Senior Health Policy Advisor
Montana Office Of The Governor
Helena, Mt
• Develops and executes creative public affairs strategies to advance the governor’s policy goals by engaging with state and federal legislative branches, business leaders, local communities, trade associations, advocates and other constituents. • Monitors and maintains awareness of emerging bills, regulations, and trends that may lead to opportunities to advance the governor’s goals or risks that may impact current plans, then works with legal and communications staff to develop strategies to address challenges that arise.• Leads strategic communications on health care issues and oversees the development of health-related media events produced by the administration. Drafts and contributes to health communications collateral and remarks for the governor, executive team members, and external partners. • Represents the governor in the media and at health care industry events, conferences, work groups, and public forums at the state and national level.• Initiates, cultivates and maintains productive working relationships with state lawmakers, members of congress, congressional committees, and their staffs and uses these relationships to share information of interest, support a continuing dialog, and provide active insight into ongoing and planned activities of mutual interest. • Launched the effort to establish MT’s first successful health information exchange (HIE); served on HIE organizing board, and secured funding through legislative appropriation and federal A-87 Medicaid 90/10 funds. • Passed legislation and negotiated federal 1332 reinsurance waiver approval to lower insurance costs in the individual market by $1,000 on average per person, for a projected total of $51m in health insurance savings in 2020 alone.• Staffed bi-partisan governors’ group which developed national policy recommendations to prevent ACA repeal.