Karen Shields
Gainwell / CMS perspective
Karen Shields is the chief client engagement officer for Gainwell Technologies. She works across Gainwell’s customer base to understand and anticipate the various needs and challenges affecting clients and the members they serve. Working in collaboration with Gainwell’s product teams, Karen applies these learnings and decades of practical experience to drive highly intelligent and strategic technological innovation to consistently fulfill clients’ needs.
Karen brings 30+ of expertise in navigating the intersection of technology and healthcare and serving vulnerable populations. Her previous roles include deputy director of CMS’ Center for Medicaid and CHIP services, serving at an executive level to support states in delivering healthcare to more than 86 million individuals who rely on these essential services. Karen also served previously as the vice president of Health Services at SERCO, and has held various leadership roles within CMS, including as a Director of Technology for the ACA Healthcare Exchanges and ultimately, the Deputy for the Center at CMS, which oversees the implementation, design and launch of systems supporting healthcare.gov and health reforms for the Affordable care act, including the annual disbursement of more than $23 billion in federal payments to health insurance plans.