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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

Federal Judge in Tennessee Sides with Individuals Terminated from Medicaid, Finds Numerous Violations in Tennessee Medicaid Eligibility Process

“Poor, disabled, and otherwise disadvantaged Tennesseans should not require luck, perseverance, or zealous lawyering to receive healthcare benefits they are entitled to under the law.” How’s that for an opening sentence to a judicial opinion? That’s how an August 26, 2024, decision in a class action case called A.M.C. v. Stephen Smith started – and […]

An Explanation of Final Medicaid Managed Care and Access Rules

Executive Summary While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has overseen the steady growth in Medicaid coverage over recent years, CMS has faced the additional challenges of ensuring that coverage truly leads to meaningful access to care and that there is strong oversight. CMS recently finalized two key regulations: “Ensuring Access to Medicaid […]