Chris Jennings
Jennings Policy Strategies
Founder and President
Chris Jennings is an over three decades-long health policy veteran of the White House, the Congress and the private sector. In 2014, he departed from his second tour of duty in the White House where he served President Obama as Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Coordinator of Health Reform. He served in a similar capacity in the Clinton White House for nearly eight years.
Outside of government service, Mr. Jennings has been a senior health policy advisor to ten Presidential campaigns, the 2008, 2016 and 2020 Democratic Platform Drafting Committees, and multiple gubernatorial and Senate candidates. Most recently, Vice President Biden appointed Mr. Jennings as one of his members of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force. Recognizing his pragmatic nature and experience with key Democratic policymakers, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) sought Chris to serve as a senior advisor on a number of health reform projects, including reports and recommendations on access, delivery reforms, cost containment, and long-term care.
From his positions in the executive branch, Mr. Jennings helped implement the Affordable Care Act’s access and delivery reform provisions (for President Obama) as well as played leadership roles in the development, passage and implementation of bipartisan health reforms, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1997 and major Medicare reforms in the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 (for President Clinton).
In his decade of service in the U.S. Senate, he served as the Deputy Director of the Special Committee on Aging for three Senators (Glenn, Pryor, and Melcher) and led major reform efforts in the areas of long-term care, prescription drug coverage/cost containment, and rural health care. In this capacity, he also served in a major role for the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care (also known as the “Pepper Commission”).
Jennings Policy Strategies (JPS) is a nationally respected health care consulting firm committed to assisting foundations, purchasers, health systems and other aligned stakeholders develop policies to ensure higher quality, more affordable and sustainable health care. He has consistently worked to develop administrative, legislative, and private sector policies/interventions to ensure better stewardship of and a greater return on investment on the nation’s $4 trillion investment in health care. In addition to his consulting work and his collaborations with think tanks Mr. Jennings is a frequent contributor on health reform issues to publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, and the Atlantic.
Jennings Policy Strategies
Founder and President
Chris Jennings is an over three decades-long health policy veteran of the White House, the Congress and the private sector. In 2014, he departed from his second tour of duty in the White House where he served President Obama as Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Coordinator of Health Reform. He served in a similar capacity in the Clinton White House for nearly eight years.
Outside of government service, Mr. Jennings has been a senior health policy advisor to ten Presidential campaigns, the 2008, 2016 and 2020 Democratic Platform Drafting Committees, and multiple gubernatorial and Senate candidates. Most recently, Vice President Biden appointed Mr. Jennings as one of his members of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force. Recognizing his pragmatic nature and experience with key Democratic policymakers, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) sought Chris to serve as a senior advisor on a number of health reform projects, including reports and recommendations on access, delivery reforms, cost containment, and long-term care.
From his positions in the executive branch, Mr. Jennings helped implement the Affordable Care Act’s access and delivery reform provisions (for President Obama) as well as played leadership roles in the development, passage and implementation of bipartisan health reforms, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1997 and major Medicare reforms in the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 (for President Clinton).
In his decade of service in the U.S. Senate, he served as the Deputy Director of the Special Committee on Aging for three Senators (Glenn, Pryor, and Melcher) and led major reform efforts in the areas of long-term care, prescription drug coverage/cost containment, and rural health care. In this capacity, he also served in a major role for the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care (also known as the “Pepper Commission”).
Jennings Policy Strategies (JPS) is a nationally respected health care consulting firm committed to assisting foundations, purchasers, health systems and other aligned stakeholders develop policies to ensure higher quality, more affordable and sustainable health care. He has consistently worked to develop administrative, legislative, and private sector policies/interventions to ensure better stewardship of and a greater return on investment on the nation’s $4 trillion investment in health care. In addition to his consulting work and his collaborations with think tanks Mr. Jennings is a frequent contributor on health reform issues to publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, and the Atlantic.
Matt Kazan
Avalere Health
Managing Director
Matt Kazan provides strategic advice to health plan and life sciences clients navigating the complex legislative and regulatory policy environment, with a particular expertise in Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
Prior to joining Avalere, Matt spent over a decade on the US Senate Committee on Finance health staff under Senators Max Baucus and Ron Wyden. As senior health policy adviser, Matt was the primary policy adviser on policy issues, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and all drug reimbursement under Medicare, chronic disease, dual eligibles, post-acute care, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and Medicare and Medicaid program integrity. During his tenure, Matt was involved in a variety of major legislative efforts including the Affordable Care Act, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Matt holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Denver and a Master of Public Policy from the George Washington University.
Avalere Health
Managing Director
Matt Kazan provides strategic advice to health plan and life sciences clients navigating the complex legislative and regulatory policy environment, with a particular expertise in Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
Prior to joining Avalere, Matt spent over a decade on the US Senate Committee on Finance health staff under Senators Max Baucus and Ron Wyden. As senior health policy adviser, Matt was the primary policy adviser on policy issues, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and all drug reimbursement under Medicare, chronic disease, dual eligibles, post-acute care, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and Medicare and Medicaid program integrity. During his tenure, Matt was involved in a variety of major legislative efforts including the Affordable Care Act, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Matt holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Denver and a Master of Public Policy from the George Washington University.
Leslie Krigstein
Transcarent
Vice President, Government Affairs
Leslie Krigstein currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for Transcarent.
Leslie has been at the forefront of digital health policy throughout her career and was most recently the Vice President, Government Affairs for Teladoc Health after serving as Livongo’s Vice President of Government Affairs. At Livongo, she was the primary liaison to policymakers and external stakeholders. She led the development and execution of Livongo’s government relations and advocacy strategy.
Before joining Livongo, Leslie was the Vice President of Congressional Affairs at the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) where she led CHIME’s congressional advocacy and engagement strategy. With a track record that includes passage of multiple pieces of legislation, Leslie positioned CHIME as a thought leader on issues including healthcare cybersecurity, patient identification, interoperability, and digital health.
Leslie first moved to the nation’s capital to join the legislative staff of Congressman Daniel B. Maffei (NY-25) and prior to joining CHIME, she was a member of the Congressional Affairs team at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). She has provided public affairs and association management services to clients including the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO).
Leslie is the co-chair of the American Telemedicine Association’s (ATA) Remote Monitoring (RPM) Special Interest Group (SIG) as well as a member of the HIMSS Public Policy Committee. She also is a volunteer for the Virginia chapter of the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO.)
Leslie is a proud graduate of Syracuse University, where she obtained degrees in Public Relations and Policy Studies. A native Vermonter, Leslie currently lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband (Alex) and son (Gordon).
Transcarent
Vice President, Government Affairs
Leslie Krigstein currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for Transcarent.
Leslie has been at the forefront of digital health policy throughout her career and was most recently the Vice President, Government Affairs for Teladoc Health after serving as Livongo’s Vice President of Government Affairs. At Livongo, she was the primary liaison to policymakers and external stakeholders. She led the development and execution of Livongo’s government relations and advocacy strategy.
Before joining Livongo, Leslie was the Vice President of Congressional Affairs at the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) where she led CHIME’s congressional advocacy and engagement strategy. With a track record that includes passage of multiple pieces of legislation, Leslie positioned CHIME as a thought leader on issues including healthcare cybersecurity, patient identification, interoperability, and digital health.
Leslie first moved to the nation’s capital to join the legislative staff of Congressman Daniel B. Maffei (NY-25) and prior to joining CHIME, she was a member of the Congressional Affairs team at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). She has provided public affairs and association management services to clients including the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO).
Leslie is the co-chair of the American Telemedicine Association’s (ATA) Remote Monitoring (RPM) Special Interest Group (SIG) as well as a member of the HIMSS Public Policy Committee. She also is a volunteer for the Virginia chapter of the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO.)
Leslie is a proud graduate of Syracuse University, where she obtained degrees in Public Relations and Policy Studies. A native Vermonter, Leslie currently lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband (Alex) and son (Gordon).
Jennifer Lee, M.D.
ACHP
Chief Medical Officer
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jennifer Lee leads ACHP’s Clinical Innovation and Data Analytics teams, spearheading research and programming on patient experience, delivery transformation and value-based coverage and care. Previously, Jennifer served as Medicaid Director for the Commonwealth of Virginia and as Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACHP
Chief Medical Officer
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jennifer Lee leads ACHP’s Clinical Innovation and Data Analytics teams, spearheading research and programming on patient experience, delivery transformation and value-based coverage and care. Previously, Jennifer served as Medicaid Director for the Commonwealth of Virginia and as Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Ben Leonard
Politico
Reporter
Ben Leonard is a health technology reporter at POLITICO, covering digital health action from D.C. at agencies, in Congress and in the White House, as well as the industry at large.
He’s also a co-author of POLITICO’s Future Pulse newsletter. Reach him at bleonard@politico.com.
He previously covered breaking news for POLITICO as an intern and has reported for NBC News, the Baltimore Sun and the Tampa Bay Times.
He loves to cycle in his free time and as a Bay Area native, is a loyal San Francisco Giants fan.
He’s a graduate of Duke University, where he studied public policy and journalism.
Politico
Reporter
Ben Leonard is a health technology reporter at POLITICO, covering digital health action from D.C. at agencies, in Congress and in the White House, as well as the industry at large.
He’s also a co-author of POLITICO’s Future Pulse newsletter. Reach him at bleonard@politico.com.
He previously covered breaking news for POLITICO as an intern and has reported for NBC News, the Baltimore Sun and the Tampa Bay Times.
He loves to cycle in his free time and as a Bay Area native, is a loyal San Francisco Giants fan.
He’s a graduate of Duke University, where he studied public policy and journalism.
Geoff Matous
Wellinks
President & Chief Commercial Officer
Geoff Matous is the President and CCO of Wellinks, a digital health company offering the first-ever integrated, virtual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management solution. With nearly 15 years of experience in the healthcare space, Geoff leads a rapidly expanding team and oversees the company’s growth strategy, sales, marketing, and business development activities. Geoff has guided the evolution from the company’s original medical devices focus and has helped the company to raise over $40 million in venture capital (VC) funding since 2018.
In addition to his role at Wellinks, Geoff is also a founding member of IMPACT, a group hosted by the Digital Medicine Society that supports virtual-first medical organizations and promotes the expansion of access to high quality, evidence-based virtual care for patients, healthcare providers, and payers. He sits on the board of Launc[H]artford (Innovation Places), co-chairs the MedTech Advisory Committee, serves on the Connecticut Leadership Board of the American Lung Association, and gives back as a Startup Mentor through CT Next and the University of Connecticut. In recognition of his service and leadership, Geoff was recently named to the Hartford Business Journal “40 Under Forty” list.
Wellinks
President & Chief Commercial Officer
Geoff Matous is the President and CCO of Wellinks, a digital health company offering the first-ever integrated, virtual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management solution. With nearly 15 years of experience in the healthcare space, Geoff leads a rapidly expanding team and oversees the company’s growth strategy, sales, marketing, and business development activities. Geoff has guided the evolution from the company’s original medical devices focus and has helped the company to raise over $40 million in venture capital (VC) funding since 2018.
In addition to his role at Wellinks, Geoff is also a founding member of IMPACT, a group hosted by the Digital Medicine Society that supports virtual-first medical organizations and promotes the expansion of access to high quality, evidence-based virtual care for patients, healthcare providers, and payers. He sits on the board of Launc[H]artford (Innovation Places), co-chairs the MedTech Advisory Committee, serves on the Connecticut Leadership Board of the American Lung Association, and gives back as a Startup Mentor through CT Next and the University of Connecticut. In recognition of his service and leadership, Geoff was recently named to the Hartford Business Journal “40 Under Forty” list.
Jeff Micklos
HCTTF
Jeff Micklos is the Executive Director of the Health Care Transformation Task Force. An attorney by training, Jeff is the former Executive Vice President, Management, Compliance, & General Counsel of the Federation of American Hospitals, a national trade association representing investor-owned hospitals, and a former Partner in the Health Law Department of the international law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP. Mr. Micklos began his career as a litigator and regulatory counsel for the Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and also served in the Office of General Counsel of the Social Security Administration.
Jeff is a graduate of the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America, and received a Bachelor Arts Degree from Villanova University. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife, Monica, and their four children.
HCTTF
Jeff Micklos is the Executive Director of the Health Care Transformation Task Force. An attorney by training, Jeff is the former Executive Vice President, Management, Compliance, & General Counsel of the Federation of American Hospitals, a national trade association representing investor-owned hospitals, and a former Partner in the Health Law Department of the international law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP. Mr. Micklos began his career as a litigator and regulatory counsel for the Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and also served in the Office of General Counsel of the Social Security Administration.
Jeff is a graduate of the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America, and received a Bachelor Arts Degree from Villanova University. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife, Monica, and their four children.
Dianne Munevar
NORC
Senior Director
Dianne Munevar is a senior director of Business Ventures and Innovation at NORC with over 12 years of experience in health care policy, strategy and analytics, and product development. In her role, she works to leverage the depth and breadth of NORC’s diverse social sciences expertise and research assets to help health care clients meet their business objectives. Munevar also manages NORC’s corporate innovation programs including all strategic and tactical investments, NORC Labs Venture Fund, and the NORC Incubator.
Most recently, Dianne was director of innovation with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) in Chicago. BCBSA is the national association of 36 independent, community-based, and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) companies. As director of innovation, Dianne led the Care Management Accelerator that consisted of over 30 Blues Plans interested in sharing innovative “best practices” for managing members with chronic conditions. Dianne worked closely with the Blues Plans to identify potential opportunities to pilot with a subset of plans, and then collaborated cross-functionally with the Health of America (HoA), Consumer Experience, and Blue Distinction teams, among others, to determine how to best scale new programs and technologies across the network. While at BCBSA, Dianne focused on programs that improved consumer engagement, customer experience, and health outcomes for members with diabetes, pre-diabetes, behavioral health issues, and musculoskeletal diseases.
Prior to joining BCBSA, Munevar was the vice president of Accountable Care for Attuned Care, an organization that coordinated primary care, home health, and hospice for people in senior living communities. In her role, Munevar helped Attuned Care win the primary care contract for Sunrise Advantage, a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan, led the data analytics function, and managed the quality and compliance teams.
Prior to Attuned Care, Dianne worked for 7 years in health care consulting as a director of data analytics and development at Avalere Health, where she delivered policy and strategic support to health plans, provider organizations, and patient advocacy groups, as well as led and managed the subcontract to evaluate the Medicare Pioneer ACO Program. At Avalere, she focused on delivering analyses to help health care organizations better understand their value relative to competitors, identify opportunities for program improvement, and analyze the impact of changes in policy and regulations on organizations’ financial performance. Dianne also spent three years at RTI as a Health services researcher where she worked on the Post-Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration for The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as other demonstrations and evaluations for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Munevar graduated from Colgate University with a degree in International Relations and Latin American Studies, and graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master in Public Policy, with a focus on social policy and quantitative methods.
NORC
Senior Director
Dianne Munevar is a senior director of Business Ventures and Innovation at NORC with over 12 years of experience in health care policy, strategy and analytics, and product development. In her role, she works to leverage the depth and breadth of NORC’s diverse social sciences expertise and research assets to help health care clients meet their business objectives. Munevar also manages NORC’s corporate innovation programs including all strategic and tactical investments, NORC Labs Venture Fund, and the NORC Incubator.
Most recently, Dianne was director of innovation with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) in Chicago. BCBSA is the national association of 36 independent, community-based, and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) companies. As director of innovation, Dianne led the Care Management Accelerator that consisted of over 30 Blues Plans interested in sharing innovative “best practices” for managing members with chronic conditions. Dianne worked closely with the Blues Plans to identify potential opportunities to pilot with a subset of plans, and then collaborated cross-functionally with the Health of America (HoA), Consumer Experience, and Blue Distinction teams, among others, to determine how to best scale new programs and technologies across the network. While at BCBSA, Dianne focused on programs that improved consumer engagement, customer experience, and health outcomes for members with diabetes, pre-diabetes, behavioral health issues, and musculoskeletal diseases.
Prior to joining BCBSA, Munevar was the vice president of Accountable Care for Attuned Care, an organization that coordinated primary care, home health, and hospice for people in senior living communities. In her role, Munevar helped Attuned Care win the primary care contract for Sunrise Advantage, a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan, led the data analytics function, and managed the quality and compliance teams.
Prior to Attuned Care, Dianne worked for 7 years in health care consulting as a director of data analytics and development at Avalere Health, where she delivered policy and strategic support to health plans, provider organizations, and patient advocacy groups, as well as led and managed the subcontract to evaluate the Medicare Pioneer ACO Program. At Avalere, she focused on delivering analyses to help health care organizations better understand their value relative to competitors, identify opportunities for program improvement, and analyze the impact of changes in policy and regulations on organizations’ financial performance. Dianne also spent three years at RTI as a Health services researcher where she worked on the Post-Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration for The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as other demonstrations and evaluations for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Munevar graduated from Colgate University with a degree in International Relations and Latin American Studies, and graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master in Public Policy, with a focus on social policy and quantitative methods.
Smit Patel
Author
Dr. Smit J. Patel, PharmD serves as the Clinical Innovation Lead at the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), a 501(c)(3) global non-profit organization dedicated to better health powered by digital medicine. Smit’s work focuses on applied approaches to the safe, effective, ethical, and equitable use of digital technologies to advance clinical research, clinical care, and public health. Smit is an Advisory Board member for Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health and Digital Therapeutic Alliance and serves on advisory committees for digital health program(s) at the Association of Community Cancer Centers, American Pharmacists Association, and HealthXL.
Smit earned his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the Ohio State University. He currently holds a faculty position for the Digital Health Innovation Certificate Program at the Brown University School of Professional Studies. Additionally, he is a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, a Forbes 30 under 30 scholar, a TEDx speaker, and MIT-Harvard Health Innovation alumnus.
Author
Dr. Smit J. Patel, PharmD serves as the Clinical Innovation Lead at the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), a 501(c)(3) global non-profit organization dedicated to better health powered by digital medicine. Smit’s work focuses on applied approaches to the safe, effective, ethical, and equitable use of digital technologies to advance clinical research, clinical care, and public health. Smit is an Advisory Board member for Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health and Digital Therapeutic Alliance and serves on advisory committees for digital health program(s) at the Association of Community Cancer Centers, American Pharmacists Association, and HealthXL.
Smit earned his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the Ohio State University. He currently holds a faculty position for the Digital Health Innovation Certificate Program at the Brown University School of Professional Studies. Additionally, he is a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, a Forbes 30 under 30 scholar, a TEDx speaker, and MIT-Harvard Health Innovation alumnus.
Cheryl Phillips
SNP Alliance
President and CEO
Dr. Cheryl Phillips is the President and CEO of the Special Needs Plan Alliance, a national leadership association for special needs and Medicare-Medicaid plans serving vulnerable adults.
Prior to this, she was the Senior VP for Public Policy and Health Services at LeadingAge. She has also served as the Chief Medical Officer of On Lok Lifeways, the originator of the PACE (Program of All-Inclusive care for the Elderly) model based in San Francisco, and the Medical Director for Senior Services and Chronic Disease Management, for the Sutter Health System, a network of doctors, hospitals and other health providers in Northern California. As a fellowship-trained geriatrician, her clinical practice focused on nursing homes and long-term care continuum. While at Sutter Health, she developed and led a care coordination program for high-risk seniors enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan.
Dr. Phillips is a past president of the American Geriatrics Society, the organization representing health care professionals committed to improving the health of America’s seniors; and is also a past president of the American Medical Directors Association, the physician organization for long-term care. She continues to serve on multiple technical advisory groups for chronic care, nursing home quality, and home and community-based services and has provided numerous testimonies to the U.S. Congress.
She is a frequent speaker to boards of directors for aging service providers, state, and national meetings. She served as a primary care health policy fellow under Secretary Tommy Thompson, and was appointed by the Governor as a California Commissioner on Aging and appointed to the Olmstead Advisory Committee for California. Dr. Phillips is on the Board of Directors of the SCAN Foundation and the SCAN Health Plan Board.
SNP Alliance
President and CEO
Dr. Cheryl Phillips is the President and CEO of the Special Needs Plan Alliance, a national leadership association for special needs and Medicare-Medicaid plans serving vulnerable adults.
Prior to this, she was the Senior VP for Public Policy and Health Services at LeadingAge. She has also served as the Chief Medical Officer of On Lok Lifeways, the originator of the PACE (Program of All-Inclusive care for the Elderly) model based in San Francisco, and the Medical Director for Senior Services and Chronic Disease Management, for the Sutter Health System, a network of doctors, hospitals and other health providers in Northern California. As a fellowship-trained geriatrician, her clinical practice focused on nursing homes and long-term care continuum. While at Sutter Health, she developed and led a care coordination program for high-risk seniors enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan.
Dr. Phillips is a past president of the American Geriatrics Society, the organization representing health care professionals committed to improving the health of America’s seniors; and is also a past president of the American Medical Directors Association, the physician organization for long-term care. She continues to serve on multiple technical advisory groups for chronic care, nursing home quality, and home and community-based services and has provided numerous testimonies to the U.S. Congress.
She is a frequent speaker to boards of directors for aging service providers, state, and national meetings. She served as a primary care health policy fellow under Secretary Tommy Thompson, and was appointed by the Governor as a California Commissioner on Aging and appointed to the Olmstead Advisory Committee for California. Dr. Phillips is on the Board of Directors of the SCAN Foundation and the SCAN Health Plan Board.
Mark Reardon
UpStream
Chief Quality Officer
Dr. Mark Reardon is the Chief Quality Officer of UpStream, a leading primary healthcare solution provider. He is a nationally experienced physician leader passionate about novel approaches to care delivery that transform the US healthcare system from volume to value. He has led value-based care transformation and quality activities across a number of payers and at-risk entities, including Commonwealth Care Alliance, a health plan and provider organization serving dually-eligible members and a national leader in complex care delivery, and most recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), a division of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) focused on payment model innovation. His time at CMS included leadership of physician engagement, agency-level quality
strategy, and specialty care payment and delivery models. As UpStream’s Chief Quality Officer, Dr. Reardon partners with care, operations, strategy, and data teams, among others, to support high quality patient care and national growth.
UpStream
Chief Quality Officer
Dr. Mark Reardon is the Chief Quality Officer of UpStream, a leading primary healthcare solution provider. He is a nationally experienced physician leader passionate about novel approaches to care delivery that transform the US healthcare system from volume to value. He has led value-based care transformation and quality activities across a number of payers and at-risk entities, including Commonwealth Care Alliance, a health plan and provider organization serving dually-eligible members and a national leader in complex care delivery, and most recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), a division of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) focused on payment model innovation. His time at CMS included leadership of physician engagement, agency-level quality
strategy, and specialty care payment and delivery models. As UpStream’s Chief Quality Officer, Dr. Reardon partners with care, operations, strategy, and data teams, among others, to support high quality patient care and national growth.
Keith Reynolds
WellDoc
Chief Operating Officer
As Welldoc’s Chief Operating Officer, Keith Reynolds leads the company’s ongoing development partnerships and commercialization efforts for its digital health products for chronic conditions, including its award-winning product for diabetes, BlueStar. Prior to joining Welldoc, Keith spent 17-years at CVS Health, where he served as Vice President, Enterprise Health Plans and Market Strategy. In this role, he led multi-functional teams including Enterprise Health Plan, Enterprise Market Strategy and the Prescription Affordability program. Prior to that Keith held leadership roles within CVS Caremark working with Health Plans and new business development. Following CVS Health, Reynolds served as Chief Commercial Officer of Castlight.
WellDoc
Chief Operating Officer
As Welldoc’s Chief Operating Officer, Keith Reynolds leads the company’s ongoing development partnerships and commercialization efforts for its digital health products for chronic conditions, including its award-winning product for diabetes, BlueStar. Prior to joining Welldoc, Keith spent 17-years at CVS Health, where he served as Vice President, Enterprise Health Plans and Market Strategy. In this role, he led multi-functional teams including Enterprise Health Plan, Enterprise Market Strategy and the Prescription Affordability program. Prior to that Keith held leadership roles within CVS Caremark working with Health Plans and new business development. Following CVS Health, Reynolds served as Chief Commercial Officer of Castlight.
Ms. Orriel Richardson
Morgan Health
Vice President, Health Equity & Policy
Orriel L. Richardson, Esq., MPH is Vice President of Health Equity and Policy at Morgan Health.
Richardson is a health care policy expert and attorney licensed to practice in Maryland and Washington, DC.
Previously, Richardson served as professional staff and health counsel for the Committee on Ways and Means Majority, U.S. House of Representatives where she was the architect of the Committee's racial and health equity initiatives. While on the Hill, her policy portfolio included Medicare Advantage, end-stage renal disease, Medicare program integrity, and health technology.
During her career, Richardson has gained health care expertise across academia and local, state, and federal levels of government, formerly working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Office of the General Counsel for the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance; the George Washington (GW) University School of Public Health; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; the State of Louisiana Office of Public Health; and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Since 2018 she has been a Professorial Lecturer of Health Policy and Management in the Milken School of Public Health at GW University.
In 2021, the National Minority Quality forum awarded her with the Congressional Staff Leadership Award after recognizing her in 2020 as a “40 Under 40” Minority Leader in Health.
Richardson received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in biology/pre-medicine from Howard University, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in health systems management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and law degree from the GW Law School where she also earned a graduate certificate in International Human Rights Law from New College, University of Oxford.
Morgan Health
Vice President, Health Equity & Policy
Orriel L. Richardson, Esq., MPH is Vice President of Health Equity and Policy at Morgan Health.
Richardson is a health care policy expert and attorney licensed to practice in Maryland and Washington, DC.
Previously, Richardson served as professional staff and health counsel for the Committee on Ways and Means Majority, U.S. House of Representatives where she was the architect of the Committee's racial and health equity initiatives. While on the Hill, her policy portfolio included Medicare Advantage, end-stage renal disease, Medicare program integrity, and health technology.
During her career, Richardson has gained health care expertise across academia and local, state, and federal levels of government, formerly working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Office of the General Counsel for the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance; the George Washington (GW) University School of Public Health; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; the State of Louisiana Office of Public Health; and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Since 2018 she has been a Professorial Lecturer of Health Policy and Management in the Milken School of Public Health at GW University.
In 2021, the National Minority Quality forum awarded her with the Congressional Staff Leadership Award after recognizing her in 2020 as a “40 Under 40” Minority Leader in Health.
Richardson received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in biology/pre-medicine from Howard University, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in health systems management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and law degree from the GW Law School where she also earned a graduate certificate in International Human Rights Law from New College, University of Oxford.
Allison Rizer
ATI Advisory
Principal
Allison brings nearly 20 years of health-related experience to ATI Advisory, including more than a decade focused on insurance and government programs. Before joining ATI, Allison most recently served as Vice President of Health Policy & Strategy with UnitedHealthcare, where she led the organization’s national policy efforts specific to individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. In this role, Allison worked closely with state and national health plan leadership, policymakers, and other experts to bridge the health policy and business worlds in an effort to inform sustainable program design and growth strategies. Prior to this at UnitedHealthcare, Allison served as a Medicaid Policy Director working with individual states and Medicaid health plans to provide strategic guidance on emerging policy and program trends.
Allison also spent several years with The Lewin Group, leading federal contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other agencies across programs targeting aging and vulnerable populations. Her work at Lewin led to the development and refinement of Medicare Advantage network adequacy standards, Special Needs Plan Model of Care process improvements, CMS clarification of the Medicare therapy benefit, and education for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). While at Lewin, Allison also had the opportunity to co-lead the development of a successful healthy weight pilot for aging lesbian and bisexual women.
Allison has spoken at numerous national conferences and participated in expert working groups on issues across the aging spectrum, including Duals Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), Medicare-Medicaid integration, Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits, and social need. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Thomas, MN where she co-teaches an MBA health policy course.
ATI Advisory
Principal
Allison brings nearly 20 years of health-related experience to ATI Advisory, including more than a decade focused on insurance and government programs. Before joining ATI, Allison most recently served as Vice President of Health Policy & Strategy with UnitedHealthcare, where she led the organization’s national policy efforts specific to individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. In this role, Allison worked closely with state and national health plan leadership, policymakers, and other experts to bridge the health policy and business worlds in an effort to inform sustainable program design and growth strategies. Prior to this at UnitedHealthcare, Allison served as a Medicaid Policy Director working with individual states and Medicaid health plans to provide strategic guidance on emerging policy and program trends.
Allison also spent several years with The Lewin Group, leading federal contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other agencies across programs targeting aging and vulnerable populations. Her work at Lewin led to the development and refinement of Medicare Advantage network adequacy standards, Special Needs Plan Model of Care process improvements, CMS clarification of the Medicare therapy benefit, and education for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). While at Lewin, Allison also had the opportunity to co-lead the development of a successful healthy weight pilot for aging lesbian and bisexual women.
Allison has spoken at numerous national conferences and participated in expert working groups on issues across the aging spectrum, including Duals Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), Medicare-Medicaid integration, Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits, and social need. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Thomas, MN where she co-teaches an MBA health policy course.
David Rosales
VNS Health
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
As Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, David Rosales oversees VNS Health’s Strategic Program Development, Performance and Innovation, New Product Development, and Cultural Market Development teams.
Mr. Rosales previously served VNS Health as part of the organization’s Performance and Innovation team. After leaving VNS Health in 2014, Mr. Rosales served in senior positions at the national health care consulting firm Manatt Health, where he focused on advising safety-net health care organizations on delivery system reform and Medicaid strategy. He also previously served as a Deland Fellow in Health Care and Society at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, prior to which he held positions with Oliver Wyman consulting company and Goldman Sachs.
Mr. Rosales holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
VNS Health
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
As Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, David Rosales oversees VNS Health’s Strategic Program Development, Performance and Innovation, New Product Development, and Cultural Market Development teams.
Mr. Rosales previously served VNS Health as part of the organization’s Performance and Innovation team. After leaving VNS Health in 2014, Mr. Rosales served in senior positions at the national health care consulting firm Manatt Health, where he focused on advising safety-net health care organizations on delivery system reform and Medicaid strategy. He also previously served as a Deland Fellow in Health Care and Society at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, prior to which he held positions with Oliver Wyman consulting company and Goldman Sachs.
Mr. Rosales holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Sarah Rosenblum
ATI Advisory
Senior Analyst
Sarah Rosenblum is a Senior Analyst at ATI Advisory focusing on issues related to Medicaid LTSS and dually eligible populations. Prior to joining ATI, Sarah was a Strategic Solutions Director for UnitedHealthcare Community & State (C&S), a division of UnitedHealth Group. In this role, Sarah led request for proposal (RFP) readiness efforts for new market entries and existing Medicaid managed care markets. To do so, she collaborated with others across C&S to create and propose person-centered strategies aligned to the diverse needs of C&S members, including TANF/CHIP, Medicaid expansion, and complex populations, like those who are dually-eligible. Previously at UnitedHealthcare C&S, Sarah was a Director of Strategic Initiatives within the National Policy & Influence team, where she conducted analysis of policy trends in Medicaid and contributed to the development of thought leadership and advocacy positions, especially in regard to value-based payment, delivery system reform models, and health information technology.
Before joining UnitedHealthcare, Sarah worked at L&M Policy Research, where she focused on improving the usability and content of consumer health plan decision tools like Healthcare.gov and the Medicare Plan Finder as well as conducting evaluations of federal health care delivery and financing demonstrations like the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model (AIM) ACO initiative and the Home Health Value-based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model. She also conducted interviews with insurers to understand the impact of and develop recommendations related to telehealth coverage and opioid overutilization policies in Medicare. Sarah also completed research on challenges to and mitigation strategies for the expansion of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) 2.0.
Sarah received her Master of Public Health in Health Management & Policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, with minors in Health Policy and Gerontology, from Cornell University.
ATI Advisory
Senior Analyst
Sarah Rosenblum is a Senior Analyst at ATI Advisory focusing on issues related to Medicaid LTSS and dually eligible populations. Prior to joining ATI, Sarah was a Strategic Solutions Director for UnitedHealthcare Community & State (C&S), a division of UnitedHealth Group. In this role, Sarah led request for proposal (RFP) readiness efforts for new market entries and existing Medicaid managed care markets. To do so, she collaborated with others across C&S to create and propose person-centered strategies aligned to the diverse needs of C&S members, including TANF/CHIP, Medicaid expansion, and complex populations, like those who are dually-eligible. Previously at UnitedHealthcare C&S, Sarah was a Director of Strategic Initiatives within the National Policy & Influence team, where she conducted analysis of policy trends in Medicaid and contributed to the development of thought leadership and advocacy positions, especially in regard to value-based payment, delivery system reform models, and health information technology.
Before joining UnitedHealthcare, Sarah worked at L&M Policy Research, where she focused on improving the usability and content of consumer health plan decision tools like Healthcare.gov and the Medicare Plan Finder as well as conducting evaluations of federal health care delivery and financing demonstrations like the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model (AIM) ACO initiative and the Home Health Value-based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model. She also conducted interviews with insurers to understand the impact of and develop recommendations related to telehealth coverage and opioid overutilization policies in Medicare. Sarah also completed research on challenges to and mitigation strategies for the expansion of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) 2.0.
Sarah received her Master of Public Health in Health Management & Policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, with minors in Health Policy and Gerontology, from Cornell University.
Kaitlyn Saal-Ridpath
Better Medicare Alliance
Director of Policy
Kaitlyn Saal-Ridpath serves as Director of Policy at the Better Medicare Alliance. She first came to the organization in early 2021 as Policy Associate. Prior to joining the Better Medicare Alliance team, Kaitlyn worked across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, with a mission to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across the country. She brings with her a range of public health, health law, and policy experience, focusing primarily on social determinants of health.Kaitlyn holds a JD and MPH in Health Policy & Management from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Graduate School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Elon University.
Better Medicare Alliance
Director of Policy
Kaitlyn Saal-Ridpath serves as Director of Policy at the Better Medicare Alliance. She first came to the organization in early 2021 as Policy Associate. Prior to joining the Better Medicare Alliance team, Kaitlyn worked across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, with a mission to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across the country. She brings with her a range of public health, health law, and policy experience, focusing primarily on social determinants of health.Kaitlyn holds a JD and MPH in Health Policy & Management from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Graduate School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Elon University.
Andrew Schwab
Oak Street Health
Vice President & Head of Government Affairs
Andrew Schwab is Vice President & Head of Government Affairs at Oak Street Health, a national network of value-based primary care centers for adults on Medicare operating in 21 states and caring for almost 200,000 beneficiaries. For almost 20 years, Andrew has worked in and around health care policy and politics at the state and federal levels. Andrew began his career working for U.S. Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) as Deputy Press Secretary where he led press advance at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. From 2006 to 2013, Andrew served as Chief of Staff to NJ Assemblyman Gary Schaer, then Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. In 2013, Andrew was recruited to come to Washington and work as a federal government relations professional for AARP where he handled all private payer health insurance issues including Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplemental, employer coverage and the Affordable Care Act. From 2016 to early 2019, Andrew served as Chief of Advocacy at the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) leading federal efforts on behalf of the highest quality and best performing non-profit health insurers in the nation. From 2019 to 2021, Andrew led federal affairs at United States of Care, a nonprofit founded by former CMS Administrator for President Obama and Senior Advisor for COVID Response to President Biden, Andy Slavitt. Andrew holds degrees in history and policy studies from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs and a Masters of Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Oak Street Health
Vice President & Head of Government Affairs
Andrew Schwab is Vice President & Head of Government Affairs at Oak Street Health, a national network of value-based primary care centers for adults on Medicare operating in 21 states and caring for almost 200,000 beneficiaries. For almost 20 years, Andrew has worked in and around health care policy and politics at the state and federal levels. Andrew began his career working for U.S. Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) as Deputy Press Secretary where he led press advance at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. From 2006 to 2013, Andrew served as Chief of Staff to NJ Assemblyman Gary Schaer, then Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. In 2013, Andrew was recruited to come to Washington and work as a federal government relations professional for AARP where he handled all private payer health insurance issues including Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplemental, employer coverage and the Affordable Care Act. From 2016 to early 2019, Andrew served as Chief of Advocacy at the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) leading federal efforts on behalf of the highest quality and best performing non-profit health insurers in the nation. From 2019 to 2021, Andrew led federal affairs at United States of Care, a nonprofit founded by former CMS Administrator for President Obama and Senior Advisor for COVID Response to President Biden, Andy Slavitt. Andrew holds degrees in history and policy studies from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs and a Masters of Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Ipyana Spencer
Meals on Wheels America
Chief Health Officer
Ipyana is the Chief Health Officer with Meals on Wheels America. In her role, she oversees the development and growth of Meals on Wheels Health, a newly created division of Meals on Wheels America that partners with health care payors and health systems to expand the impact and scope of local Meals on Wheels services to seniors and vulnerable adults who are managing multiple chronic conditions or recovering from recent hospitalizations.
Ipyana comes to Meals on Wheels America with more than 20 years of diverse, cross industry experience across the legislative, public policy, health care and data analytics arenas.
Ipyana’s experience in the healthcare sector includes eight years at the country’s largest health and wellness company, UnitedHealth Group. Ipyana worked as the Vice President of Industry Outreach and External Affairs, where she was responsible to cultivating relationships with key external advocacy and consumer organizations to promote policy and regulatory priorities of UnitedHealth Group. She also served as the Vice President of Community and Strategic Engagement of UnitedHealthcare Community and State, where she established and managed a team to lead and support strategic initiatives that aligned with the Medicaid division’s business development and growth priorities.
Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Ipyana worked in the legislative, political, and public policy sectors for almost a decade. She served as a senior legislative staffer to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey, both of New York. She also was the Deputy Finance Director on the U.S. Senate and 2004 Presidential Campaign for U.S. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. Ipyana also worked as a Government Affairs Consultant where she advised, crafted and executed legislative and regulatory outreach strategies for her clients.
Ipyana received a Master’s in Public Policy, with a Non Profit Management concentration, from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and her BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Meals on Wheels America
Chief Health Officer
Ipyana is the Chief Health Officer with Meals on Wheels America. In her role, she oversees the development and growth of Meals on Wheels Health, a newly created division of Meals on Wheels America that partners with health care payors and health systems to expand the impact and scope of local Meals on Wheels services to seniors and vulnerable adults who are managing multiple chronic conditions or recovering from recent hospitalizations.
Ipyana comes to Meals on Wheels America with more than 20 years of diverse, cross industry experience across the legislative, public policy, health care and data analytics arenas.
Ipyana’s experience in the healthcare sector includes eight years at the country’s largest health and wellness company, UnitedHealth Group. Ipyana worked as the Vice President of Industry Outreach and External Affairs, where she was responsible to cultivating relationships with key external advocacy and consumer organizations to promote policy and regulatory priorities of UnitedHealth Group. She also served as the Vice President of Community and Strategic Engagement of UnitedHealthcare Community and State, where she established and managed a team to lead and support strategic initiatives that aligned with the Medicaid division’s business development and growth priorities.
Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Ipyana worked in the legislative, political, and public policy sectors for almost a decade. She served as a senior legislative staffer to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey, both of New York. She also was the Deputy Finance Director on the U.S. Senate and 2004 Presidential Campaign for U.S. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. Ipyana also worked as a Government Affairs Consultant where she advised, crafted and executed legislative and regulatory outreach strategies for her clients.
Ipyana received a Master’s in Public Policy, with a Non Profit Management concentration, from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and her BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Kevin Spencer
agilon health
Chief Clinical Partner and Chairman of Premier Family Physicians
Dr. Spencer is a practicing family medicine physician, having attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed residency at the Carolinas Medical Center in North Carolina. Dr. Spencer was the CEO of Premier Physicians, and now serves as Chairman of the Board for Premier Physicians. He also is the Founder and President of Southwest Provider Accountable Care Organization (ACO).
agilon health
Chief Clinical Partner and Chairman of Premier Family Physicians
Dr. Spencer is a practicing family medicine physician, having attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed residency at the Carolinas Medical Center in North Carolina. Dr. Spencer was the CEO of Premier Physicians, and now serves as Chairman of the Board for Premier Physicians. He also is the Founder and President of Southwest Provider Accountable Care Organization (ACO).