Jennifer advises Fortius’ healthcare clients. She is one of California’s leading authorities on the state’s Medicaid program and its implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
As Director of the California Department of Health Care Services, Jennifer ran the second-largest public health system in the country–a $100 billion annual budget serving roughly 13 million Californians, 24 managed care plans, and 56 county behavioral health plans. She negotiated two Section 1115 waivers with CMS that brought in $17 billion in new federal funding and established a national model for substance use disorder treatment.
Jennifer has spent more than 20 years across public and private health systems and three gubernatorial administrations. She was the Governor’s lead policy advisor on California’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act, including the legislation that created Covered California. Over her career she negotiated three multi-billion-dollar managed care tax proposals with support from industry, elected officials, and the federal government, and held leadership roles in the state’s Health & Human Services Agency and Governor’s Office.
Jennifer holds an undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and an M.P.A. from the University of Southern California.