With support from Arnold Ventures, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is expanding its capacity to help states lower the trajectory of their health care spending through its new Center for State Health Care System Costs. 

Modeled on the work of its Prescription Drug Pricing Center, this new center will address health system and hospital costs, provide states with research, analytics, model legislation, and other tools, as well as opportunities for cross-state collaboration and learning.

The center’s mission will be guided by a work group of experienced state leaders who will ensure this work effectively addresses state policy priorities, and that its products are both actionable and practical. 

NASHP is grateful that these exceptional state leaders are willing to make time in their hectic schedules to advance this critically important work. Many of these leaders have already been instrumental in building the foundation of the center by participating in several state officials-only summits NASHP has convened to explore these issues.

NASHP is very pleased to announce the following members of this important group:

Jessica Altman
Commissioner, Pennsylvania Insurance Department

Jane Beyer
Senior Health Policy Advisor to the Commissioner, Washington Department of Insurance

Marie Ganim
Commissioner, Office of the Health Insurance Rhode Island  

State Rep. Matt Hatchett
Majority Caucus Chairman, Georgia House of Representatives 

Dee Jones
Executive Director, North Carolina State Health Plan

Robin Lunge
Board Member, Vermont Green Mountain Care Board

Melanie Rainer
Special Assistant to the Attorney General, California Department of Justice

State Sen. Heather Sanborn
Chair, Maine Joint Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services

David Seltz
Executive Director, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission

State Rep. Norm Thurston
Utah House of Representatives

Jeremy Vandehey
Director, Health Policy and Analytics, Oregon Health Authority

Vicky Veltri
Executive Director, Connecticut Office of Health Strategy

Renee Walk
Strategic Policy Advisor, Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds

Kara Odom Walker
Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Division of Health and Social Services

Jane Wishner
Executive Policy Advisor for Health and Human Services, Office of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Kacey Wulff
Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Colorado’s Lieutenant Governor

Katie Wunderlich
Executive Director, Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission

In the next few weeks, NASHP soon will announce the staff of the new center and looks forward to sharing its work in the months ahead.