John Hammarlund

As Acting Director of OPOLE, John Hammarlund is responsible for ensuring the smooth policy implementation and operations of the Medicare and Federally Facilitated Exchange (Marketplace) programs throughout the country, as well as leading the agency’s strategic outreach and engagement with local stakeholders nationwide.

Prior to assuming this acting role, John served as OPOLE’s Deputy Director for Local Engagement & Administration, in which he directed CMS’ consumer education, stakeholder outreach, community partnering, and environmental scanning portfolio in all ten federal regions across the country. He supervised the ten CMS Regional Administrators and the Staff Director in Puerto Rico, who serve as the eyes, ears, and voices for CMS to local communities nationwide. 

John’s background includes work in both the public and private health care and insurance sectors. He has been with CMS since 1993 in a variety of policy and management roles, including at CMS’ Office of Legislation in Washington, D.C.

A Seattle native, John holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a master’s in health administration from the University of Washington, and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.