Deputy Director, State Demonstrations Group
Centers for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Jennifer Kostesich is currently the Deputy Director of the State Demonstrations Group. In this role, she leads the agency’s work on Medicaid demonstrations authorized under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. She also leads many operational functions of SDG, including budget and contract management. Jen has over 20 years of Medicaid health policy experience at the federal and state level, as well as in the private sector. Previously, Jen served as the Senior Advisor in the SDG Office of the Group Director and led litigation related work for the 1115 portfolio as well as led SDG’s eligibility-related policy and bundle work. Jen previously served as the Deputy Division Director of SDG’s Division of Eligibility and Coverage Demonstrations, where she led SDG’s policy development for many demonstration initiatives, with a focus on Medicaid enrollment and eligibility, expansion of benefits and coverage, and other high-profile priorities across three different administrations. Prior to coming to CMS in 2016, Jen worked as a Medicaid policy leader for a Medicaid managed organization, focused on work related to the Affordable Care Act, and for the Medicaid program in Ohio, overseeing the roll-out of managed care across the state. Jen received her master’s degree in Public Health, as well as her undergraduate degree, from The Ohio State University.