Jessica Stephens
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2025 fellow
Jessica Stephens is a health policy leader and collaborative problem solver who has dedicated her career to improving access to health coverage and care for millions of low-income Americans. As a senior policy advisor in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), she works closely with all states and U.S. territories to implement Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) policies while tackling complex implementation challenges.
As a White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP) Fellow, Ms. Stephens will serve as Senior Advisor for Research Partnerships for the Office of Management and Budget’s Evidence Team. In that role, she will forge partnerships between federal agencies and academic researchers and develop a sustainable infrastructure that will drive evidence-based decision making across government.
Ms. Stephens brings a wealth of expertise gained during her 15-year career analyzing and implementing health coverage programs. In the nonprofit sphere where she began her career, she evaluated Medicaid and CHIP policies and assessed the impact of policy decisions on healthcare disparities.
At CMS, Ms. Stephens has spearheaded cross-agency initiatives to improve healthcare access and reduce administrative burdens across states. As a Division Director, Team Leader, and Technical Expert, she has consistently been recognized for her steadfast leadership, policy accomplishments, and exemplary customer service.
Most recently, Ms. Stephens oversaw the nationwide Medicaid “unwinding” effort–the process of returning to regular operations following the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, state Medicaid programs have successfully re-evaluated eligibility for millions of Americans enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP at the end of the COVID public health emergency. Through this process, Ms. Stephens fostered unprecedented collaboration among states, federal partners, and stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to ensure vulnerable individuals’ access to health coverage.
Ms. Stephens earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Health from Yale University, where she also pursued academic interests in bioethics and social justice.
Ms. Stephens enjoys baking, game nights with friends, and urban hikes through Washington, D.C., neighborhoods. She is an avid fan of international sports competitions and always appreciates a good podcast recommendation.
