CMS Leadership

Jackie Garner is the Medicaid Consortium Administrator, overseeing Medicaid operations in all ten Regional Offices.  Jackie joined the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as the Chicago Regional Administrator in 2003. She holds a Master’s degree and came to CMS with over twenty years of experience in health and human services.

Before joining CMS Garner served as a senior member of the Illinois Governor’s health policy staff and later went on to a cabinet level position with the Illinois Department of Public Aid, the state Medicaid and S-CHIP agency. As Director she oversaw the development and implementation of one of the first state pharmacy waiver programs. She also has extensive experience in not for profit executive leadership including substance abuse/mental health programs and was active in state legislative affairs. She was a senior member of the California Endowment foundation staff immediately following their conversion from Blue Cross of California and is knowledgeable of foundation operations.  Throughout her career she has always advocated for improved access and quality of health care for underserved communities.