Manatt Strengthens Medicaid Offerings With Arrival of Trusted Director and Health System Executive

Dr. Tracy L. Johnson brings deep and broad experience in advising government agencies, health care systems and other stakeholders on Medicaid policy and reform

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, today announced that Dr. Tracy L. Johnson has joined the Firm’s Health Care group as managing director. Johnson’s consulting fellowship with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) as well as her time as the Colorado Medicaid Director and as a safety net health system executive provides her with an invaluable depth of knowledge and the ability to frame issues from multiple stakeholder perspectives.

“A prolific leader in the Medicaid space, Tracy has unparalleled insight that health care policymakers, providers and health systems would benefit from as states continue to take strides in making health care more accessible and affordable,” said Manatt CEO and Managing Partner Donna L. Wilson. “The transformation occurring in health care to bring about meaningful change to policy and implementation requires deep understanding of the complexities involved, which Tracy provides in spades.”

With more than 25 years of academic, consulting and hands-on experience within the Medicaid space, Johnson offers broad subject matter knowledge in state health policy, health care financing and evaluation relevant to payers, providers, and state and federal agencies and officials. Johnson has advised clients on coverage policy, advanced primary care models, population health strategies, telehealth and value-based care in Medicaid. She is also passionate about addressing the social drivers of health and has experience guiding recent state innovations to support housing-related needs of Medicaid beneficiaries.

“Tracy’s exceptional reputation as a trusted adviser and a formidable leader make her a perfect fit for Manatt Health and our clients who are leading health system reform and Medicaid transformation,” said Manatt Health Leader Bill Bernstein. “She will be a valuable member of our team as we continue growing our Medicaid capabilities to better support state and federal policymakers and others driving efforts to improve health across the nation.”

Johnson joins Manatt after completing an Inspire Fellowship with Oak Ridge Associated Universities, where she advised CMMI on its strategic refresh focused on increasing CMMI model participation by state Medicaid agencies and safety net providers. Prior to that role, Johnson served as the Colorado Medicaid Director, where she oversaw Medicaid/CHIP delivery systems and benefits and helped lead the state’s cross-agency COVID-19 response. Johnson also spent nine years at the Denver Health and Hospital Authority in multiple executive roles, including special assistant to the CEO, Director of Health Care Reform Initiatives and Interim Director of the Center for Population Health.

In addition to her advisory work with Manatt, Johnson has academic appointments at the University of Colorado and is a current board member of Project Angel Heart, which provides medically tailored meals to people with serious health conditions. She has served as part of numerous state and national health policy commissions and advisory groups, including as a board member of the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD). As an Australian-American health policy fellow, she advised health policymakers on population health strategies in New South Wales and the commonwealth of Australia. She also regularly participates on Colorado’s Jefferson Scholarship Selection Committee, which nominates a student for a full scholarship to the University of Virginia.

“I look forward to this next chapter and privilege of joining Manatt Health’s highly respected consultancy,” said Johnson. “I have always admired Manatt Health and absolutely relied on its thought leadership during my tenure as Medicaid Director and at CMMI. I am thrilled to join the brilliant, committed and growing team of trusted advisers focused on state health policy.”

Johnson is the latest professional to join Manatt Health’s expanding legal and business consulting team, which includes recent arrivals Robert Fraiman, Paul Irving, Axel Bernabe, Seth Frazier, Eric Gold, Thomas (Tom) Robertson, Edo Banach, Julia E. Smith, Nicholas (Nick) Bath Jr., Shelli Silver, Dr. Troyen (Troy) A. Brennan and Tracy A. Massel.

Johnson received her Ph.D. in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and her M.A. in bioethics and B.A. in mathematics and French from the University of Virginia.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is a leading professional services firm, providing integrated legal and consulting services to a global client base. With offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento and Silicon Valley), New York (New York City and Albany), Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston, the Firm represents sophisticated clients — including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies — across a range of industry sectors such as health care; financial services; entertainment; digital and technology; and energy, environmental and real estate. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.

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