The Medicare/Medicaid Speakers Bureau brings together a diverse array of trusted experts on Medicare & Medicaid from the Academy’s membership.
Members of the Bureau are available to provide context, data, and analysis to journalists covering issues related to the Medicare & Medicaid systems and the people they serve.
To connect with an expert or schedule an interview, please contact sabrina@siddiquiadvisory.com.
Alison Barkoff
Senior Fellow, National Academy of Social Insurance
Alison Barkoff is a nationally recognized disability rights lawyer with deep expertise in Medicaid, long-term services and supports, behavioral health, and access to health care. Her work focuses on community living, civil rights, and improving health care access for people with disabilities.
Robert "Bob" Blancato
President, Matz, Blancato & Associates
Bob Blancato is a longtime national advocate for older adults with extensive expertise in aging policy, particularly on the Older Americans Act. He brings decades of experience from Capitol Hill and national aging policy leadership.
Amber Christ
Managing Director, Health Advocacy, Justice in Aging
Amber Christ is a leading expert on Medicare and Medicaid, with a particular focus on policies affecting people dually eligible for both programs. She works to improve equitable access to health care and long-term services for low-income older adults.
Leanne J. Clark-Shirley
President & CEO, American Society on Aging
Leanne Clark-Shirley is a social gerontologist with expertise in aging and long-term care policy, including the health care workforce, home- and community-based services, and informal caregiving. Her work draws on mixed-methods and qualitative research to evaluate long-term care systems and policies affecting older adults.
Henry Claypool
Visiting Scientist, Laurie Institute for Disability Policy, Heller School, Brandeis University
Henry Claypool is a former senior HHS official and national leader on disability policy and long-term services and supports. He has advised Congress and federal agencies on how to better finance and deliver long-term care for older adults and people with disabilities.
Indivar Dutta-Gupta
Distinguished Visiting Fellow, and Senior Advisor, National Academy of Social Insurance
Indivar Dutta-Gupta is a nationally recognized thought leader, researcher, analyst, and advocate on a broad array of U.S. economic and social insurance policy, including on Medicaid and care.
Robert Espinoza
Senior Fellow and Advisor to the CEO, National Academy of Social Insurance
Robert Espinoza is a prominent thought leader on workforce policy, caregiving, aging, and long-term care. He brings more than 25 years of experience advancing policies that strengthen care systems and economic opportunity.
Tim Engelhardt
Executive Director, Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab, National Academy of Social Insurance
Tim Engelhardt is Executive Director of the Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab and former Director of CMS’ Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office, with expertise in improving health outcomes and community integration for older adults and people with disabilities.
Connie Garner
President & CEO, Garner Public Policy Strategies
Connie Garner is a veteran policy expert on disability, long-term care, and education issues. She played a key role in major federal disability and health legislation, including long-term care provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
Narda Ipakchi
Vice President of Policy and Programs, The SCAN Foundation
Narda Ipakchi is a health and aging policy expert specializing in Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid integrated programs, and long-term services and supports. She previously served as the Medicare & Medicaid Policy Director for the U.S. Senate Aging Committee.
Natalie Kean
Director, Federal Health Advocacy, Justice in Aging
Natalie Kean leads Justice in Aging’s legislative and administrative health care advocacy on Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP. Natalie advocates to strengthen health care programs that help older adults live at home and connected to their communities.
Kata M. Kertesz
Managing Policy Attorney, Center for Medicare Advocacy
Kata Kertesz specializes in Medicare and dual-eligibility policy, including Medicare Savings Programs, Medigap, oral health access, and systemic barriers to care. Her work spans legislative advocacy, regulatory analysis, and strategic litigation.
David A. Lipschutz
Co-Director, Law & Policy, Center for Medicare Advocacy
David Lipschutz is a Medicare policy expert focused on beneficiary protections, coverage access, and federal health policy developments. He regularly analyzes and responds to Medicare policy changes and reform proposals.
Tricia Neuman
Executive Director, Program on Medicare Policy, & Senior Vice President, KFF
Tricia Neuman is one of the nation’s leading Medicare policy experts, widely cited on issues including Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug costs, out-of-pocket spending trends, and health security for older adults and people with disabilities.
Wendell Primus
Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institute
Wendell Primus is a veteran health and budget policy expert who played a central role in developing the Affordable Care Act and major Medicare and drug pricing legislation.
Kevin Prindiville
Executive Director, Justice in Aging
Kevin Prindiville is a nationally recognized expert on Medicare and Medicaid policy and senior poverty. He leads legal and policy advocacy efforts to protect the health and economic security of low-income older adults.
Fred Riccardi
President, Medicare Rights Center
Fred Riccardi is a leading national Medicare advocate with extensive experience shaping federal and state health policy. He has testified before Congress on key issues affecting Medicare beneficiaries, including telehealth access and health care coverage.
Jessica Schubel
Founder, Day One Strategies
Jessica Schubel is a former senior White House official who advised President Biden and Vice President Harris on health care and aging policy. She helped craft and implement the legislative Medicaid and Affordable Care Act provisions and regulatory reforms.