Chris Jennings

Chris Jennings is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in health policy, spanning roles in the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the private sector. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy during President Obama's administration until January 2014, and also held a similar role under President Clinton for nearly eight years.

During his time in the executive branch, Jennings played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of significant health reforms, including the Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. His work has also influenced the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1997 and major Medicare reforms in the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997.

In the legislative arena, Jennings's career includes a decade of service in the U.S. Senate, where he was the Deputy Director of the Special Committee on Aging, working with Senators Glenn, Pryor, and Melcher. He focused on major reforms related to long-term care, prescription drug coverage and cost containment, and rural health care. His efforts extended to his role in the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care, also known as the “Pepper Commission.”

Outside of government service, Jennings has been a senior health policy advisor to six Democratic presidential campaigns and has served on the Democratic Platform Drafting Committees in 2008, 2016, and 2020. Additionally, he has been appointed to influential roles such as a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he has contributed to various health reform projects.

Jennings Policy Strategies (JPS), the consulting firm he founded and leads, is a nationally respected entity known for developing policies that aim to ensure higher quality, more affordable, and sustainable health care. His expertise is frequently sought after by publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, and the Atlantic, where he discusses health reform issues. In 2020, he also served as a co-chair of the Biden Health Committee and as an advisor to the Biden Transition, underlining his ongoing influence in shaping national health policy.