House, Tara brings depth of expertise in the areas of health and human services, early childhood education, tax policy and health care reform. She has served on key committees including the Health and Human Services Finance Committee, Health and Human Services Reform Committee (Chair), Taxes Committee, Labor and Consumer Protection Sub-committee, on the finance sub-committees for Early Childhood Education and the Higher Education and Workforce Development, the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee and the Outdoor Heritage Committee. Tara also served on the Autism Taskforce, the Healthcare Workforce Taskforce (Co-chair) and the MNsure Legislative Oversight Committee.

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