04.18.2023 / Press Release

Families USA promotes visionary health care value leader Sophia Tripoli to Senior Director of Health Policy  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Families USA Executive Director Frederick Isasi announced the promotion of Sophia Tripoli to Senior Director of Health Policy. She was previously Director of Health Care Innovation, where she was responsible for directing and launching the organization’s Center for Affordable Whole Person Care, establishing the People First Care initiative and leading the Consumers First coalition. 

An innovative health policy thought leader, Tripoli oversees and leads Families USA’s strategic development and framework on all aspects of its health policy priorities, including guidance on federal and state health policies that will improve health care and health for all families and individuals in America. A critical component of her portfolio will be continuing to grow and build the organization’s health care value policies—centered around realigning the health care system’s economic incentives to ensure the system is accountable for the health needs and financial security of our nation’s families. Tripoli will ensure that FUSA will continue to develop and promote policies that uproot the underlying drivers of unaffordable, low quality health care including the lack of transparency and competition in health care. Her most recent effort in that area was testifying before Congress last month at the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s hearing, “Lowering Unaffordable Costs: Examining Transparency and Competition in Health Care.” Tripoli also will oversee Families USA efforts to expand health care coverage to the millions of people in the country who continue to lack it. 

Tripoli has been at Families USA for six years—joining in 2017 as Campaigns Manager to run ballot initiative efforts that extended Medicaid coverage in Idaho, Utah and Nebraska. Prior to that, she oversaw the development of state payment and delivery system reform models at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and worked in health policy at the National Governors Association. She has a master’s degree in public health and bachelor’s degree in international affairs and global health from George Washington University.  

“Sophia has done a tremendous job proactively boosting our health care value portfolio during her six years with Families USA. From leading successful coalitions aimed at changing health care laws and policies to benefit families to the launch of our new Center for Affordable Whole Person Care, Sophia’s expertise and commitment to fixing the broken health care system and realigning the ways doctors treat and charge patients has led us to key victories,” said Isasi. “She is a sharp, strategic and innovative policy thought leader who knows what moves the needle when it comes to improving health and health care for all. Under her guidance, we’ll keep the drumbeat going on the fight to extend health care coverage and against industry greed that prioritizes the status quo rather than families’ well-being and financial security.”  

“I’m excited to begin this new chapter of my tenure at Families USA, especially at such a pivotal moment for the drive towards better, more affordable health care and improved health,” Tripoli said. “Both sides of the aisle in Congress and voters all agree that we’re paying too much for a broken health care system. I’m looking forward to leading an innovative, person-centered policy portfolio to address what’s not working in our health care system and ensure that every family and individual in our nation can get and stay healthy without skipping meals or mortgage payments.” 

###