Nancy O'Connor
Nancy O’Connor is the Director of the Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement (OPOLE) at CMS, where she leads a staff of over 600. Nancy 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 field strategic outreach and engagement with stakeholders. In her role as Acting Deputy Director of Drug & Health Plan Operations, Nancy was specifically focused on consistent policy implementation and program compliance for Medicare (Medicare Parts C/D, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs)) and Federally-Facilitated Exchange health plans.
Prior to this, Nancy served as Deputy Consortium Administrator for Health Plans Operations and as the Regional Administrator for CMS’ Philadelphia office with responsibility for the external affairs operations of the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs in six states: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Nancy’s CMS career includes positions as Acting Deputy Director for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) and Acting Director for the Office of External Affairs in Washington, DC. In 2015 and 2019, Nancy received one of the highest honors, the Presidential Rank Award, an award is received by the top one percent of the Senior Executive Service in the country for outstanding leadership.
Nancy joined federal service as a Presidential Management Fellow after working in health care administration at the Georgetown University Medical Center. Nancy received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University and a Master of Health Services Administration from the George Washington University.