02.18.2026 / Press Release

Families USA Welcomes Two New Board of Directors: Dr. Christopher Chen and Melanie Fontes Rainer, J.D., M.S.Ed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Families USA, the longtime national nonpartisan health care consumer advocacy organization, announced the addition of Dr. Christopher Chen and Melanie Fontes Rainer to its Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Christopher Chen and Melanie Fontes Rainer to the Families USA Board; their extensive experience in government and in health care will be invaluable to Families USA and our common fight for quality, affordable, equitable health and health care for all,” said Deborah Bachrach, chair of the Families USA Board.

Melanie Fontes Rainer is a national leader in health care policy, law, and regulation. Previously, she served as the National Director for Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, where she worked to improve patient access to health care by strengthening policies on nondiscrimination, AI, cybersecurity, and patient privacy. Before that role, she served as Counselor to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, where she led the implementation of the landmark No Surprises Act, protecting patients from unfair billing practices. Fontes Rainer also served as his Chief Healthcare Advisor at the California Department of Justice, where she led a national team in working to save the Affordable Care Act at the United States Supreme Court, and worked on groundbreaking litigation to reduce health care costs, including prescription drug and hospital prices. She is currently the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at L.A. Care Health Plan — the nation’s largest publicly operated plan. Raised in Arizona, Fontes Rainer holds a J.D. and M.S. E.D. and is a double alum of the University of Arizona.

“I’m excited to join Families USA at this crucial time to continue the important work of protecting access to care, particularly by preserving access to coverage through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act,” said Fontes Rainer. “Families USA is a leader in ensuring health and economic security for all, free from financial and other barriers to care and coverage, and I am honored to serve on its board.”

Dr. Christopher Chen served until recently as the Medical Director for Medicaid at the Washington State Health Care Authority. He also holds the role of Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, where he completed his residency in internal medicine primary care. Additionally, he serves as Chair Emeritus of the Medicaid Medical Director’s Network and as a member of the NCQA Public Sector Advisory Council. Dr. Chen holds an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and an M.B.A from The Wharton School.

“I’m honored to join the board of Families USA and support its work to protect and expand access to affordable, high-quality health care — especially for communities facing longstanding structural barriers,” said Chen. “As a clinician, I’ve seen firsthand how policy decisions shape whether patients can actually access the care they need, and I look forward to helping advance Families USA’s mission to promote health equity nationwide.”

“Families USA will greatly benefit from former HHS Office for Civil Rights Director Fontes Rainer and her legal expertise defending the ACA and helping to protect patients from predatory health care practices and prices. Dr. Chen’s work in clinical practice and in Medicaid seeking to improve health and address health care disparities will strengthen Families USA’s mission of ensuring that every American has access to quality, affordable health care,” said Anthony Wright, Families USA executive director.

Founded in 1981, Families USA is dedicated to uplifting the voice of patients and the public to impact and improve our health and health system, toward the goal of achieving high quality, equitable, health care and improve health and economy security for all. Our distinguished board of directors are listed on our website here: https://www.familiesusa.org/about/board/