United States of Care Launches New State Policy & Advocacy Department

Washington, DC — Today, United States of Care announced the launch of its new State Policy & Advocacy department. As the organization’s state footprint continues to grow, this new department will be responsible for driving people-centered state policy and advocacy efforts rooted in USofCare’s listening work. This exciting milestone builds upon nearly seven years of effective state policy and advocacy work, and reinforces USofCare’s role as a driving force for making health care more affordable, dependable, personalized, and understandable. 

“States are poised to play an outsized role advancing the targeted changes we know people want from our health care system. By launching our new State Policy & Advocacy department and building upon years of successful state work since we founded USofCare, we’re strengthening our investment in states and continuing to work with partners turning what people tell us in our listening work into durable policy,” said Natalie Davis, CEO and Co-Founder of United States of Care. “Our Senior Director of State Policy & Advocacy, Caitlin Westerson, will lead this new team. Caitlin is a skilled advocate and thoughtful leader with a strong track record of securing legislative wins and expanding USofCare’s impact at the state level. Her expertise will ensure we’re continuing to achieve meaningful change for people across the country.”

“United States of Care’s commitment to working with state partners in driving common sense policy solutions rooted in people’s lived experience is what brought me to this organization over three years ago,“ said Caitlin Westerson, Senior Director of State Policy & Advocacy at United States of Care. “I’m so excited to lead our new State Policy & Advocacy department and expand our impact in states. Having grown from working in just one state in 2018 to a presence in over 11 states today, we’re making meaningful progress towards a more affordable and dependable health care system that puts people at the center. ”

Members of this new State Policy & Advocacy department include:

Caitlin Westerson, Senior Director of State Policy & Advocacy 
Caitlin Westerson oversees the organization’s state-focused policy and advocacy portfolio, and has a strong track record in leading state-level efforts to improve health care affordability and consumer protection. She previously served as Senior Health Policy Advisor for Colorado’s Office of Saving People Money on Health Care in the Office under Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, where she helped pass into law major initiatives like the Colorado Option and Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Caitlin also directed policy and legislative work at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, advocating for expanded coverage and protections in health care for Colorado consumers. 

Liz Hagan, Director of State Policy Solutions
Liz Hagan oversees the organization’s state policy agenda, and has extensive experience bridging state and federal health care policies. She was previously a Senior Consultant at Transform Health, focusing on federal policy and California’s Whole Person Care program. Liz has also worked at Families USA and Enroll America, where she drove Medicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace policies, particularly for justice-involved populations. She has been quoted in major news outlets like the New York Times and NPR.

Kelsey Wulfkuhle, Senior State Advocacy Manager
Kelsey Wulfkuhle represents USofCare in an expansive portfolio of state advocacy coalitions across the nation, and has political and advocacy experience in both Kansas and Missouri. She was previously the Healthcare Policy Specialist at the Community Care Network of Kansas, supporting federally qualified health centers. Kelsey has also worked with Missouri State Representative Keri Ingle and Pro-Choice Missouri, and on issues related to public programs, payor reimbursement, behavioral health, and reproductive rights.

Eric Waskowicz, Senior State Policy Manager
Eric Waskowicz brings top-tier expertise building USofCare’s state-level policy portfolio. He previously served as Manager of the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Center for State Policy, where he supported 57 state or state equivalent chapters with legislative and regulatory resources. Eric also worked as Legislative Correspondent for U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, focusing on health care, energy, and environmental issues.

Brianna Miller, State Advocacy Manager
Brianna Miller leads advocacy efforts for USofCare in a large portfolio of diverse states. She previously worked as Health Policy Specialist at Children’s Action Alliance in Arizona, advocating for policies that improve health care access for low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC families. She also supported Medicaid enrollment and collaborated on integrating oral health into health care. Brianna’s health justice work began in Botswana as a Peace Corps Volunteer, focusing on HIV prevention and education

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