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Contact Kelly

GeorgetownCCF kdw29@georgetown.edu

Kelly Whitener

is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families.

Kelly Whitener is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) where she focuses on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) policy at the state and federal levels. Recently, Kelly’s work has included research and policy analyses to improve care for children and families in immigrant communities. Prior to joining CCF, Kelly served as the Director of State Coverage Programs at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, overseeing the CHIP and Basic Health Program. Kelly also worked for the Senate Committee on Finance, managing the Medicaid, CHIP, and prevention and wellness portfolio from October 2008 to April 2014. During her time with the committee, Kelly worked on the CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2009, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and several year-end bills extending expiring safety net programs. Kelly studied psychology and Spanish at the University of Michigan and earned a Masters of Public Health from UCLA and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University.

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      Latest From Kelly

      Looming Government Shutdown Could Undermine Federal Oversight of Medicaid Unwinding

      Sadly, we’ve been here before and it’s highly likely that we’ll be here again. Where? Staring a government shutdown in the face and wondering what it means for federal health care programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the tens of millions of low-income people who rely on them. Let’s go […]

      A Closer Look at CMS’s Proposed Rule to Improve Access to Care in Medicaid and CHIP

      Editor’s Note: Since this post was published, CCF submitted formal comments on both the Medicaid Access and Managed Care proposed rules.  The Biden Administration recently proposed two new rules on access to care in Medicaid and CHIP. The rules have long, formal titles: “Medicaid Program: Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” and “Medicaid Program: Medicaid and […]

      Biden Administration Proposes Two New Rules to Significantly Improve Access to Care for Consumers Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP

      Editor’s Note: Since this post was published, CCF submitted formal comments on both the Medicaid Access and Managed Care proposed rules.  If you thought you saw fireworks last night, it could be in celebration of the Biden Administration posting two(!) proposed rules yesterday tackling access to care in Medicaid and CHIP. It will take some […]

      Biden Administration Takes Step to Improve DACA Grantees’ Access to Health Coverage, Congress and States Should Do More

      Following up on President Biden’s announcement earlier this month, HHS released a proposed rule that would make DACA grantees eligible for Marketplace coverage and some Medicaid/CHIP coverage. This is an important step in the right direction – removing unnecessary and unjustified barriers to health coverage for DACA grantees – but there is more work to […]

      DACA Grantees Move Step Closer to Affordable Health Coverage

      The Biden Administration made an important announcement today – the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will soon release a proposed rule that would finally give Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) grantees access to health care coverage. Under current law, DACA grantees are ineligible for Medicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace coverage even though other, […]

      • Topics
        • CHIP
        • Health Equity
        • Maternal & Early Childhood Health
        • Medicaid
        • Rural Health
        • Unwinding the PHE
        • Waivers
      • Blog
      • Maps
        • Percent of Children Covered by Medicaid/CHIP by Congressional District, 2018
        • Percent of Adults Covered by Medicaid/CHIP by Congressional District, 2018
        • 2016 Maps and Data
        • 2015 Maps and Data
      • State Data Hub
      • Research
        • Research & Reports
        • Comments on Federal Regulations
      • Projects
      • About Us
        • Faculty and Staff
        • Contact Us
        • Funders
        • News
        • Jobs
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • RSS

      The Center for Children & Families (CCF), part of the Health Policy Institute at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, is a nonpartisan policy and research center with a mission to expand and improve high-quality, affordable health coverage. Founded in 2005, CCF is devoted to improving the health of America’s children and families, particularly those with low and moderate incomes. Contact Us

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