The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on June 7 the members of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a new federal advisory body formed to provide expert advice on improving, strengthening, and modernizing U.S. healthcare.
The committee will advise HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on ways to improve how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
"This Administration is bringing leaders together to tackle the challenges facing American patients and the health care system, putting prevention front and center," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "This committee will help us shift from a sick care system to a true health care system by delivering practical solutions that drive real change."
"We received an overwhelming response from highly qualified candidates across the country," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "These members bring deep expertise across care delivery, financing, innovation, and patient engagement. Their insights will help us advance higher-quality care, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen the sustainability of our programs, while supporting efforts to transform our healthcare system and restore a stronger focus on patients."
Committee members include Robert Bessler, MD; Kimberly Brandt, JD (ex officio); Sebastian Caliri; Stephanie Carlton (ex officio); David Carmouche, MD; Elizabeth M. Fago; Clive K. Fields, MD; William J. Gassen, JD; Jenni Gudapati, PhD; Valerie D. Huhn; Dennis Laraway; Dan Liljenquist, JD; Andrew Lynch, PhD; Ursel J. McElroy; Kyu Rhee, MD; Tony Robbins; Russ Thomas, JD; Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD.
Members were selected through a competitive review process that drew more than 400 nominations nationwide.
The committee will provide non-binding recommendations to inform federal healthcare policy and program administration over its two-year term. Focus areas include developing actionable policy solutions for chronic disease prevention and management; advancing accountability for safety while reducing administrative burden; expanding use of real-time data for quality improvement and claims processing speed; enhancing care for vulnerable populations including those served by Medicaid; and strengthening Medicare Advantage sustainability through modernized risk adjustment and quality measurement.
Meetings will be open to the public in accordance with federal transparency requirements under the Public Health Service Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act. The first meeting is scheduled later this year with additional information to be published in the Federal Register or on the CMS website according to the official roster page.
