Sarah Thomas, Vice President , Public Policy and Communications

As NCQA’s Vice President for Public Policy and Communications, Sarah Thomas is responsible for the development of NCQA’s public policy strategy, its work with the Federal government and the States, as well as its media and communications operations.

Thomas is formerly the Director of the Public Policy Institute (PPI) Health Team at AARP. She oversaw AARP’s advocacy in areas of cost, access, and quality relating to health care reform, Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drugs, private insurance and public health. 

Thomas has 13 years of experience in the federal government. She was deputy director at the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and served at the Congressional Budget Office and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has worked for national associations, in state government and for the Advisory Board Company. Thomas holds a M.S. in Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health.