Kate McEvoy
Executive Director, National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD)
Kate McEvoy became Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Director in January 2023. NAMD is a professional community of state leaders who provide health insurance to more than 92 million individuals and families through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. NAMD elevates thought leadership on core and emerging policy matters, amplifies the experience and expertise of Medicaid and CHIP directors, supports state programs in continuous improvement and innovation, and optimizes federal-state partnerships to help millions live their healthiest lives.
Previously, Kate led the Milbank Memorial Fund’s work in support of state executive branch staff and policymakers as well as its policy initiatives on healthy aging. Prior to joining Milbank, she was the long-time Director of Health Services for Connecticut’s Department of Social Services, where she led Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and long-term services and supports, as well as implementation of the Affordable Care Act. During this time Kate oversaw major transformation in the program, migrating from capitated managed care arrangements to a successful self-insured, managed fee-for-service approach. This streamlined and simplified the program for both members and providers, freed up resources for an extensive array of care delivery, value-based payment and social determinant interventions, improved health outcomes and care experience for members, and enabled the program to reduce both per member, per month costs and overall spend. Kate also served as president and vice president of NAMD’s Board of Directors. Previous to her service as a Medicaid Director, she contributed to state health reform efforts in the Office of the State Comptroller, which oversees state employee benefits.
An elder law attorney by training, Kate’s early career was dedicated to working with and for older adults and people with disabilities at the Connecticut Association of Area Agencies on Aging. She also served as a past chair of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association and on the Steering Committee of the Reforming States Group. Kate holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a B.A. in English and Economics from Oberlin College, and is the author of journal articles on elder law and end-of-life care as well as the treatise Connecticut Elder Law.