Paulo G. Pontemayor

Paulo G. Pontemayor, Director of Government Relations

Catholic Hospitals Association

Paulo G. Pontemayor is a health policy professional working to lead policy advocacy and development for national organizations. He specializes in issues related to health care reform, federal payment programs and health equity. Currently he serves as director of government relations for the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). Founded in 1915, the national leadership organization of more than 2,200 Catholic health care systems, hospitals, long-term care facilities, sponsors, and related organizations. Based out of DC, he advocates for the organization’s policy priorities on Capitol Hill, the Administration and with national coalitions. He also was elected as Second Co-Chair of the Partnership for Medicaid, a nonpartisan, nationwide coalition of organizations representing clinicians, health care providers, safety-net health plans, and counties—whose goal is to preserve and improve the Medicaid program.

Prior to joining CHA, he was with The Joint Commission, the nation's oldest and largest not-for-profit health care accrediting organization, serving as the Associate Director for Federal Relations where he worked to advance patient safety and health quality standards initiatives partnering with Congress and the Executive Branch. He previously worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation where he was responsible for a policy portfolio that included Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Affordable Care Act and health disparity elimination initiatives. He also worked as the Advisor for Government Relations and External Affairs for the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, where he received an award from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Families USA for his work in developing the community leadership alliance which guided the Tri-Caucus on the development of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2011. Mr. Pontemayor began his public service career in Washington, DC working for several Members of Congress, advising them on healthcare and other domestic social policy issues including the development of the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Pontemayor received his Master of Public Health degree from the Milken Institute of Public Health at the George Washington University, where he was a Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellow and Departmental Scholar. He earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he started working in local campaigns and elections. Originally from the U.S. territory of Guam, Paulo continues to draw strength from his immigrant family as an inspiration for his health policy work.