Jacey Cooper Q&A

Jacey Cooper is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience in Medicaid policy and healthcare delivery system reform. She is a proven leader in driving transformational initiatives at federal, state, and local levels.

Jacey most recently served as director of the State Demonstrations Group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where she oversaw the center’s efforts to support state-led innovations in Medicaid and CHIP demonstrations. She acted as the CMS lead for emerging policies requiring Section 1115 authority, provided technical assistance to states and issued federal guidance on 1115 budget neutrality. She also prioritized addressing health disparities, improving access and coverage, and advancing innovative service delivery models.

Before joining CMS, Jacey held multiple roles with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), most recently serving as California’s state Medicaid director and chief deputy director. During her tenure, she was instrumental in designing and launching the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program, a transformation initiative aimed at reforms in population health, behavioral health, managed care, duals integration, social drivers of health and reentry. Through this, she played a key role in securing CMS’ approval for the state’s Health Related Social Needs and Justice-Involved 1115 demonstrations. She also led billions in investment to expand coverage, benefits, and payment reform initiatives.

Prior to her work in California Medicaid, Jacey served as an executive at a public hospital, Kern Medical Center, where she led the hospital’s transition from a county department to an independent hospital authority, launched the county’s self-funded health plan and managed their indigent care program.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to connect with Jacey and learn more about her public health journey!

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