Kathy Stiffler, MA

Senior Advisor- Health Policy

stiffl14@msu.edu
Phone: 517-432-9830

965 Wilson Rd.
A522D East Fee Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824

Biography

Kathy Stiffler is the Senior Health Policy Advisor at the Institute for Health Policy and also serves as the Executive Director for the Michigan Health Policy Forum. Kathy leads various health policy initiatives with strategic partners including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Medical Services Administration and other health care and advocacy organizations. Kathy has worked in the field of health care for over 35 years including hospital health education, Health Education Director for a staff-model health maintenance organization, Health Education Specialist for the Michigan Health and Hospital Association and in many capacities in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She is well known for her collaborative efforts with diverse stakeholders and served two stints as Michigan's Acting State Medicaid Director.  

Kathy specializes in Medicaid policy and operations, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid expansion, health issues impacting pregnant women, infants, children, adolescents, children and youth with special health care needs as well as strategies to promote healthy behaviors in the Medicaid population,  increase use of primary and preventive services through medical homes, teen pregnancy prevention and integrated services. Kathy served as Michigan's first Adolescent Health Coordinator (one of the first in the country) and implemented the state's first school based health centers, successfully led the transition of children and youth with special health care needs into Medicaid managed care and led the implementation of the very successful Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan's Medicaid expansion program).

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Education and a Master of Arts degree in Hospital Health Education, both from Central Michigan University. Kathy has received awards from the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan, the Legacy of Leadership Award from the Michigan Primary Care Association and a Special Tribute from Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her exemplary service to the State of Michigan for over 30 years.