Edward Gracia, III

Eddie is a Senior Partner at Healthsperien with more than 20 years of expertise in health and social policy development, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations. He leads the firm’s health plan portfolio and collaborates with coalitions and nonprofits addressing social isolation, loneliness, mental health, and health equity. Recognized for his deep knowledge of social determinants of health and social isolation and loneliness, Eddie frequently speaks at global forums such as the American Public Health Association, World Health Organization, and European Commission, providing thought leadership on social health issues. His insights have been featured in leading media outlets, including PBS News Hour, XXX, XXX, and more.

Prior to Healthsperien, Eddie’s private sector experience included serving as Executive Director for Federal Affairs at CareSource, where he developed federal policy and advocacy strategies for Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, dual-eligible coverage, and social determinants of health programs. He also led multi-stakeholder coalitions to improve health care delivery and financing systems and served on the boards of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Association of Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP). Before CareSource, he was Director of Federal Relations at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, where he focused on Administration advocacy and regulatory policy.

In the public sector, Eddie held key positions at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. At CMS, he oversaw the development of quality measurement strategies across federal health programs, and on Capitol Hill, he worked under Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), managing Medicare finance and quality portfolios. These roles highlight his expertise in federal health policy, quality programs, and financing innovations.

Eddie earned a B.A. in Political Science from Boston University and a Master of Health Science in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he graduated as valedictorian and was inducted into the Delta Omega Honor Society. His broad experience across public and private sectors and his commitment to improving health equity position him as a trusted leader and innovator in health care policy and advocacy.