Kelly Whitener

Kelly Whitener is an Associate Research Professor of the Practice at the McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, affiliated with the Center for Children and Families (CCF). Her work focuses on pediatric health benefits, Medicaid, CHIP, and state-level policies to improve healthcare access for children and families.

• JD, Georgetown University
• MPH, University of California, Los Angeles
• BA in Psychology and Spanish, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Her research centers on health policy, particularly Medicaid managed care, children's health insurance, and access to care for vulnerable populations including immigrant and Latino children. She investigates the impacts of federal rules such as the public charge policy and evaluates trends in health coverage and delivery systems.

Her recent publications highlight strong primary care access in Medicaid managed care but identify gaps in specialty care, analyze the chilling effects of public charge rules on immigrant families, and track health coverage trends among Latino children. These works reflect a consistent focus on equity, policy implementation, and child health outcomes.

• Research Shows Access to Primary Care in Medicaid Managed Care Is Strong, But Improvements Needed for Specialty Care
• How the New Public Charge Rule Impacts Children in Immigrant Communities
• Getting Back on Track: A Detailed Look at Health Coverage Trends for Latino Children
• An Explanation of Final Medicaid Managed Care and Access Rules

Kelly Whitener has extensive experience in federal health policy, having served as Director of State Coverage Programs at CMS and as a health policy advisor on the Senate Committee on Finance, where she contributed to landmark legislation including the Affordable Care Act and CHIP Reauthorization Act. Her career bridges legal, public health, and legislative domains, enabling impactful research and advocacy.

She is affiliated with the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, a research and policy center focused on expanding and improving health coverage for low-income children and families through evidence-based analysis and outreach.