Hamilton, NJ, July 1, 2025 – The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melanie Bella as chair of its Board of Trustees, effective immediately. Ms. Bella, who joined CHCS’ Board in 2023, is a nationally recognized leader in health policy and care delivery innovation, bringing decades of experience advancing high-quality health care for underserved populations. Ms. Bella succeeds Estelle Richman, former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, who joined CHCS’ Board in 2013 and has served as chair since 2017.
CHCS also welcomes Jami Snyder, former Arizona Medicaid director, as a new member of its Board of Trustees. Ms. Snyder currently serves as president and chief executive officer of JSN Strategies, LLC, and is also a member of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC).
“For over 25 years, Melanie Bella has been an influential leader in advancing Medicaid policy, bringing transformative vision and deep expertise at both the state and federal levels — particularly in improving care for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid,” said Allison Hamblin, MSPH, president of CHCS. “We are honored to have her leadership as CHCS continues to address the nation’s evolving challenges in delivering high-quality care to people served by Medicaid. At the same time, we extend our deepest gratitude to Estelle Richman for her steadfast leadership and invaluable contributions during her Board tenure — her legacy will continue to shape our mission for years to come.”
Ms. Bella currently serves as executive advisor at Cressey & Company, a health care investment firm committed to improving the U.S. health care system. Her career includes leadership roles at Cityblock Health, where she was executive vice president of policy and duals strategy, and at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she was the founding director of the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office. From 2019 to 2024, she chaired MACPAC, helping to guide national policy on access and quality for low-income populations. She previously held senior roles at the Center for Health Care Strategies from 2005 to 2010, and served as Indiana’s Medicaid director from 2001 to 2005. Ms. Bella holds an MBA from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University.
Ms. Snyder has extensive experience in Medicaid leadership at both the national and state levels. She served as president of the Board for the National Association of Medicaid Directors from 2021 to 2022 and was appointed to MACPAC in May 2023. From January 2019 to January 2023, she was a cabinet member under Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, where she held the position of state Medicaid director. During her tenure, she led efforts to stabilize Arizona’s health care delivery system amid a multi-year public health emergency and advanced the agency’s Whole Person Care Initiative. Previously, she also served as the Medicaid director for the state of Texas. Ms. Snyder holds a master’s degree in political science from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE STRATEGIES
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a policy design and implementation partner devoted to improving outcomes for people enrolled in Medicaid. CHCS supports partners across sectors and disciplines to make more effective, efficient, and equitable care possible for millions of people across the nation. For more information, visit www.chcs.org.
