Dena Nelson Email & Phone Number

• Serve as business owner for the federally-facilitated Exchange eligibility system, including providing substantive policy expertise for requirements development, sprint approvals, oversight of contractors, and testing • Conduct analysis on new legislative and policy developments impacting Marketplace eligibility under the Affordable Care Act; recommend changes to Marketplace policy and operations when appropriate and oversee the implementation of those changes• Represent the division in briefings and presentations to CMS leadership on policy and operational decisions related to Marketplace applications and eligibility determinations • Provide technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders, as well as guidance to colleagues, on eligibility-related business rules, operations and progress on Marketplace insurance program changes• Lead and coach the team working on application, eligibility system and direct enrollment projects in identifying and distributing workload and in problem solving on team tasks to achieve team goals • Honors: CCIIO Partnership Award, 2019; CCIIO Director’s Special Achievement Award, 2018; Division Special Achievement Award, 2017, 2018; CMS Honor Award, 2017, 2019, 2020

Berkeley, California

Assisted with teaching of graduate courses titled PH 220: Health Policy Decision Making and PH W200E: Health Policy and Management Breadth Course

Sacramento, California Area

As the master's thesis project for my MPP degree, I worked jointly with the California Budget and Policy Center and the United Ways of California to report on the first year of implementation of the new California Earned Income Tax Credit and analyzed options for expanding eligibility for the credit to more Californians in need.

Oakland, Ca

• Developed and submitted comments on federal and state regulations and proposals related to payday lending and defense to repayment of student loan debt• Researched and wrote a policy brief on the challenges to homeownership faced by seniors and surviving spouses, including stories from several HERA clients• Assisted with legal advocacy for medical debt and identity theft cases• Lobbied Sacramento legislative offices for the passage of AB 573 to help former students affected by the closure of the Corinthian Colleges

• Wrote, edited and interpreted regulations and guidance for the implementation of Affordable Care Act provisions, including Medicaid application and renewal rules published in the Federal Register in March 2012 and July 2013• Led policy and operational analysis in the development and implementation of the single, streamlined application required by the Affordable Care Act, including interagency negotiations, stakeholder engagement, development of business rules and consumer testing protocols• Prioritized necessary changes to HealthCare.gov systems as a participant on the CMS Change Control Board• Provided technical assistance to all 51 state Medicaid agencies and led agency reviews for approval of alternative applications and state plan amendments• Honors: CMS Administrator’s Special Citation Award, 2011, 2013, 2014; University of Maryland Certified Fellows Program on Understanding Public Policy & Legislation, 2013; Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Director’s Achievement Award, 2012, 2014

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Tested 34 online public benefit application systems for compliance with Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP (Food Stamp) regulations• Analyzed data from Kaiser Commission/CBPP surveys of 51 state Medicaid and CHIP program administrators • Recruited new participants for the National Tax Credit Outreach Campaign and conducted interviews with community leaders for 2010 Earned Income Credit Outreach Kit and Website

Portland, Oregon Area

• Launched outreach for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) expansion, executing 2,407 conversations with targeted families• Wrote campaign literature and program agenda for joint event with Organizing for America and Health Care for America NOW!• Drafted and presented a full state legislative race campaign plan, including fundraising, field plan, and media plan components

Somerville, Ma

• Developed high quality research on local and national innovations in the areas of Civic Vitality, Education, Economy and Health• Presented findings and recommendations to the Boston Foundation for the 2009 update of the Hub of Innovations project

*Assisted low-income community members in applying for jobs and public benefits and filing tax returns. Trained other volunteers in tax preparation and client service techniques.*As a client service manager, I developed a new program to bring together a diverse group of clients to discuss the local and national policy issues affecting them, and work together on a client-driven advocacy effort on issues of the group's choice.

Greater Boston Area

• Planned campaign strategy and built relationships with MA Division of Insurance and Division of Health Care Finance & Policy• Presented testimony at public hearings and met individually with State Senators and Representatives• Orchestrated outreach and recruitment efforts at all 118 colleges and universities in the Commonwealth

Boston, Massachusetts

• Researched and analyzed new policy initiatives, including student insurance regulations and postpartum depression legislation• Updated HCFA Helpline dental resource guide through outreach to hospitals, dental offices and health centers

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Trained electoral organizers in canvassing and messaging skills, conducted in-depth surveying, and evaluated internal programs

Master'S Degree, Masters Of Public Policy, Gpa: 4.0

The program emphasizes practical and applied dimensions of policy-making and implementation, encouraging students to develop skills.

Bachelor Of Arts, International Relations, Community Health

Activities and Societies: Co-Chair, Tufts Students for Barack Obama; Executive Board, Tufts University College Democrats; Leonard.