Defending Medicaid and Medicare: Addressing Barriers and Policy Challenges

Medicaid and Medicare provide essential healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, yet ongoing policy changes threaten to reduce access and affordability. For AANHPI communities, where Medicaid covers nearly one in four Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and millions of Asian Americans, these programs are a critical lifeline. Join us as experts explore the impact of proposed funding cuts, increasing eligibility barriers, and rollbacks in drug price negotiations. Further discussion will emphasize the importance of protecting these programs to ensure equitable access to health care and economic security for the communities that rely on them.

Oliver Kim

Senior Director, Public Policy

Corewell Health

MODERATOR

Oliver Kim has worked on health law and policy for over two decades, including in senior health positions in the U.S. Senate. He currently is the senior director for public policy at a Midwestern integrated health system and an adjunct professor of law with the University of Pittsburgh. During his time in the Senate, Oliver worked on key health legislation such as the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and numerous Medicare and Medicaid extenders. Additionally, Oliver was the legislative director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the federal affairs director for an Oregon-based health plan.

He received his undergraduate degree in English and history from Indiana University at Bloomington and his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He was selected for a Fulbright Scholar award to Canada, an Endeavour fellowship from the Australian government, the Woodrow Wilson foreign policy fellowship, the inaugural AcademyHealth Health Policy in Action award, the US-Spain Young Leaders Program, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders’ political exchange program. Oliver serves on the board of Community Catalyst and the Virginia Board of Medicine and was past board chair of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum.

Marvin B. Figueroa

Vice President

BGR’s Health and Life Sciences Practice

Marvin B. Figueroa is a Vice President at BGR’s Health and Life Sciences Practice, where he helps clients navigate the intersection of healthcare policy, politics, and government decision-making. With extensive experience at both the state and federal levels, he provides strategic counsel on access, reimbursement, regulatory affairs, and legislative advocacy. 

Before joining BGR, Figueroa served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, overseeing the Senator’s operations and advising on policy and communications strategy while managing relationships with congressional offices, government agencies, and California-based partners. 

Previously, he was appointed by President Biden as Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), leading a 60+ person division across 10 regional offices. Reporting directly to Secretary Xavier Becerra, he built coalitions with state, local, and tribal governments, as well as advocacy organizations, to advance White House healthcare priorities. 

At the state level, Figueroa served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Legislative Director in Virginia under Governor Ralph Northam. He played a pivotal role in implementing Medicaid expansion, providing healthcare access to over 500,000 Virginians, while leading efforts to improve behavioral health services and strengthen the state’s healthcare and social services programs. 

Earlier in his career, Figueroa was a Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Mark Warner, focusing on healthcare, education, and workforce development. He co-led the Senate Finance Committee’s Chronic Care Working Group, which resulted in the bipartisan CHRONIC Care Act of 2017, a landmark law that improved care for seniors and individuals with chronic illnesses. 

A frequent speaker at national forums, Figueroa provides insights into the evolving public policy landscape. His expertise has been recognized with honors such as the Presidential Leadership Scholar (PLS), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Health Braintrust Congressional Staffer of the Year, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Young Alumnus of the Year. He is also a Distinguished Fellow and Founding Faculty Member at Meharry Medical College School of Global Health. 

Originally from La Ceiba, Honduras, Figueroa is bilingual and a proud Garífuna (Gah-ri-fu-nah). A POSSE Foundation Scholar, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and his master’s degree from Harvard University. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Chris Long

Vice President of Government Affairs

Better Medicare Alliance (BMA)

Chris Long joined Better Medicare Alliance as Vice President of Government Affairs in early 2022, bringing three decades of government relations, advocacy, and public service leadership.

Long started his career as an aide to Congressman George “Buddy” Darden (D-GA) and, most recently, was partner at Bluestone Strategies LLC, a top bipartisan government affairs firm where he lobbied for over a decade on behalf of clients including Serco Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), and Kaiser Permanente.

Prior to co-founding and leading Bluestone Strategies, Long served as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for CareCore National, where he advocated for evidence-based specialty benefit management programs during the historic debate on the Affordable Care Act. 

Earlier, Long served as Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as Director of Tax and Fiscal Affairs for the Associated General Contractors (AGC).

Long is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and holds a Master of Arts from American University. He served on the board of the Literacy Volunteers and is Chair of the local Young Life Committee in his community. 

Email Chris at CLong@bettermedicarealliance.org.

Fahina Tavake-Pasi, MS

Executive Director

National Tongan American Society (NTAS)

Since 2003, Fahina has served as the Executive Director of the National Tongan American Society (NTAS), a nonprofit organization serving NHPIs in Utah.  She developed various programs that helped thousands of Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (NHPI) in Utah to improve and obtain a healthier lifestyle, increase civic engagement, obtain US citizenship, access higher education, obtain social justice, and promote cultural preservation.  Fahina recently helped to open NTAS offices in Arizona and Texas, serving the growing NHPI populations in those states.

Prior to joining NTAS, Fahina worked for 10 years at the University of Utah (UofU) as an Academic Advisor focusing and assisting NHPI students. She established student programs that helped to recruit and increase NHPI student enrollment at the UofU.  She assisted NHPI students to successfully navigate higher education and graduate with degrees.

Her degrees include AA/Aeronautics, BA/Sociology, MS/Health Promotion and Education. She  has received several local and national leadership and achievement awards for her work.   She has served on many national, state, regional, and international health, civic engagement, education and cultural committees. 

Fahina was born in Tatakamotonga, Tonga. She grew up in San Mateo, California.  She married Tevita Alapuku Pasi from Utah, and currently resides in Utah with her family.

Jason Wright

President

Access to Health Foundation

Jason Wright is the Chief Government Affairs Officer for Agility Holdings Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurance marketing organizations, where he leads federal and state advocacy, external affairs, and lobbying efforts across nine operating companies. He also serves as President of the Access to Health Foundation, a 501(c)(4) dedicated to advancing innovative healthcare policy solutions, and as President of Agility Cares, a 501(c)(3) committed to improving healthcare access and education for underserved communities.

With extensive experience as an elected official, U.S. Senate staffer, and board member of the East Texas Council of Governments, Jason has built a career at the intersection of public policy, healthcare, and community leadership. He is a strong advocate for value-based care, health insurance innovation, and reducing barriers to coverage, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Jason frequently engages policymakers, corporate leaders, and community stakeholders to promote solutions that defend and strengthen Medicaid and Medicare while driving healthcare innovation. His work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring access, equity, and sustainability within the U.S. healthcare system.