Meet the IHA Leadership Team

Our team is committed to supporting independent medical practices through advocacy, collaboration, and strategic resource management.

Emma McCarty, MBA

Executive Director of IHA

Emma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of South Dakota (2018) and an MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Administration from the same institution (2021). Emma manages the day-to-day operations of the organization, overseeing IHA’s Membership and Contracted Services. Since joining IHA in 2019, Emma has played an instrumental role in building and enhancing the credentialing and enrollment services provided by IHA. Through her leadership, Emma continues to improve IHA’s operational efficiency, ensuring that the organization’s services meet the highest standards of care and compliance.

Steven Grogan, MBA

Director of Managed Care Contracting

Steven brings several years of experience in health insurance and provider relations. Before joining IHA, he worked in provider relations and product development with a local health plan. In his role at IHA, Steven looks forward to working with members and providers on contracting and claims-related issues. His background in provider relations, reimbursement, contractual language and claims appeals provides a strong foundation for helping navigate these areas and support positive relationships between payers and providers.

Julie Sagness

Credentialing Manager

With over 20 years of credentialing experience, Julie brings a wealth of knowledge to her role at IHA. Her extensive hands-on experience includes previous work in the medical staff office at a local hospital. Julie takes pride in building strong relationships with her clients and genuinely enjoys helping them navigate the complexities of credentialing and privileging processes. Clients can expect not only professionalism and expertise, but also a supportive and approachable partner who truly loves working with healthcare providers. Julie is passionate about helping them succeed and brings a deep understanding of the unique needs of both small and large healthcare organizations.