Mary Sowers serves as a HCBS TA Senior Analyst on the TA for HCBS & PASRR Programs Contract administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She specialized in Medicaid home and community-based services, managed long term services and supports (including strategies for reducing institutional reliance), self-direction, and strategies to design person-centered systems of care. areas of expertise: program design; Medicaid compliance; managed LTSS. Ms. Sowers regularly developed policy and tools on waivers and demonstrations and provided technical assistance and support to CMS leadership and staff nationally. She regularly worked with state Medicaid programs in the development and implementation of these programs. She also led efforts around home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). Ms. Sowers managed two waivers serving more than 10,000 individuals, served as primary legislative contact on ID/DD issues, and led stakeholder input and advisory efforts, with a focus on building partnerships with self-advocates and families.