Kimberly Allen, MS

As a past fully licensed insurance agent and a licensed addiction business professional for over a decade, Ms. Allen used her insurance knowledge and experience to independently consult with addiction treatment provider organizations. Roles included assisting executive leaders in developing and implementing strategies designed to maximize business opportunities, with a focus on forming and building strategic partnerships with insurance organizations. Her technical assistance included participating in insurance contract rate negotiations and managed care relationship development. She also facilitated staff trainings on processes and procedures related to insurance.

In addition, Kimberly is well-known for successfully advocating for consumers within the health claims appeals process, successfully helping to increase claims settlements and resolve barriers to access to behavioral healthcare. As a certified peer recovery supporter in mental health through Via Hope Mental Health Resources in Texas and the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals, Kimberly has years of experience in recovery coaching, supporting individuals and families new to recovery from addiction and related mental health conditions.

Her recent areas of focus include the systems level expansion and use of peer and family recovery support services with national regulators, corporations, health systems and insurers. Projects include national sales of video-based, peer support services, conducting national research and training on the value and use of peer and family supporters in integrated health systems and managed care organizations, and consulting with peer-led behavioral healthcare organizations around sustainability and business development. Other past experience includes as an administrator of a private addiction treatment center responsible for operational leadership and overall systems for delivery of quality services. She also worked in managed behavioral healthcare, managing business customer relationships for over 300,000 covered lives in the states of Texas and Oklahoma.

Kimberly was awarded the 2022 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance national Peer Advocate of the year in addition to other leadership awards over the decades. She currently serves on numerous Patient and Stakeholder Advisory Panels and Committees. She has partnered alongside Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, the Mayo Clinic and the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Disorders, Mass General Hospital. She is published coauthor in bipolar research in recognized academic journals and also participates in national conferences, podcasts, seminars and documentaries, wherein she collaborates with industry and researcher stakeholder groups. Her areas of focus include strategies around patient and stakeholder recruitment and engagement, patient and clinical shared decision-making tools, health claims and bipolar disorder, and the reduction of stigma related to mood disorders. She is currently Chair of The University of Texas School of Social Work Advisory Council, a member of the Board of Directors of Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Texas national headquarters, and a member of the Bipolar Action Network Experts by Experience Working Group. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of several organizations, including The Healthy Brains Global Initiative, The Stability Network, and the Advisory Board of SHE Recovers Foundation. She served as President of Employee Association Professionals Association of Dallas and Austin, TX chapters. Kimberly holds a Master of Science in Family Studies and trainings and certifications in areas including risk management, Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Prevention, and mediation.