Decades of Experience

Decades of Experience

Our seasoned experts bring together more than three decades of experience working at the local, state and federal level on projects that have optimized public investments in Medicaid, Medicare and other public programs.

Barbara Otto, Chief Executive Officer

Barbara Otto launched Smart Policy Works LLC after dedicating more than 30 years as a change agent in the nonprofit sector. She was the CEO of Health & Disability Advocates and the nonprofit Smart Policy Works from 1994 to 2020. HDA/SPW was a driving force behind building smarter systems of health and social determinants of health for vulnerable people and places across the nation. Ms. Otto is a policy analyst with extensive expertise in Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security as well as other public benefits programs for older adults, children, and adults with disabilities. She was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative Public Health Council (2011-2017). She is a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) and is an author of several publications including the No Nonsense Guide Series on Medicaid, Medicare, and employment and disability.

Ms. Otto is frequently called upon to provide expertise and insights on health, disability, and employment matters with Congress, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Social Security Administration, and media outlets. She has been a technical author on important reports to Congress, including Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.

Ms. Otto is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and holds certificates in nonprofit management, leadership, and managing collaboration from the Harvard Business School and Kennedy School of Government.