Panel 3: Health Care Coverage in the United States

Debbie is a highly respected health policy authority who helps clients advance their missions in Congress and beyond. With more than three decades of experience working both on the Hill and with the health insurance exchange marketplace, she helps clients execute payment strategy, see around the corner on policy and regulatory changes, and pursue effective advocacy. In addition, Debbie has deep experience working closely with payers, industry stakeholders and government officials at the federal, state and local levels. During her 24 years as a Congressional Staffer, Debbie served most recently in a joint position as Chief of Staff to US Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), and as a professional staff member on the US House of Representatives Committee on Ways & Means, Health Subcommittee. Debbie was integrally involved in the creation and movement of health legislation through the committee, with a focus on improving and protecting Medicare. She was a key staffer in the development of the Affordable Care Act, and worked closely with the Administration and other Congressional committees and Leadership on the implementation of the law. Debbie joins M+ from the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, where she was part of the founding team that established and operated DC Health Link, the District of Columbia’s online state-based health insurance exchange marketplace. In that capacity, she worked closely with stakeholders, advocates and government officials at the local and federal levels and led the Authority’s interactions with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Kris Haltmeyer is vice president, legislative and regulatory policy, for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. The Blue System is the nation's largest health insurer covering one-in-three of all Americans. It is the largest single processor of Medicare claims in the nation and holds the world's largest privately underwritten health insurance contract – the nearly 5.4-million-member Federal Employee Program® (FEP). Haltmeyer oversees regulatory and policy development for BCBSA, working on a broad range of issues important to Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, health insurance reform, exchanges, benefit requirements and government programs (Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, FEHBP). He joined BCBSA in November 1996. With more than 25 years of experience in strategic analysis, policy development and federal representation, Haltmeyer has contributed to the debates on each of the major laws impacting health plans in recent years. These include the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Prior to joining BCBSA, Haltmeyer was a health policy analyst with Blue Cross of California and Anthem. He worked on issues impacting older adults with state government and research organizations in California. Haltmeyer has a master’s degree in health service administration and a master’s degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California.

Cynthia Cox, MPH, is vice president at KFF and director for the Program on the ACA, where she conducts economic and policy research on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its effects on private insurers and enrollees. Her work focuses on enrollment, pricing, and competition in the ACA’s exchange markets. Cynthia also directs the Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker, a partnership of the Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF aimed at monitoring the performance of the U.S. health system over time and in relation to other large, high-income countries. Her work on this project focuses on trends in health care costs, access, and affordability, as well as measures of health care quality and outcomes. Prior to joining KFF, she held research and advocacy positions at Columbia University Medical Center and the American Cancer Society. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Berkeley Free Clinic. Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University.

Kip Piper, MA, FACHE, a highly regarded healthcare consultant with 35 years of experience as a policymaker, executive, and consultant. Kip is an expert in Medicaid and Medicare policy, finance, and business and provides strategic counsel, policy and market intelligence, legislative and regulatory analysis, coverage and reimbursement solutions, and technical assistance to organizations across the healthcare industry. Kip has advised a diverse range of clients, including life sciences companies, long-term care providers and associations, state Medicaid agencies, major health systems, private equity firms and other investors, health insurers, global and boutique consultancies, and law firms. At the federal level, Kip served as a senior advisor to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator, a senior Medicare budget officer at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and a presidential management fellow. In state government, Kip served as Wisconsin’s state Medicaid director, administrator of Wisconsin’s state health agency, and the state public health officer. Kip also developed and directed influential, foundation-sponsored initiatives on value-based purchasing, payment reform, and state-based health reform. Kip is the founder and CEO of Health Results Group, LLC, a strategic advisory firm, and Medonomics, Inc., a nonprofit health policy research organization dedicated to market-based solutions to improve value and decision-making. Kip is also a senior advisor with ADVI Health, a leading life sciences industry consultancy serving top innovators in cell and gene therapy, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, medical diagnostics, and medical devices. Board-certified in healthcare management, Kip is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Kip has drafted and negotiated federal and state legislation, regulations, and waivers. He has testified before U.S. House and Senate committees and state legislative committees, written a dozen journal articles, and been widely quoted in the national and healthcare press. Kip Piper is a trusted advisor and thought leader. With his vast knowledge and experience, Kip is dedicated to helping organizations navigate the complex Medicaid and Medicare landscape, solve seemingly intractable problems, and achieve their goals.

Neil Patil is a Senior Fellow and the Policy Director at the Medicare Policy Initiative at Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform (CHIR). He conducts policy analysis and provides technical assistance to policymakers on Medicare Advantage issues. Prior to joining CHIR, Neil was a Senior Analyst at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Legislation, where he provided technical assistance to Congress on issues related to Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. In this role, he served as the lead analyst on Medicare Advantage issues. He was also instrumental in supporting the passage and early implementation of Medicare drug pricing policies included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Neil has also served as the Legislative Assistant/Clerk in the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means and as a Policy Associate for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. In these roles, his work has focused on issues related to Medicare reform, drug pricing, nursing home oversight, health equity, as well as other Medicare issues. Neil holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Xavier University.