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Former Administration Official Vikki Wachino Joins NORC at the University of Chicago as a Senior Fellow in the Health Care Research Department

Press Release

7/25/2013, Bethesda, MD. – Vikki Wachino, MPP, recently joined NORC at the University of Chicago as a Senior Fellow in the Health Care Research Department. Wachino is a nationally recognized expert on health coverage for the low-income population. Until recently, Wachino was responsible for implementation of major provisions of the Affordable Care Act at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, while serving as Director of the Children and Adults Health Programs Group.

In that position, she oversaw planning to expand Medicaid coverage to millions of newly eligible low-income adults; a dramatic simplification of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment processes; and the coordination of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules with coverage under the new health insurance Marketplace established by Affordable Care Act.

“NORC at the University of Chicago is conducting critically important, objective analysis on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and on other health care delivery and financing policies,” Wachino noted. “Their work focuses on improving the nation’s health care system by providing stakeholders with rigorous research, data services and technical support.” said Wachino. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues at NORC to expand the organization’s ability to help improve access, quality, and the efficiency of health care delivery in the United States.”

At CMS, Ms. Wachino also worked closely with states to help strengthen their delivery systems and also oversaw policies to improve the quality of care for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.

“Vikki’s broad and deep expertise with America’s health care system  and hands-on understanding of the issues facing the federal government, states, and private organizations as they implement health reform is invaluable to our organization,” said Dan Gaylin, Executive Vice President, Research Programs at NORC. “We are all extremely fortunate to have her on our team.”

Prior to working at CMS, Wachino served as Health Policy Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Associate Director of the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. She also worked at the White House Office of Management and Budget.

“I am thrilled to welcome Vikki to NORC after a storied tenure leading some of the nation’s most important health-care initiatives,” said Stephen Smith, Senior Vice President and Director of the Health Care Research department at NORC. “I am confident our sponsors will benefit from her intimate knowledge of the operational details and policy challenges facing state and federal health-care programs serving vulnerable Americans. Vikki adds to our department’s capacity to serve the public interest by delivering vital research, policy analysis, and technical assistance during this critical time for American health care.”

Wachino holds an MPP from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a BA from Mount Holyoke College.

To speak to Vikki Wachino, please contact Public Affairs Manager Eric Young at young-eric@norc.org, 301-634-9536 or cell: 703-217-6814

“NORC at the University of Chicago is conducting critically important, objective analysis on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and on other health care delivery and financing policies.”

Vikki Wachino

Senior Fellow

“NORC at the University of Chicago is conducting critically important, objective analysis on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and on other health care delivery and financing policies.”

About NORC at the University of Chicago

NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.

www.norc.org

Contact: For more information, please contact Eric Young at NORC at young-eric@norc.org or (703) 217-6814 (cell).