GAO Makes MedPAC Appointments

WASHINGTON (May 22, 2026) – Orice W. Brown, Acting Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), today announced the appointment of the Chair, Vice Chair, and two new members to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). She also reappointed two current members. MedPAC advises Congress on payments to providers in Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service program and to health plans participating in the Medicare Advantage program.

“For nearly three decades, MedPAC has served as an independent, nonpartisan advisory body for Congress covering the full range of critical issues facing the Medicare program,” Brown said. “I am confident that the new leadership, in collaboration with commission members and staff, will continue to support congressional deliberations with robust, evidence-based information and recommendations.” 

Congress established MedPAC in 1997 to analyze access to care, cost and quality of care, and other key issues affecting Medicare. The Comptroller General is responsible for naming the Chair, Vice Chair, and new commission members. GAO takes a deliberate approach to appointments to health care advisory bodies, including extensive vetting of candidates, candidate interviews, and outreach to cognizant congressional committees to understand their priorities and needs. Appointments reflect the broad range of expertise and perspectives as required by law. 

Brown is appointing Amol Navathe, MD, PhD, as the Chair of MedPAC. His term will expire in April 2029. She is also appointing Gregory Poulsen, MBA, Senior Vice President for Intermountain Health, as Vice Chair. Poulsen’s term as Vice Chair will expire in 2028.                                                                                                                                        

The newly appointed members are Benedic Ippolito, PhD, and Danielle Pierotti, PhD, RN. Their terms will expire in April 2029.  The reappointed members are Tamara Konetzka, PhD, and Brian Miller, MD, MBA, MPH. Their terms will expire in April 2029. 

Brief biographies of the Chair, Vice Chair, and new commission members are below:

Amol Navathe, MD, PhD, is Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Professor of Healthcare Management and Economics at the Wharton School. He is a practicing internal medicine physician and has conducted research on issues such as Medicare alternative payment models and how Medicare payment influences provider behavior, beneficiary outcomes, and program spending. He has served on the Board of Directors for the SCAN Group and the Hawaii Medical Services Association, both of which offer Medicare Advantage plans. He served on MedPAC from 2019 through 2022 as a commissioner and from 2022 through 2025 as Vice Chair. Dr. Navathe received his PhD in Health Care Management and Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. 

Gregory P. Poulsen, MBA, is Senior Vice President at Intermountain Health, an integrated health system based in Salt Lake City, UT. He has vast experience in strategy and policy for providing higher quality health care while reducing health care costs. In addition, Mr. Poulsen was a key architect of many innovations at Intermountain Health, including offering a Medicare Advantage plan and assisting with the transition to a value-based integrated health care delivery system. Mr. Poulsen was a founding member of the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System as well as a member of several other value-focused boards and task forces. He has served on MedPAC since 2022.  He earned his Master of Business Administration from Brigham Young University.

Benedic Ippolito, PhD, is a Senior Fellow in Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. His research focuses on a range of health care policy issues, including prescription drug pricing and Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, and the effects of health care costs on personal finances. He also serves as an Associate Editor for Health Affairs Scholar and frequently testifies before Congress.  He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Danielle Pierotti, PhD, RN, is the Vice President of Health Affairs and the Chief Nursing Officer for Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota. Her responsibilities at Mount Marty University include leading the university-wide strategies in rural health, workforce development, and population health. Previously, Dr. Pierotti was the Director of Undergraduate Studies at Idaho State University’s School of Nursing and Chief Clinical Officer for the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Program in Vermont and New Hampshire for the Dartmouth Health System. She received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

For more information about MedPAC, contact executive director Paul Masi at (202) 220-3700. Other inquiries should be directed to Sarah Kaczmarek, Managing Director of GAO Public Affairs at media@gao.gov. 

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The Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, is an independent, nonpartisan agency that exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO provides Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonideological, fair, and balanced. GAO’s commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.