Karen Baird, CPC, CPMA has joined the Tennessee Medical Association as director of Insurance Affairs and will serve as the organization's in-house expert on federal and state health insurance policies and reform. She will be responsible for commercial and government health insurance plan relations, provide informational and policy assistance to advocacy and education staff and help TMA member physicians resolve payer-related administrative and reimbursement hassles.

Baird brings more than 30 years of healthcare administrative experience to TMA, most recently as office manager with Midtown Primary Care Clinic in Nashville. She is a certified professional coder and medical auditor.