Mathematica Expands State Medicaid and Maternal Health Practices with the Hiring of Gretchen Hammer

Mathematica today announced that Gretchen Hammer has joined the company as a senior fellow in its Health Unit.

Hammer will lead Mathematica’s state Medicaid policy and program research and advisory services practice, helping to expand the organization’s offerings to support Medicaid policy and program improvement at the state level. Hammer will also lead growth of Mathematica’s maternal health practice. She is based in Denver, Colorado.

Hammer is a nationally known Medicaid and maternal and child health expert who has a long history of serving as a strategic advisor to state health and human services agencies and associations. Hammer most recently founded and led the Public Leadership Group, a leadership consulting and public policy firm. There, she was an expert on the core practices of public leadership and health and human services program design and innovation, with a particular focus on maternal and child health, early childhood development, and programs that addressed health-related social needs. Hammer also previously served as the Medicaid director for the state of Colorado and the executive director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved.

“Gretchen brings to Mathematica decades of public service experience at the intersection of Medicaid, public health, and social services. Our state Medicaid clients will benefit tremendously from her deep knowledge of health policies and programs that support states, coupled with her work engaging medically underserved communities,” said Joshua Baker, vice president of state Medicaid and health policy at Mathematica. “Gretchen will be an integral partner to state leaders as we work together to drive continued program innovation, address critical health challenges, and advance health equity.”

“I am excited to join Mathematica and the growing state health practice. States have a unique opportunity to improve the health and well-being of their residents, and I look forward to supporting state health and human services leaders in their work,” said Hammer. “My entire career has been dedicated to the mission of Mathematica to improve public well-being, and I am proud to be part of such a dynamic and impactful organization.”

Throughout her career, Hammer has served as a member on various boards of organizations and associations focused on child and family well-being and public coverage programs, including Thriving Families, the Anchor Center for Blind Children, the National Association of Medicaid Directors, and Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s state-based health insurance exchange. She was also a 2Gen Colorado Children and Families fellow with Ascend at the Aspen Institute and a co-chair of the Medicaid Adult and Child Core Set Review Work Group for two years.

Hammer received her M.P.H. from the University of Washington, focusing on maternal and child health.