Representation Matters
Meet Our Guest:
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure is the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she will oversee programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the HealthCare.gov health insurance marketplace. She has decades of experience in the federal government and played a key role in guiding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through passage and implementation. She led the agency’s implementation of ACA coverage and insurance reform policy provisions and assisted House leaders in passing several healthcare laws. Brooks-LaSure began her career as a program examiner and lead Medicaid analyst for the Office of Management and Budget.
Key Insights:
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure discusses challenges of work-life balance, especially for women and mothers, and her efforts to promote health equity at CMS.
● Support is Necessary. As the first Black female administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Chiquita gives credit to mentorship and supportive colleagues, particularly women who helped her grow both professionally and personally.
● Representation Matters. Diverse perspectives, including experiences and race, make a difference in decision-making. It is important to see women of color in powerful roles.
● Health Equity. The core of health equity is making sure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health, which is something Chiquita works at every day.
This episode is hosted by Ceci Connolly. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans.
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