March 31, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the members of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a new federal advisory body comprised of leaders from across the healthcare system to provide expert advice on improving, strengthening, and modernizing U.S. healthcare.
The committee will advise HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on ways to improve how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The following individuals will serve on the Healthcare Advisory Committee:
- Robert Bessler, MD
- Kimberly Brandt, JD (ex officio)
- Sebastian Caliri
- Stephanie Carlton (ex officio)
- David Carmouche, MD
- Elizabeth M. Fago
- Clive K. Fields, MD
- William J. Gassen, JD
- Jenni Gudapati, PhD
- Valerie D. Huhn
- Dennis Laraway
- Dan Liljenquist, JD
- Andrew Lynch, PhD
- Ursel J. McElroy
- Kyu Rhee, MD
- Tony Robbins
- Russ Thomas, JD
- Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD
Members were selected through a competitive review process that drew more than 400 nominations nationwide. The committee will provide non-binding recommendations to inform federal healthcare policy and program administration.
Over its term, the committee will focus on:
- Developing actionable policy solutions to prevent and better manage chronic disease
- Advancing accountability for safety and outcomes while reducing unnecessary administrative burden
- Expanding the use of real-time data to support a higher quality of care, speed up claims processing, and improve quality measurement
- Enhancing care for vulnerable populations, including those served by Medicaid
- Strengthening Medicare Advantage sustainability, including modernizing risk adjustment and quality measurement
Members will serve two-year terms and will meet regularly throughout the year, with meetings open to the public consistent with federal transparency requirements. The committee is authorized under the Public Health Service Act and operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The Committee will convene its first meeting later this year. Additional information, including meeting notices and opportunities for public engagement, will be published in the Federal Register and on the CMS website. Get more information.