Brianna Nielson
Brianna Nielson
Director
Brianna Nielson supports Medicaid and behavioral health initiatives with a focus on California’s delivery system. She provides strategic planning, policy development and analysis, stakeholder engagement, and implementation support to state and county clients. Her work focuses on advancing integrated, person-centered approaches that improve care access and ensure the delivery of high-quality behavioral health services.
Since joining the firm in August 2019, Brianna has worked closely with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), and several counties throughout the state to design and progress initiatives that improve the behavioral health care system and provide comprehensive, whole-person care. Leveraging her extensive knowledge of California’s Behavioral Health Delivery Systems and specialty behavioral health benefits, she has played a key role in supporting the implementation of several innovative state initiatives, including California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). She has also conducted extensive stakeholder engagement activities to promote Medicaid programs that provide integrated care, such as the Coordinated Care Initiative and Health Homes Program.
Prior to joining Aurrera Health Group, Brianna was a program coordinator for the ComPACT Clinic at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in St. Louis. In this role, she supported the implementation of an innovative primary care clinic designed to improve the continuation and coordination of care for individuals with multiple chronic illnesses.
Brianna also brings experience developing and supporting a variety of programs focused on fostering collaborative partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and other community stakeholders through her work at the Catholic Institute of Lasallian Social Action. While in this position, Brianna collaborated with family resource centers to conduct an in-depth study on the effects of low health literacy and designed a visual guide of the Medi-Cal application process, helping make health coverage more accessible to Californians.
Brianna holds a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health care policy from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Saint Mary’s College of California. In her free time, Brianna enjoys exploring new cities, camping out in coffee shops, and spending time with family and friends.
Focus Areas
Education
MPH, University of California, Berkeley
BS, Biology, Saint Mary’s College of California
