Rachel Stauffer
McDermottPlus Consulting
Senior Director
Rachel is a highly experienced government relations and legislative affairs strategist and advocate who is informed by a solid foundation of health policy knowledge and years working as a leading health policy aide on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch, and as an advisor to a variety of clients.
Prior to joining McDermottPlus, Rachel was the director of government affairs for a leading virtual care company. She led efforts to build the profile of the organization in a fast-moving, innovative policy and regulatory environment encompassing issues related to primary care and behavioral and mental health services provided via virtual care, as well as medical professional licensing, privacy, and security. She also previously served as the director of policy and government relations for a health IT contractor, where she developed the company’s first strategic plan for government relations.
Rachel was previously lead legislative liaison at the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) where she was instrumental in providing research, analysis and feedback to members of Congress and staff on the 21st Century Cures legislation, among other relevant policies. Rachel also created short- and long-term strategic outreach plans that increased ONC’s visibility and profile.
Earlier in her career, Rachel served in several senior health legislative roles in the personal offices of Members of Congress, including most notably Congresswoman Diana DeGette. She was the primary staff for a variety of health policy issues, including diabetes, medical research, drug and medical device development, data sharing and privacy, mental health and health IT policy, and was a lead staff person creating and driving the 21st Century Cures Act. In these roles, Rachel engaged with many external stakeholders to advance legislative and regulatory challenges and coordinate action on items such as legislation, hearings, briefings and letters to congressional leadership and the administration.
McDermottPlus Consulting
Senior Director
Rachel is a highly experienced government relations and legislative affairs strategist and advocate who is informed by a solid foundation of health policy knowledge and years working as a leading health policy aide on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch, and as an advisor to a variety of clients.
Prior to joining McDermottPlus, Rachel was the director of government affairs for a leading virtual care company. She led efforts to build the profile of the organization in a fast-moving, innovative policy and regulatory environment encompassing issues related to primary care and behavioral and mental health services provided via virtual care, as well as medical professional licensing, privacy, and security. She also previously served as the director of policy and government relations for a health IT contractor, where she developed the company’s first strategic plan for government relations.
Rachel was previously lead legislative liaison at the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) where she was instrumental in providing research, analysis and feedback to members of Congress and staff on the 21st Century Cures legislation, among other relevant policies. Rachel also created short- and long-term strategic outreach plans that increased ONC’s visibility and profile.
Earlier in her career, Rachel served in several senior health legislative roles in the personal offices of Members of Congress, including most notably Congresswoman Diana DeGette. She was the primary staff for a variety of health policy issues, including diabetes, medical research, drug and medical device development, data sharing and privacy, mental health and health IT policy, and was a lead staff person creating and driving the 21st Century Cures Act. In these roles, Rachel engaged with many external stakeholders to advance legislative and regulatory challenges and coordinate action on items such as legislation, hearings, briefings and letters to congressional leadership and the administration.
Jane Sung, JD
AARP’s Public Policy Institute
Senior Strategic Policy Advisor
Jane Sung is a senior strategic policy advisor with AARP’s Public Policy Institute (PPI), where she focuses on private health insurance issues impacting adults ages 50 and older, including health insurance market reforms, Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement insurance, and employer and retiree coverage.
Before joining PPI in 2014, Jane served as health policy counsel at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, where she worked with state insurance regulators to develop standards related to Medicare supplement insurance, private long-term care insurance, Medicare private plans, and consumer information issues under the Affordable Care Act. Previously, she served as legislative assistant and senior policy advisor to US House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer for health care, long-term care, and disability issues. Jane also handled Rep. Hoyer’s responsibilities as a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. She began her career with the Maryland Governor’s Office, where she handled health care issues, including Medicaid, in the state’s federal relations office.
Jane received her law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Boston University. She is a member of the Maryland Bar.
AARP’s Public Policy Institute
Senior Strategic Policy Advisor
Jane Sung is a senior strategic policy advisor with AARP’s Public Policy Institute (PPI), where she focuses on private health insurance issues impacting adults ages 50 and older, including health insurance market reforms, Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement insurance, and employer and retiree coverage.
Before joining PPI in 2014, Jane served as health policy counsel at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, where she worked with state insurance regulators to develop standards related to Medicare supplement insurance, private long-term care insurance, Medicare private plans, and consumer information issues under the Affordable Care Act. Previously, she served as legislative assistant and senior policy advisor to US House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer for health care, long-term care, and disability issues. Jane also handled Rep. Hoyer’s responsibilities as a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. She began her career with the Maryland Governor’s Office, where she handled health care issues, including Medicaid, in the state’s federal relations office.
Jane received her law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Boston University. She is a member of the Maryland Bar.
Latoya Thomas
Included Health
Senior Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Latoya Thomas is the Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs for Included Health and has a deep expertise in shaping statutory and regulatory policies nationwide that facilitate better delivery of care, cost reduction, internet connectivity and transparency between consumers, providers and insurers. She is a published author, has spoken extensively on matters involving digital health including testimony before legislative and regulatory bodies, and works with a range of stakeholders including providers, health plans, tech companies, startups, and public officials to ensure that the use and deployment of telehealth is achieved through effective policymaking. In 2019 she was recognized by McGuireWoods as one of their “Women in Public Affairs to Know.”
Prior to joining Included Health Latoya has held leadership roles at the American Telemedicine Association, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, and the National HIT Collaborative for the Underserved. In her capacity, she has helped to shape narratives and policies that advance equitable access and use of technologies within long term and post acute care and the broader care continuum, and promote the importance of integrating health IT as a tool to reduce health disparities, and improve patient engagement and access to care.
Latoya serves on the Board of Directors for the Consumer Technology Association Health Division and Texas eHealth Alliance, and is a Howard University alumna.
Included Health
Senior Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Latoya Thomas is the Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs for Included Health and has a deep expertise in shaping statutory and regulatory policies nationwide that facilitate better delivery of care, cost reduction, internet connectivity and transparency between consumers, providers and insurers. She is a published author, has spoken extensively on matters involving digital health including testimony before legislative and regulatory bodies, and works with a range of stakeholders including providers, health plans, tech companies, startups, and public officials to ensure that the use and deployment of telehealth is achieved through effective policymaking. In 2019 she was recognized by McGuireWoods as one of their “Women in Public Affairs to Know.”
Prior to joining Included Health Latoya has held leadership roles at the American Telemedicine Association, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, and the National HIT Collaborative for the Underserved. In her capacity, she has helped to shape narratives and policies that advance equitable access and use of technologies within long term and post acute care and the broader care continuum, and promote the importance of integrating health IT as a tool to reduce health disparities, and improve patient engagement and access to care.
Latoya serves on the Board of Directors for the Consumer Technology Association Health Division and Texas eHealth Alliance, and is a Howard University alumna.
Lisa Tripp
Medically Home Group
Vice President, Government Affairs
Lisa Tripp is Vice President of Government Affairs for Medically Home and Professor Emeritus at John Marshall Law School, in Atlanta Georgia. Ms. Tripp also served as a Technical Director at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) until April 2021, and in that role was a member of the CMS/CDC COVID-19 Task Force. In her role on the task force, she co-led the development and implementation of the CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver and the broader hospital without walls waivers. She also coordinated the CDC/CMS Strike Force efforts to protect nursing home residents impacted by large COVID-19 outbreaks.
Prior to joining CMS, Ms. Tripp practiced health care law for a private law firm and was a litigating attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As an HHS attorney, Ms. Tripp focused primarily on long term care enforcement. She litigated many cases involving physical and sexual abuse, elopements, falls, neglect and substandard quality of care. Ms. Tripp received her law degree, with honors, from George Washington University Law School, in Washington, D.C.
Medically Home Group
Vice President, Government Affairs
Lisa Tripp is Vice President of Government Affairs for Medically Home and Professor Emeritus at John Marshall Law School, in Atlanta Georgia. Ms. Tripp also served as a Technical Director at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) until April 2021, and in that role was a member of the CMS/CDC COVID-19 Task Force. In her role on the task force, she co-led the development and implementation of the CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver and the broader hospital without walls waivers. She also coordinated the CDC/CMS Strike Force efforts to protect nursing home residents impacted by large COVID-19 outbreaks.
Prior to joining CMS, Ms. Tripp practiced health care law for a private law firm and was a litigating attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As an HHS attorney, Ms. Tripp focused primarily on long term care enforcement. She litigated many cases involving physical and sexual abuse, elopements, falls, neglect and substandard quality of care. Ms. Tripp received her law degree, with honors, from George Washington University Law School, in Washington, D.C.
Kyle Wailes
Wellvana Health
CEO
Kyle Wailes has served as Wellvana’s Chief Executive since January of 2022. Prior to joining Wellvana, Mr. Wailes was the Chief Financial Officer of SmileDirectClub, a global leader in tele-dentistry, where he played an essential role in the startup’s success, along with their IPO in 2019. Prior to SmileDirectClub, Mr. Wailes was with Intermedix, a leading provider of technology-enabled services for over 15,000 health care providers, where he served in different leadership capacities beginning in 2012, including as Executive Vice President of Physician Services from 2015-2017, and Chief Financial Officer from 2017 to 2018. Prior to joining Intermedix, Mr. Wailes started his career in healthcare private equity and healthcare investment banking, focusing on health care services and health care information technology companies.
Mr. Wailes graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine and neuroscience and holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Wailes lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and three kids.
Wellvana Health
CEO
Kyle Wailes has served as Wellvana’s Chief Executive since January of 2022. Prior to joining Wellvana, Mr. Wailes was the Chief Financial Officer of SmileDirectClub, a global leader in tele-dentistry, where he played an essential role in the startup’s success, along with their IPO in 2019. Prior to SmileDirectClub, Mr. Wailes was with Intermedix, a leading provider of technology-enabled services for over 15,000 health care providers, where he served in different leadership capacities beginning in 2012, including as Executive Vice President of Physician Services from 2015-2017, and Chief Financial Officer from 2017 to 2018. Prior to joining Intermedix, Mr. Wailes started his career in healthcare private equity and healthcare investment banking, focusing on health care services and health care information technology companies.
Mr. Wailes graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine and neuroscience and holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Wailes lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and three kids.