Ellen Lukens
Managing Principal
Ellen Lukens is a health policy leader with deep expertise in the design and operations of the federal health insurance programs. Ellen brings over two decades of experience in consulting and federal government roles, tackling some of healthcare’s most critical challenges. Most recently, Ellen served as Deputy Director of the CMS Innovation Center, where she led a large team in developing and implementing innovative payment and care delivery models to improve quality and reduce costs in Medicare and Medicaid. Prior to her tenure at CMS, Ellen was a Senior Vice President at Avalere Health, where she led the Provider Practice, advising clients across the healthcare landscape – including health plans, providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
During her tenure at CMS, Ellen received several awards, including an Administrator’s award for her work on drug pricing. She presents widely to offer insights into the current healthcare landscape, as well as future challenges and opportunities.
Ms. Lukens began her health policy career as a Presidential Management Fellow at CMS. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Michigan.
