HHS and CMS Announce the Creation of the New Healthcare Advisory Committee and Publicize the Members

On Thursday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 18 members of the new 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 under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The Department chose the members following a review of over 400 nominations. The panel will advise HHS and CMS on improvements to financing and delivery across Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. The committee is empowered to make nonbinding policy recommendations to transition the system from reactive “sick care” toward preventive health management. Specific areas of focus include developing methods to prevent and manage chronic disease, advancing accountability for safety outcomes while reducing administrative burdens, and expanding real-time data usage to improve claims processing and quality measurement. The committee will also consider strategies to enhance care for vulnerable populations served by Medicaid and strengthen Medicare Advantage sustainability through modernized risk adjustment. Members of the committee will serve two-year terms with regular meetings open to the public consistent with federal transparency requirements.

What This Means for Echocardiogrphy:

The committee’s focus on chronic disease prevention, real-time data usage, and modernized risk adjustment could directly impact how echocardiography is valued and reimbursed under Medicare and Medicaid. As the panel develops recommendations around preventive care models and quality measurement, there may be opportunities to position echo as a frontline tool in early cardiovascular disease detection; but also, potential risks if cost-containment or payment restructuring efforts affect cardiac imaging. ASE will continue monitoring the committee’s work and its implications for the echo community.

Healthcare Advisory Committee Members:

• Robert Bessler, MD – CEO of Honest Health, a value-based care enablement organization; Board member for Honest, Mangrove Management Partners, Lifestance Health and Upsechocardiographytream Physical Therapy; and Founder of Sound Physicians.
• Sebastian Caliri – 8VC Healthcare Team Lead; MS in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
• David Carmouche, MD – Chief Medical & Commercial Officer at Lumeris, a physician-first AI-powered Primary Care as a Service platform; board-certified in Internal Medicine
• Elizabeth M. Fago – Healthcare Entrepreneur; nursing home owner; nominated by President Trump in 2020 to serve on the National Cancer Advisory Board
• Clive K. Fields, MD – Co-founder of VillageMD; board-certified Family Physician
• William J. Gassen, JD – President and CEO of Sanford Health; serves on boards for American Hospital Association, Oscar Health, Inc., Medical Alley, and Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce; chair of Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare
• Jenni Gudapati, PhD, MBA, RN – CEO of Amethyst Solutions and Director for Boise State University’s Value-Based Healthcare Program
• Valerie D. Huhn – Former Director, Missouri Department of Mental Health
• Dennis Laraway, MBA – Executive VP and CFO, Cleveland Clinic
• Dan Liljenquist, JD – Board Chair, Graphite Health; former Utah State Senator
• Andrew Lynch, PhD – Chief Strategy Officer at Acadia Healthcare; former VP, Home Solutions, Humana; PhD in Biomedical Engineering
• Ursel J. McElroy – Former Director of Ohio Department of Aging and Administrator of the Ohio State Plan on Aging
• Kyu Rhee, MD – President and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC); former Senior Vice President & Aetna Chief Medical Officer at CVS Health; board-certified in internal medicine & pediatrics
• Tony Robbins – Author, life coach, and motivational speaker
• Russ Thomas, JD – CEO of Availity, a health information network; board member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Policy Council, Jacksonville University, and Iodine Software
• Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, FACP, FAAP – President and CEO, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education and The Wright Center for Community Health; board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Addiction Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Nutrition
• Kimberly Brandt, JD (ex officio) – CMS Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer
• Stephanie Carlton (ex officio) – CMS Chief of Staff and Deputy Administrator