Suzanne Gore

After nearly 15 years working in and around government, Suzanne formed State Health Partners with a passion to improve health care, especially for underserved individuals. At State Health Partners, Suzanne helps organizations navigate the complexities of Medicaid with a specific focus on the intersection of Medicaid with long-term services and supports, and Medicaid managed care, justice-involved populations, and behavioral health.

Prior to forming State Health Partners, Suzanne served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Senior Advisor on Healthcare for Governor Terry McAuliffe and as Special Assistant of HHR for Governor Mark Warner, where she had an instrumental role in shaping and administering state health policies across agencies in Virginia. In her most recent position as Deputy Director of the Virginia Medicaid program, she oversaw the policy, legislative, appeals, innovation, and regulatory divisions of the agency. In that role, she developed a broad network of professional relationships with federal regulators, health care providers, insurers, citizen stakeholder groups, and industry consultants.

In between state government stints, Suzanne worked in the non-profit sector where she spearheaded the Center for Health Care Strategies’ efforts to help states integrate Medicare and Medicaid and develop managed long-term services and supports programs.

Suzanne has extensive practical experience with Medicaid policy, managed care, home and community-based services, waivers, program development, and implementation and knows the challenges states face on a daily basis. She has developed, drafted, reviewed, scored, and served on the final selection committee for a number of successful state procurements. She has in-depth knowledge of state and local human service delivery systems. She understands how to navigate the state political landscape and influence the legislative and budgetary process.

Her academic background includes business, law and social work as she earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from the University of Virginia, a Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law, and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.