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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

Are You Leveraging Your Medical Care Advisory Committee?

Medical Care Advisory Committees are powerful tools—available in every state—for advancing effective health policies on behalf of children and families. Anyone working on state Medicaid policies needs to know about MCACs! What is an MCAC? Medical Care Advisory Committees, known as “MCACs”, are advisory bodies that provide state Medicaid agencies with formal feedback and recommendations […]

Comments on Wisconsin Waiver Extension Request

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities submitted the following comments to CMS regarding Wisconsin’s application to extend its “BadgerCare” 1115 waiver. Wisconsin Waiver Extension Comments

The End of Medicaid Rights May Be Upon Us: You Need to Know About the Talevski Case

The Supreme Court, the same court that trashed decades of settled precedent to overturn Roe and, in NFIB, for-the-first-time-ever ruled that a federal spending program (the Medicaid expansion) was “coercive” upon states, that court, is about to decide whether to completely wipe out the rights of Medicaid enrollees. Buckle up, friends. On November 8, the […]

Judiciary Gone Rogue: Federal Judge Overreaches in Georgia Medicaid Waiver Case

Another day, another deeply troubling federal court decision. This time a judge has misread Medicaid law to potentially leave 350,000 uninsured Georgians locked out of coverage. Here’s the story. In late 2020, the Trump administration approved a very limited section 1115 Medicaid expansion demonstration in Georgia with work requirements and premiums. (This 1115 should not […]