Rising Stars 40 Under 40: Elizabeth Misa

ELIZABETH MISA
Age: 37
Deputy Director, State Office of Health Insurance Programs

Elizabeth Misa

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has touted his Medicaid Redesign Team’s saving the state $2.3 billion last year.

But there’s plenty more to do for Elizabeth Misa, who was hired last month to help Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson wring billions more in savings from the state’s massive Medicaid program.

“The Cuomo administration has really focused on Medicaid and Medicaid reform,” Misa says. “One of my main jobs will be…really implementing everything the Medicaid Redesign Team has set out to do.”

A former health-budget analyst for the Assembly Ways and Means Committee who later worked at 1199 SEIU and at a law firm representing healthcare clients, Misa is well prepared for the effort, which could save over $17 billion in 5 years.

“It’s a very interesting time to be working on Medicare and Medicaid reform,” she says, “because I think what New York is doing is the first in the nation.”

How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
“I’ve spent many years working in both public and private sector healthcare positions. So coming to work for the Cuomo administration at the Department of Health just seemed like a natural transition for me.”

If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
“I would probably be doing something artistic, either an art teacher or a photographer.”

What will your business card say in five years?
“I’m hoping it will still say ‘Deputy Director at the Office of Health Insurance Programs.’ I think we have quite a lot of work to do, and it’s a very exciting place to be.”

If you could have a superpower, what would it be, and why?
“It would be superspeed. I just started this position last month, and I’ve noticed there’s a lot going on and it’s very high-energy. So that would help me keep up day to day.”