Contact Leonardo

Leonardo Cuello

is a Research Professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families.

Leonardo Cuello, J.D. is a Research Professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families (CCF).

Leo has worked on Medicaid law and policy for the past two decades, most recently as the Health Policy Director of the National Health Law Program, where he has been involved in many of the major issues and litigation of recent times — such as work requirements. Leo’s current work focuses on Medicaid and Marketplace waiver authority, Medicaid managed care, payment and delivery system reform, Medicaid expansion, and Medicaid benefit packages.

Before joining the National Health Law Program, Leo worked for the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) for six years, focusing on a wide range of healthcare issues dealing with eligibility and access to services in Medicaid and Medicare. At PHLP, Leo ran a project focused on immigrant and Latino health care, including direct representation of low-income immigrants and Latinos, and worked on numerous Medicaid eligibility and services issues through direct representation and policy work. Leo graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College and received his J.D. from The University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Leo loves all topics Medicaid and is excited to work on issues like Medicaid system design and managed care, waiver authorities, and addressing health-related social needs. One of his goals is to help develop accessible and actionable educational resources to support advocates, policymakers, and the general public – in both English and Spanish.

Latest From Leonardo

CMS Unsurprisingly Concludes Georgia Demonstration Extension Request Is… An Extension Request

On December 22, CMS sent Georgia a letter confirming that the state’s section 1115 demonstration extension request was being reviewed as an extension request. This straightforward conclusion, which the state was trying to avoid, has some important consequences for the state’s on-going Medicaid expansion debacle. But let’s start with the background. In February 2023, Georgia […]

Georgia Pathways Implementation: The Glass is 99.6% Empty

On October 5, 2023, CMS certified as complete Georgia’s implementation plan (the implementation plan itself starts on page 50) for phase one of its “Pathways to Coverage” section 1115 demonstration that the state had already started implementing more than 3 months earlier, on July 1, 2023. Yes, you read that right. And no, it doesn’t […]

An Analysis of Georgia’s Section 1115 Medicaid Pathways to Coverage Program

Download Full Report In July 2023, Georgia will begin enrollment into its new Medicaid Pathways to Coverage (“Pathways”) program, with coverage expected to begin in September 2023. The program would offer coverage to a subset of low-income adults who meet a work reporting requirement and, depending on their income, pay a monthly premium. Georgia will […]

CMS Proposes to Revamp Medicaid Advisory Committees

Editor’s Note: Since this post was published, CCF submitted formal comments on both the Medicaid Access and Managed Care proposed rules.  Just a few months ago, we urged Medicaid advocates to consider leveraging their state Medicaid advisory committees to help improve their Medicaid programs. But now we’re happy to report that exciting changes may be […]