Kinda Serafi
An established health care leader, Kinda Serafi has sophisticated experience advising clients—from state governments to foundations, managed care plans, providers, nonprofit agencies, tech companies and IT vendors—on the legal, policy and operational challenges impacting the quickly evolving industry at both the state and federal levels. Her work frequently consists of leading complex multistakeholder engagement efforts.
On the state side, Kinda provides strategic counsel, policy analysis, State Plan and 1115 Waiver drafting and negotiation, managed care plan contract development, and operational planning support to multiple state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies. Her particular experience includes:
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies Program: Kinda serves as an adviser, offering technical assistance to states on numerous aspects of Medicaid and CHIP policy and program implementation.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicaid and CHIP Learning Collaboratives: Kinda is a subject matter authority on Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment.
Additionally, Kinda has deep knowledge of how to design and implement innovative service delivery models for special populations including children and youth with special health care needs, pregnant and postpartum individuals, justice-involved populations who are or were recently incarcerated, and families impacted by the child welfare system.
Prior to joining Manatt, Kinda served as the director of policy of the Children’s Defense Fund-New York, where she developed strategies to secure the passage of legislation to simplify rules for a public health insurance program and to expand eligibility levels. She also worked as the director of legal advocacy and organizing at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, where she launched and supervised a multidisciplinary civil legal services department.
Earlier in her career, Kinda was a law guardian at the Legal Aid Society, representing abused and neglected children in all aspects of litigation in Bronx Family Court. She also served as the deputy director of programs and policy for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.
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Kinda Serafi
An established health care leader, Kinda Serafi has sophisticated experience advising clients—from state governments to foundations, managed care plans, providers, nonprofit agencies, tech companies and IT vendors—on the legal, policy and operational challenges impacting the quickly evolving industry at both the state and federal levels. Her work frequently consists of leading complex multistakeholder engagement efforts.
On the state side, Kinda provides strategic counsel, policy analysis, State Plan and 1115 Waiver drafting and negotiation, managed care plan contract development, and operational planning support to multiple state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies. Her particular experience includes:
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies Program: Kinda serves as an adviser, offering technical assistance to states on numerous aspects of Medicaid and CHIP policy and program implementation.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicaid and CHIP Learning Collaboratives: Kinda is a subject matter authority on Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment.
Additionally, Kinda has deep knowledge of how to design and implement innovative service delivery models for special populations including children and youth with special health care needs, pregnant and postpartum individuals, justice-involved populations who are or were recently incarcerated, and families impacted by the child welfare system.
Prior to joining Manatt, Kinda served as the director of policy of the Children’s Defense Fund-New York, where she developed strategies to secure the passage of legislation to simplify rules for a public health insurance program and to expand eligibility levels. She also worked as the director of legal advocacy and organizing at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, where she launched and supervised a multidisciplinary civil legal services department.
Earlier in her career, Kinda was a law guardian at the Legal Aid Society, representing abused and neglected children in all aspects of litigation in Bronx Family Court. She also served as the deputy director of programs and policy for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.
Education
State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law, J.D., 1999
Publications Editor, Buffalo Law Review
Recipient of Dale S. Marguiles Award for contributing the most to the law school and community
Georgetown University, B.A., English, cum laude, 1996
Accomplishments
Panelist, “Celebrating Medicaid’s 60th Anniversary,” United Hospital Fun’s Annual Medicaid Conference, July 2025.
Speaker, “New CMS Guidance: CAA Requirements for the Provision of Medicaid and CHIP Services to Incarcerated Youth,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, August 19, 2024.
Speaker, “CMS Final Rule on Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, April 11, 2024.
Speaker, “Promoting Continuity of Coverage and Care for Children During Unwinding and Beyond,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, January 18, 2024.
Speaker, “The Medicaid Sessions” HLTH 2023, October 9, 2023.
Speaker, “Ensuring Compliance With Federal Renewal Requirements,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, April 3, 2023.
Speaker, “New CMS Guidance on Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, February 8, 2023.
Speaker, “Omnibus Unwinding Provisions and Implications for States,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, January 11, 2023.
Presenter, “Improving Ex Parte Rates to Support Unwinding,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, November 29, 2022.
Presenter, "Unwinding of the Public Health Emergency: What’s Next for States," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, November 1, 2022.
Speaker, “CMS Proposed Rule on Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal: Implications for States,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, October 17, 2022.
Speaker, “Unwinding the Public Health Emergency and Implications for Integrated Service Delivery,” 2022 State HIT Connect Summit, Healthcare IT Connect, Baltimore, MD, April 18, 2022.
Speaker, “New State Guidance on Resuming Normal Operations After the Public Health Emergency,” State Health and Value Strategies Webinar, January 21, 2021.
Speaker, “Leveraging Medicaid to Establish Health Care Connections for Justice-Involved Populations,” American Bar Association 18th Annual Washington Health Law Summit, December 9, 2020.
Speaker, “Keeping Medicaid’s Promise: Strengthening Access to Services for Children With Special Healthcare Needs,” American Health Lawyers Association Webinar, March 5, 2020.
Speaker, “Leveraging Medicaid to Better Connect Justice-Involved Populations to Health Coverage and Care,” Beazley Symposium on Health Care Law and Policy, Chicago, November 15, 2019.
Speaker, “Using CHIP Dollars for Healthy Housing,” Green & Health Homes Initiative Executive Leadership Institute 2019, Baltimore, September 16, 2019.
Admitted to practice in the state of New York
Board Member, Community Food Advocates, 2010-present
Past Member, Committee on Family Court and Family Law, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 2007-2009
Co-author, “State Medicaid Agencies’ Efforts to Address Multi-State Enrollment,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health & Value Strategies Program, June 13, 2025.
Co-author, “House Energy and Commerce Committee Reconciliation Legislation Proposes Mandatory Work Requirements in Medicaid,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health & Value Strategies Program, May 16, 2025.
Quoted, “Medicaid Cuts Mean ‘Children Have No Place to Hide’,” InsuranceNewsNet, May 12, 2025.
Co-author, “CMS Releases Guidance Outlining Expectations for State Compliance with Medicaid and CHIP Renewal Requirements,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, September 26, 2024.
Quoted, “Will Medicaid Incarceration Waivers Hit 'Cutting Room Floor'?,” Law360, September 3, 2024.
Quoted, “CMS Advises States on Medicaid Coverage of Incarcerated Youth,” InsideHealthPolicy, July 25, 2024.
Co-author "CMS Approves Seven Reentry Section 1115 Demonstrations in July," Manatt Health July 2024.
Co-author, "New CMS Guidance on the Provision of Medicaid and CHIP Services to Incarcerated Children and Youth," State Health & Value Strategies, July 29, 2024.
Co-author, “New Rules Will Help Adults and Children Enroll — and Stay Enrolled in — Medicaid and CHIP,” The Commonwealth Fund, May 7, 2024.
Quoted, “PHE Unwinding Work May Aid Medicaid, CHIP Final Rule Compliance,” HealthPayerIntelligence, April 11, 2024.
Quoted, “CMS streamlines Medicaid, CHIP Renewal and Enrollment in Final Rule,” Healthcare Dive, March 28, 2024.
Quoted, “Biden Moves to Simplify Medicaid Enrollment, Retention,” Bloomberg Law, March 27, 2024.
Co-author, “States Can Still Maximize Coverage Retention Through 1902(e)(14) Flexibilities,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, February 2024.
Co-author, “HHS and CMS Take Action to Preserve Coverage for Eligible Children,” State Health & Value Strategies, December 22, 2023.
Co-author, “Issue Spotting Common Policy and Operational Barriers to Ex Parte Renewals: State Assessment Tool,” the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health & Values Strategies program, October 2023.
Co-author, “CMS Releases Third Batch of State-Reported Unwinding Data, With New Data on CHIP and Transitions to Marketplace Coverage,” the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation State Health & Values Strategies program, October 2023.
Author, “CMS Finalizes Medicaid Rule to Streamline Enrollment into Medicare Savings Programs,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, September 26, 2023.
Co-author, “Implementing State-Level Policy and Operational Processes That Enhance Access to Medicaid Family Planning Program Services,” with support from Arnold Ventures, June 2023.
Co-author, “States Have New Options to Improve the Health of People Leaving Jails and Prisons,” April 2023.
Co-author, “CMS Issues Guidance on Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity to Support Reentry for Justice-Involved Populations,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, April 19, 2023.
Co-author, “Reducing Coverage Loss: A 2023 Update on the End of the Federal Continuous Coverage Requirement in MassHealth,” Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, March 2023.
Co-author, “Ensuring Compliance With Federal Renewal Requirements: State Diagnostic Assessment Tool,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, March 2023.
Co-author, “New CMS Guidance on Unwinding Provisions in the CAA, 2023,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, February 3, 2023.
Author, “CMS Approves First-in-Nation Justice-Involved Re-Entry Section 1115 Demonstration,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, February 1, 2023.
Co-author, “Federal Ruling Provides Text Messaging Flexibility to Support State’s Unwinding Efforts,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, January 27, 2023.
Co-author, “Improving Ex Parte Renewal Rates to Support Unwinding: Questions and Answers,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, January 3, 2023.
Author, “Unwinding Provisions in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, December 23, 2022.
Quoted, “Pandemic, aging population lead to historic high health coverage rates,” InsuranceNewsNet, October 10, 2022.
Co-author, “CMS Proposed Rule on Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, September 16, 2022.
Co-author, “States Push for Innovative Ways to Improve Health Outcomes for Justice-Involved Individuals,” The Commonwealth Fund, September 2022.
Co-author, “Protecting Coverage for Postpartum Individuals at the End of the Public Health Emergency,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, September 2022.
Co-author, “Leveraging Section 1902(e)(14) Waiver Authority Amid Unwinding,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, August 5, 2022.
Co-author, “Maintaining Telehealth Access to Medicaid-Covered Pediatric Services After the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,” Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, August 2022.
Co-author, “Working With Community-Based Organizations and Individuals With Lived Experience to Support Continuity of Coverage at the End of the Public Health Emergency,” Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, August 2022.
Co-author, “Strategies to Ensure Continuous Coverage for Children at the End of the Public Health Emergency,” Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, August 2022.
Quoted, “‘The Great Unwinding’: What the pandemic’s end could mean for health coverage,” InsuranceNewsNet, June 28, 2022.
Co-author, “Leveraging Section 1902(e)(14) Waiver Authority Amid Unwinding,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, June 2022.
Co-author, “Improving Ex Parte Renewal Rates: State Diagnostic Assessment Tool,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, June 2022.
Co-author, “Ensuring Continuity of Coverage and Care for High Need Enrollees When the Medicaid Continuous Coverage Ends: Medicaid Strategies,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, June 2022.
Co-author, “HHS Letter to the FCC on Text Messaging: Model Comments to Inform State Comment Letters in Support,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, May 2022.
Co-author, “CMS RFI on Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP: Model Comments to Inform State Responses,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, April 2022.
Co-author, “The End of the Federal Continuous Coverage Requirement in MassHealth: Key Strategies for Reducing Coverage Loss,” Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, April 2022.
Quoted, “Who Doesn’t Text in 2022? Most State Medicaid Programs,” Kaiser Health News, April 13, 2022.
Quoted, “Unwinding Medicaid's Pandemic Protections Won't Be Easy, Experts Say,” MedPage Today, April 1, 2022. Author, “New CMS Guidance on Expectations for Unwinding Federal Medicaid Continuous Coverage,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, March 2022.
Quoted, “On the second anniversary of the pandemic, here’s why it’s so hard to cancel COVID emergency powers,” MarketWatch, March 9, 2022.
Co-author, “Text Messaging: An Important Communication and Outreach Strategy as States Unwind the Federal Medicaid Continuous Coverage Requirement,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, January 2022.
Co-author, “State Policy and IT System Strategies to Prepare for PHE Unwinding: Updating Medicaid Enrollee Address Information and Responding to Returned Mail,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, October 2021.
Co-author, “The Risk of Coverage Loss for Medicaid Beneficiaries as the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends,” The Commonwealth Fund, September 2021.
Co-author, “MassHealth’s Role in Improving Health Outcomes and Recidivism Rates in Justice-Involved People,” Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, June 2021.
Co-author, “The American Rescue Plan Act’s State Option to Extend Postpartum Coverage,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, April 2021.
Author, “CMS Guidance to States on Resuming Public Health Program Operations Post the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, January 21, 2021.
Co-author, “Maintaining Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Amid Postal Delays and Housing Displacements,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies, September 18, 2020.
Quoted, “Telemedicine Struggles to be an Option for Everyone in the Wake of Coronavirus,” Quartz, March 20, 2020.
Quoted, “State Medicaid Plans Wrestle With COVID-19,” MedPage Today, March 17, 2020.
Quoted, “To waive COVID-19 copays, Medicaid must waive all co-pays: CMS,” Modern Healthcare, March 12, 2020.
Co-author, “State Medicaid and CHIP Strategies to Respond to the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies Program, March 11, 2020.
Co-author, “Keeping Medicaid’s Promise: Strengthening Access to Services for Children With Special Healthcare Needs,” The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, October 1, 2019.
Co-author, “Leveraging Medicaid to Establish Meaningful Health Care Connections for Justice-Involved Populations Q&A,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, September 2019
Co-author, “State Strategies for Establishing Connections to Healthcare for Justice-Involved Populations: The Central Role of Medicaid,” The Commonwealth Fund, January 11, 2019.
Co-author, “Strategies for Connecting Justice-Involved Populations to Health Coverage and Care,” Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, March 2018.
Co-author, “Repeal of the ACA Provisions to Modernize and Streamline Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment: What Would it Mean for States?” Robert Wood Johnson State Health Reform Assistance Network, March 2017.
Co-author, “Medicaid and CHIP Reimbursement Models for Language Services,” National Health Law Program, February 2017.
Co-author, “Leveraging CHIP to Protect Low-Income Children from Lead,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health and Value Strategies program, January 2017.
Co-author, “Manatt on Medicaid: Ten Trends to Watch in 2016,” February 2016.
Co-author, “Manatt on Medicaid: Ten Trends to Watch in 2015,” February 2015.
Co-author, “Helping Consumers Enroll in Coverage: A State-by-State Analysis of Consumer Assistance Organizations and Funding,” KidsWellCampaign.org, funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, January 2014.
Co-author, “To Expand or Not to Expand: An Analysis of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions Across the Country,” KidsWellCampaign.org, Atlantic Philanthropies, December 2013.
Co-author, “Medicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act,” BNA’s Health Law and Business Series, December 2013.
Co-author, “State Based Health Insurance Exchange Individual Eligibility Business Requirements Template,” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Health Reform Assistance Network, August 2012.
Co-author, "Reasonable Compatibility Straw Models: Federal Requirements and State Options for Constructing a State's Financial Reasonable Compatibility Standard," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Health Reform Assistance Network, August 2012.
Co-author, "Federal Requirements and State Flexibilities for Verifying Eligibility Criteria," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Health Reform Assistance Network, February 2012.
Co-author, “Community Voices: Perspectives on Public Health Insurance from Two New York City Neighborhoods,” Children’s Defense Fund – New York, August 2009.
Author, “Review of New York State Public Health Insurance Policy Changes and Enrollment in 2008,” Children’s Defense Fund – New York, February 2009.
Author, “Simplifying New York’s Public Health Insurance Programs: Making it Easier for Families to Connect to Coverage,” Children’s Defense Fund – New York, January 2008.
Author, “Issue Brief: Public Health Insurance Policies That Influenced Child and Adult Enrollment in 2006,” Children’s Defense Fund – New York, December 2007.
Co-author, “Coordinating New York’s Medicaid and Food Stamp Programs: Making it Easier for Families to Access the Benefits They Need,” Children’s Defense Fund – New York, December 2006.
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