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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2026
Contact: CMS Media Relations
(202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries
HHS and CMS Announce Healthcare Advisory Committee Members to Improve Patient Care and Modernize the U.S. Healthcare System
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the members of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a new federal advisory body comprised of leaders from across the healthcare system 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
The following individuals will serve on the Healthcare Advisory Committee:
- 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.
About the Healthcare Advisory Committee
The Committee will provide non-binding recommendations to inform federal healthcare policy and program administration.
Over its term, the Committee will focus on:
- Developing actionable policy solutions to prevent and better manage chronic disease;
- Advancing accountability for safety and outcomes while reducing unnecessary administrative burden;
- Expanding the use of real-time data to support a higher quality of care, speed up claims processing, and improve quality measurement;
- Enhancing care for vulnerable populations, including those served by Medicaid; and
- Strengthening Medicare Advantage sustainability, including modernizing risk adjustment and quality measurement.
Members will serve two-year terms and will meet regularly throughout the year, with meetings open to the public consistent with federal transparency requirements. The Committee is authorized under the Public Health Service Act and operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Next Steps
The Committee will convene its first meeting later this year. Additional information, including meeting notices and opportunities for public engagement, will be published in the Federal Register and on the CMS website. For more information, visit: www.cms.gov/priorities/healthcare-advisory-committee/overview
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