Mike Cheek
President and CEO
202-204-8003
mcheek@snpalliance.org
Mike comes to the SNP Alliance from his role as the Senior Vice President for Reimbursement and Market Strategy for the American Health Care Association/ National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). Prior to this role he was the director of Medicaid Long Term Care for the District of Columbia’s Medicaid agency, the Department of Health Care Finance. In addition, Mike has worked for three state government associations: the state Medicaid directors where he focused on eligibility and long-term care, the state developmental disabilities directors, and the state aging directors.
Mike also worked as a consultant for several years, first at The Lewin Group and later at Avalere Health, offering his expertise to states, health plans, pharmaceutical companies, and post-acute and long-term care provider organizations.
Joe Perretta
jperretta@snpalliance.org
Senior Manager, Communications and Media
Joe Perretta joined the SNP Alliance in March 2018 after 15 months on the road, educating specialists in rural care settings from Montana to Mississippi on the specifics and requirements of coordinated care in the era of MIPS and MIPS ACOs.
Prior to his work in the field, Joe worked as a technical writer for the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Chemotherapy Safety and Certification Program, proudly overseeing the editorial process for the ASCO-ONS 2016 Chemotherapy Standards update. An academically-trained rhetorician, Joe learned that studying ‘healthcare communication’ in the few academic settings in which it’s formally offered meant designing better game strategies for cessation apps and selling them; he’s strived to present his technical writing bona fides alongside an emphasis on subject matter expertise over ideas marketing. His passion for healthcare developed alongside his experience as a patient navigator and clinical research coordinator at a private orthopedic practice in Miami, Florida, and several college summers billing in a hospital based Miami behavioral health practice.
While medical governance and health policy have become his career, he maintains strong ties to the world of competitive academic debate, coaching online weekend and summer programs for the University of Texas and speaking regularly at workshops for debate educators.
Will Dede
wdede@snpalliance.org
Associate Director, Health Policy
Will Dede joins the SNP Alliance from Duty First Consulting, where he spent over two years supporting the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in its administration and oversight of the Affordable Care Act. During his time there, Will supported the state technical assistance team’s oversight of the 39 state Exchanges using the federal platform HealthCare.Gov by working directly with those state governments. Will provided these 39 states policy and operational guidance with matters related to the certification of Qualified Health Plans intended to be sold on HealthCare.Gov.
Prior to his time with Duty First Consulting, Will worked as a Consultant for Applied Self Direction, researching state self-directed Medicaid programs. As a fellow with the National Academy of Social Insurance, he researched the Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB) on the representative payee criminal bar policy, which was included in the SSAB’s January 2018 Improving Social Security’s Representative Payee Program report.
Additionally, Will was a Program Analyst with the National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS). At NRCPDS, Will worked directly with the Veterans Health Administration on oversight of the Veteran-Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS) program by providing management and policy guidance to medical centers on the implementation of VD-HCBS.
Will holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double-major in Political Science and History from Randolph College and a Master of Public Policy from American University.
Victoria King
vking@snpalliance.org
Director of Operations
Vicky and her family live in Virginia with their beloved shelter dogs and enjoy taking day trips in the country and attending the kids sporting events and activities. She received her BA from Virginia Commonwealth University and is earning an MBA from George Mason University.
Pamela J. Parker, MPA
pparker2@comcast.net
Medicare-Medicaid Integration Consultant, SNP Alliance
Pamela has over 34 years of experience in state government in Minnesota, with specialized expertise in management of integrated Medicare and Medicaid health care policy, operations and financing for people with dual eligibility, managed long term services and supports, rate setting, and MA D-SNP policy and contracting.
She was responsible for the creation of the first CMS-approved state Medicare-Medicaid integration demonstration for people with dual eligibility in 1995. She also developed and managed several specialized managed care programs for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as the first Medicare Medicaid D-SNP demonstration approved by CMS in 2013.
Pam served as Director of Long Term Care and has a long history of consumer advocacy serving as the states’ first long term care ombudsman. Pam has been an advisor to CHCS, MedPAC, MACPAC, AARP, NCQA, NASHP, and the Alliance for Health Reform and has been a frequent speaker at national conferences on topics related to MLTSS and dual eligibility.
After retiring from her state management position, Pam joined the SNP Alliance team as Medicare-Medicaid Integration Consultant.
Pam has a Masters of Public Administration degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she was a Bush Leadership Fellowship Recipient.
Dr. Deborah Paone, DrPH, MHSA
Performance Evaluation Lead and Policy Consultant, SNP Alliance
dpaone@snpalliance.org
Dr. Deborah Paone serves as the Performance Evaluation Lead & Policy Consultant for the Special Needs Plan Alliance (Washington, DC).
For the SNP Alliance, Deborah analyzes policy and regulation, facilitates leadership groups, and develops recommendations to improve how Medicare/Medicaid address the needs of complex and at-risk populations. She is the subject matter expert in quality measurement, Model of Care, social determinants of health, health equity, and person-reported outcome measurement. Deborah also leads the SNP Alliance annual member survey and innovation projects. Dr. Paone serves on the CMS/RAND Technical Expert Panel (TEP) on Medicare Stars and on technical expert groups of the National Quality Forum on Health Equity, and Person-Reported Outcome Measurement. Leadership & Staff Bios | The SNP Alliance Team | SNPA
Deborah is also the Implementation & Evaluation Director-CAPABLE for Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore) and maintains her practice as a consultant and independent evaluator through Paone & Associates, LLC (Minneapolis). Deborah Paone: Faculty Directory (jhu.edu)
Previously, Dr. Paone served as VP for the National Chronic Care Consortium and Director of Aging & LTC Services for the American Hospital Association. Deborah was the Evaluator for the ACT on Alzheimer’s—a unique collective action comprehensive stakeholder initiative that was the basis for “Dementia Friendly America.” She was also the Evaluator for “Family Memory Care” a translation of the NYU Caregiver Intervention.
Dr. Paone has a Doctor of Public Health (UNC-Chapel Hill), a Master of Health Services Administration (University of Michigan), and a Bachelor in Gerontological Issues in Community Health (University of Rochester). Her research interests are in effective implementation and dissemination of proven programs for older adults and people with chronic conditions, and in closing policy and system gaps to connect continuums of care toward better service and outcomes including quality of life indicators.
Deborah has served as the primary caregiver for her mother and father and walked with them in their journey facing terminal illnesses over many years.
Suzanne Gore, JD, MSW
Principal, State Health Partners; I-SNP Consultant, SNP Alliance
suzanne.gore@statehealthpartners.com
After nearly 15 years working in and around government, Suzanne formed State Health Partners in 2018 with a passion to improve health care, especially for underserved individuals. At State Health Partners, Suzanne helps states and organizations navigate the complexities of state health programs with a specific focus on Medicaid managed care, Medicare Special Needs Plans, long-term services and supports, and behavioral health.
Suzanne has extensive practical experience with Medicaid policy, waivers, program development, and implementation, and knows the state legislative and budget process. She has developed, drafted, reviewed, scored, and served on the final selection committee for a number of successful state procurements and developed proposals and grant applications for funders ranging from the federal government to philanthropic organizations.
Prior to forming State Health Partners, Suzanne served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Senior Advisor on Health Care to Virginia’s Governor. In these roles, she had an instrumental role in shaping and administering health policy across Virginia. In her most recent position as Deputy Director of the Virginia Medicaid program, she oversaw the policy, legislative, appeals, innovation, and regulatory divisions of the agency. In between state government stints, Suzanne worked in the non-profit sector where she spearheaded the Center for Health Care Strategies’ efforts to help states integrate Medicare and Medicaid and develop managed long-term services and supports programs.
Her academic background includes business, law, and social work as she earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from the University of Virginia, a Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law, and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Tracy Spicer
Principal, Avenue Solutions
Avenue Solutions’ founding partner Tracy Spicer is a 20-year veteran of political campaigns at every level.
Ms. Spicer began her involvement in politics in 1992 in former US Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate office before transitioning to his campaign staff in 1994 to assist in his successful re-election campaign. She quickly rose to Political Director and Deputy Chief of Staff, and since that time, has worked with and coordinated numerous campaigns, ranging from municipal and state candidates to the US Congress as well as the White House. During her decade of experience on Capitol Hill, she coordinated successful political and legislative strategies for Senator Kennedy and managed his legislative priorities in the areas of healthcare, education, labor, and economic development.
Ms. Spicer is widely recognized for her political acumen and expertise in designing legislative and regulatory strategies and her established network of long-standing professional contacts among elected officials, appointed policymakers, and their staffs. She draws on her vast political and legislative experience to help clients navigate the labyrinth of Capitol Hill and government bureaucracy and to position them strategically to head off obstacles, find common ground, and achieve success.
Ms. Spicer has played a leading role in the consideration, negotiation, and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid legislation; healthcare information technology initiatives; mental health parity legislation; genetic non-discrimination legislation; small business incentives proposals; and prescription drug coverage legislation.
Elizabeth Barnett
Partner, Avenue Solutions
Elizabeth Barnett is a Partner at Avenue Solutions, a government relations firm that provides strategic legislative, policy, and political expertise based in Washington, DC. Elizabeth advises numerous clients across the spectrum of the health care industry on a range of federal legislative and regulatory issues related to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Ms. Barnett brings a wealth of political and legislative experience to this all-female, all-Democratic firm.
Elizabeth has 15 years of experience in health care policy both in the private sector and on Capitol Hill. Before joining Avenue Solutions, she was a lead Democratic lobbyist for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Elizabeth has a deep understanding of Capitol Hill, where she spent eight years working for U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). As the Senators principal health policy advisor, Ms. Barnett developed and managed her health care and social policy agenda, created and implemented legislative strategies, and served as her chief negotiator on priority legislation, including the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families reauthorization.
Elizabeth also spent time serving as the Senator’s speechwriter. A true veteran of the Washington political process, Elizabeth has also served as a researcher at EMILY’s List and on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
A native of Southern Maryland, Elizabeth’s tenure in DC began with an internship with U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Elizabeth holds a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Washington College.
Ginger G. Loper
Principal, Loper Consulting
Ginger Loper founded Loper Consulting in January 2010 after serving as a Vice President at Timmons and Company for four years, where she advised a range of Fortune 500 clients and major trade associations on legislative and regulatory strategy.
Prior to her work in the private sector, Ginger served as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs from 2002-2005. As a senior lobbyist for President George W. Bush, Ginger served as the primary point of contact for the President and senior White House staff to the Committees on Agriculture, Finance, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). She advocated for the President’s agenda in the areas of health care, Social Security, tax, education, and agriculture.
Prior to her White House service, Ginger served as a Legislative Assistant to then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott from 1997 to 2001. She assisted with the management of legislation in the areas of health care, tax, education, and the federal budget. In 2011, Ginger was named one of the top lobbyists under 40 by Washingtonian Magazine. Ginger serves on the Board of Directors for the Arlington Free Clinic.
She graduated with honors from the University of Alabama in 1995. She received her Master’s degree from George Washington University in 1997.
Mark S. Joffe, Esq
Legal and Regulatory Counsel, SNP Alliance
Mark S. Joffe is the principal in the Firm of Law Offices of Mark S. Joffe in Washington, DC. Mr. Joffe specializes in legal and business issues affecting managed care organizations with a particular focus on Medicare and Medicaid managed care, including Medicare Advantage special needs plans and Medicare-Medicaid Plans.
Mr. Joffe was previously the Associate Counsel, Group Health Association of America (currently AHIP), the managed care and health insurance trade association. Before that position, Mr. Joffe was a Senior Attorney with the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services.
Mr. Joffe has a Masters of Arts degree in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.
