Rick Sampson, Vice President, Quality Solutions Group

Rick Sampson leads NCQA’s initiatives in improving health care quality and measurement by expanding and executing against contracted services. He has been providing leadership in behavioral health and human services for over 30 years. Prior to joining NCQA, Mr. Sampson has focused on approaches that build on the strengths, capabilities, hopes and independence of  persons affected by addiction, mental health, disabilities, child welfare and family issues. 

Mr. Sampson has contributed to the creation of grass roots and national advocacy organizations such as the Virginia Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the many Recovery Community Support Programs across the country. He has played key Board roles for organizations such as a faith based therapeutic foster care and mental health services programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, a homeless shelter, psycho-social rehabilitation/employment services programs and a local hospital. As a contractor and a purchaser in pay-for-performance based relationships, he has been intimately involved at a variety of levels in the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) and other performance measurement and management, quality of care issues and practice improvement approaches.

Mr. Sampson has provided executive leadership to several mental health and substance abuse treatment organizations.  He  served as Director, Maryland State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration and Director, Division of State and Community Assistance, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, where he administered the $1.87 B federal block grant to the states and territories. Mr. Sampson has developed and implemented provider, state and federal services for underserved and poorly served populations and has also been responsible for developing and providing Technical Assistance to multiple state agencies, communities and providers as an independent consultant, federal contractor, State Director and Federal official. He has served on numerous local, State and Federal advisory councils and work groups related to issues of interest to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).