CHICAGO, March, 28, 2022 – NORC at the University of Chicago welcomes Medicaid expert Jim Jones as its newest senior fellow. Jones brings more than 40 years of experience in insurance affordability programs, the private sector, Medicaid, and other government health and human services programs to NORC’s Health Care Programs department.

"Jim has spent his decades-long career on the ground as a state health official, gaining firsthand experience on how Medicaid coverage impacts low-income individuals and their families," said Michelle Kitchman Strollo, senior vice president of Health Care Programs at NORC. "He is a valuable addition to our team supporting Medicaid research for state and federal government clients."

Jones is currently the principal for J. Jones Consulting, which provides Medicaid and other government-program consulting services. Prior to that, he served as the Medicaid director and administrator for Wisconsin’s Division of Medicaid Services, leading diverse health care programs that served over 1.5 million residents with an annual budget of $12 billion. Before ascending to that position, he was the Division’s deputy director.

“I look forward to bringing my knowledge of state and federal government environments, especially laws and regulations, to NORC’s research team to help improve government programs for those who rely on them,” said Jim Jones.

Jones augmented his Medicaid credentials and other skills while working for Deloitte Consulting and Sellers Dorsey, both of which allowed him to collaborate with the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services and Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Innovation, in 26 states. This experience provided him with a national view of the Medicaid program, and a deeper understanding of how states differ in the administration of their state Medicaid programs.

Prior to earning a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Jones began working in the Wisconsin Human Services Administration. He spent nearly two decades there, in various roles, before moving on to leadership positions in Wisconsin’s Divisions of Health Care Financing and Health Care Access & Accountability.

Over the course of his long and illustrious career, Jones also served as the Midwestern representative to two boards—the National Association of Medicaid Directors Board and the American Public Health Services Association-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Directors Board—and was the chairperson of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors Eligibility Technical Advisory Group.

Jones has co-authored two papers, “Social Determinants of Health and Medicaid Payments: Steps states can take to factor social determinants of health into Medicaid payment policies” and “Issue to Impact: Supporting States in Transformation to Value-based Payment and Quality Improvement,” published in 2018 and 2016, respectively.