Stephanie Gibbs, J.D.

Stephanie Gibbs is an attorney with experience in aging and disability policy and system-level health care transformation. Most recently, she served as the director of system transformation and innovation for the State of Tennessee, Division of TennCare, Division of Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). In this role, she led efforts to align Medicaid policies and programs with person-centered thinking and practices, advance social determinants of health efforts, and promote improved quality of life and employment and engagement opportunities for older adults and people with disabilities. Gibbs led the Statewide System Transformation Leadership Group, an advisory council with diverse stakeholders represented from across the health care delivery system, to guide system transformation efforts. In addition, Gibbs has represented the Division of TennCare on various advisory councils and committees related to aging and disability policy, including decision making, dignity of choice, advanced directives, and interagency collaboration and stakeholder strategies to support people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers.

Prior to TennCare, Gibbs served as a senior program officer with the Center for Health Care Strategies, focusing on initiatives to improve the health of low-income Americans. Gibbs provided strategic leadership in exploring state opportunities for Medicare and Medicaid integration and innovation in managed LTSS models. She provided technical assistance to state Medicaid agencies and led learning collaboratives to promote promising practices in aging and disability policy. Prior to this role, Gibbs served as the national director of advocacy for UnitedHealthcare Community & State and led efforts to form the UnitedHealthcare Community & State National Advisory Board (NAB), comprised of leading experts in aging and disability policy and advocacy, individuals served by Medicaid managed care programs, and family members. The NAB was developed to cultivate a person-centered culture, identify emerging trends and innovations impacting older adults and people with disabilities, promote organizational awareness of people served by LTSS, and inform program development. Early in her career, Gibbs served as a certified nursing assistant in a long-term care setting, providing direct care to older adults and people with disabilities.

Gibbs received her BA in technical writing and communications from the University of Tennessee and was awarded the J. Paul Blakely Scholarship, which recognizes excellence in the areas of technical communication and science writing. She received her JD from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, Tennessee. She holds a graduate certificate in global health from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.