Gary Jessee is one of the most experienced Medicaid policy and operations leaders in the United States. His career spans more than 25 years across state government leadership, national association leadership, and consulting, giving him a unique perspective that bridges policy, program execution, and strategic advisory.
In his current role as Senior Vice President at Sellers Dorsey, Gary leads the firm’s National Medicaid Consulting Practice, advising state Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, private equity firms, and healthcare solution providers on strategy, policy, and program implementation. Since joining Sellers Dorsey in 2017, he has led the practice’s growth and built one of the most recognized Medicaid advisory teams in the country.
Before entering consulting, Gary spent more than two decades in Texas state government, rising to become Deputy Executive Commissioner for Medical and Social Services at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the largest division in the Texas HHS system. In that role, he oversaw four departments, 13,000 staff, and an operating budget exceeding $50 billion, covering Medicaid and CHIP services, eligibility, and community programs.
As Texas Medicaid Director, Gary oversaw services and supports for more than four million Texans across the state, with direct responsibility for a division of 555 employees and a $600 million operating budget administering approximately $31 billion in annual Medicaid expenditures. He was a key architect of Texas’s managed care expansion and delivery system reform efforts.
Gary served as President of the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), representing state and territorial agencies serving aging and disability populations across the country. He is a frequent speaker at national Medicaid conferences and a published thought leader on Medicaid innovation, managed care, and long-term services and supports.
He contributes expert perspective to Lifeline on Medicaid policy, managed long-term services and supports, care delivery for aging and complex populations, and the regulatory landscape shaping digital health and remote monitoring in Medicaid.
