Speaker's Profile

Jocelyn Guyer provides policy analysis, strategic advice and technical support to states, foundations and a range of other clients on delivery system reform, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with a particular focus in recent years on behavioral health issues.

With decades of health policy work, Jocelyn possesses a nuanced perspective on a variety of policy, regulatory and legal issues. She has done work for the American Medical Association, the American Association for Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and numerous states and foundations, among other clients.

Prior to joining Manatt, Jocelyn was a founding member and co-executive director of the Center for Children and Families (CCF), a health policy center at Georgetown University. She provided advice to national policymakers and advocates on health policy and safety net programs. Jocelyn managed CCF’s review of federal health reform regulations and its annual 50-state survey on Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules. During her tenure as a senior researcher at Georgetown University, Jocelyn helped Maryland implement the Affordable Care Act and establish its marketplace.

As an associate director with the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, Jocelyn analyzed issues in health care for vulnerable Americans, including Medicaid waivers, the implications of the Medicare Part D drug benefit for impoverished seniors and people with disabilities, and the expected impact of transforming the financing of Medicaid.

At the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Jocelyn assisted states and advocates with implementing family-based coverage expansions, advised congressional offices on creation of CHIP initiatives, and designed policy initiatives to link Medicaid and other social supports. She also served as a legislative research assistant to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY).

Throughout her career, Jocelyn has been a speaker at national gatherings of state officials, provider organizations, advocacy groups and foundations. She has presented to members of Congress, as well as state and local officials, on the future of children’s coverage, transforming Medicaid, addressing social drivers of health, mental health, and substance use disorder issues.