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Joan Alker

is the Executive Director of the Center for Children and Families and a Research Professor at the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy.

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Joan Alker is the Executive Director and a Co-Founder of the Center for Children and Families (CCF), and a Research Professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Her work focuses on health coverage for low-income children and families, with an emphasis on Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She is the lead author of a widely cited annual report on the status of children’s coverage. Alker has authored numerous studies and blogs on a range of issues including children’s health, Medicaid waivers, premium assistance, and published in journals such as Health Affairs, NEJM, BJM, and JAMA.

A frequent speaker and commentator, Alker is routinely quoted in major media outlets such as the Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, Wall St Journal, KFF Health News, and Politico. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern Virginia Health Foundation and is an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance. She holds a Master of Philosophy in politics from St. Antony’s College, Oxford University and a Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science from Bryn Mawr College.

Please contact Cathy Hope (catherine.hope@georgetown.edu) with media queries or to set up an interview with Joan.

Latest

  • How Are Parents Impacted By Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements?

    Overview Starting January 2027, H.R. 1 requires every state that has expanded Medicaid to low-income adults – whether through the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion or a Section 1115(a)(2) waiver – to implement work reporting requirements (WRRs). New WRR mandates affect those enrolled in the Medicaid expansion category – coverage for adults with income up…

  • Almost All Custodial Parents, Caretaker Relatives Should Not be Impacted by Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements in 28 States

    As states rush to implement complex new work reporting requirement provisions before January 2027, the new Interim Final Rule (IFR) released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has caused massive confusion. However, the IFR made important clarifications about which adults are not subject to work reporting requirements (WRRs), are excluded from WRRs,…

  • CCF Submits Comments on Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements Interim Final Rule

    Today, CCF submitted public comments on CMS’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) implementing H.R. 1-mandated Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements (WRRs). As we’ve written about time and time again, WRR policies are harmful, create unnecessary barriers to coverage, and will result in coverage losses without actually supporting work. Nonetheless, H.R. 1 has required most states to impose…

  • Senator Kim Introduces Bill to Cover All Children and Young Adults

    Last week, Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced a bill called the “MediKids Act” (S. 5037), described as “guaranteed healthcare for every child in America.” Original cosponsors were Sens. Booker (NJ), Duckworth (IL), Lujan (NM) and Padilla (CA) – all Democrats and the bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. As regular readers of the…

  • Trump Administration Issues Final Public Charge Rule, Ignores Public Comments on Harm to Children

    On July 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  issued final regulations lifting current rules used to determine whether an immigrant is likely to become a “public charge”. The final rule, which takes effect on September 18, eliminates a century of established policy, carefully calibrated to address policy issues and undefined terms in…