Federal Agencies Form Healthcare Advisory Committee with 18 Industry Leaders to Modernize System

Federal Advisory Body Assembled to Drive Healthcare System Transformation

The Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the formation of a new Healthcare Advisory Committee featuring 18 industry leaders selected from over 400 nationwide nominations. This federal advisory body will provide strategic guidance on modernizing how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The committee will serve two-year terms and meet regularly throughout the year, with meetings open to public attendance per federal transparency requirements. Members will advise HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on policy solutions that enhance care quality while addressing system-wide challenges.

Healthcare Executives and System Leaders Selected for Committee

The diverse membership roster includes major health system operators and executives representing various sectors of the healthcare industry. Notable appointees include Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health; Dennis Laraway, chief financial officer of Cleveland Clinic; and Dan Liljenquist, chief strategy officer of Intermountain Health. The committee also features Andrew Lynch, chief strategy officer for Acadia Healthcare, a behavioral health provider, and Kyu Rhee, president and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Additional members bring expertise from value-based care organizations, health information technology companies, and community health centers. The selection includes healthcare executives, health policy attorneys, academics, physicians, and other industry professionals spanning the healthcare delivery spectrum.

Committee Focus Areas Target Operational and Financial Challenges

The advisory committee will concentrate on developing actionable policy solutions across five key areas that directly impact healthcare operations and financial sustainability. These priorities include preventing and managing chronic diseases, advancing accountability for safety and outcomes while reducing administrative burden, and expanding real-time data use to support higher care quality and faster claims processing.

The committee will also focus on enhancing care for vulnerable populations served by Medicaid programs and strengthening Medicare Advantage sustainability through modernized risk adjustment and quality measurement systems. These initiatives align with broader federal efforts to reduce healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes and system efficiency.

Business Implications for Healthcare Organizations

Healthcare organizations should prepare for potential policy changes emerging from the committee’s recommendations, particularly in areas affecting reimbursement structures, quality reporting requirements, and administrative processes. The emphasis on reducing administrative burden could lead to streamlined documentation requirements and simplified compliance procedures for Medicare and Medicaid providers.

The focus on real-time data integration and improved quality measurement may accelerate adoption of advanced health information technology systems and data analytics platforms. Organizations participating in Medicare Advantage programs should monitor developments related to risk adjustment methodologies and quality scoring mechanisms that could impact revenue and operational strategies.

Value-based care arrangements may receive increased federal support based on the committee’s composition, which includes leaders from organizations with extensive experience in alternative payment models. Healthcare systems should evaluate their readiness for expanded value-based contracts and consider investments in population health management capabilities.

Healthcare organizations navigating federal healthcare policy changes can benefit from specialized guidance. Contact James Moore’s healthcare practice team to discuss how these developments may impact your organization.

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