Heidi Nielsen is the Senior Director of Growth for Intelligent Utilization Management at Availity, where she focuses on delivering end-to-end AI-enable automation for our health plan customers. Prior to joining Availity, Heidi spent eight years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota leading UM strategy, operations, and vendor oversight.
A registered nurse by background, Heidi is passionate about blending her experience on the provider side and the payer side of healthcare to address complex problems impacting patient experience and affordability, without compromising quality and outcomes. Heidi’s clinical focus areas included neonatal intensive care, pediatrics, labor and delivery, and public health.
Heidi and her husband live in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, where they enjoy travel, biking, live music, and following the adventures of their college-age daughter. Heidi has a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Dakota