Senior Fellow in Advanced Care and Health Policy
2020 –

Cheryl Matheis, JD, is a Strategic Advisor with the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), a national organization of more than 160 diverse institutional members, united in the goal of assuring that all Americans with serious illness, especially the sickest and most vulnerable, receive high-quality, person- and family-centered care that is consistent with their goals and values and honors their dignity. She advises C-TAC in planning and strategy based on her deep experience in law, public policy, communications, external relations, and operations.

Cheryl is a recognized expert in health care, aging and consumer law and policy. Prior to her current role at C-TAC, she served in various high-level positions with AARP for more than 25 years. She devised and implemented strategies at AARP that resulted in accomplishment of key legislative and regulatory goals. Cheryl’s experience also includes serving in the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice and an attorney in private law practice. 

As AARP’s Deputy Executive Vice President for Policy, Cheryl guided Board deliberations on critical Medicare and Social Security Congressional proposals. As Senior Principal and Counsel for External Affairs, she led a co-sponsorship effort with the White House to prepare for the 2015 White House Conference on Aging. As Senior Vice President for Health Strategy, she directed AARP’s successful Medicare Part D Implementation and Health Reform Campaigns.

During her time as AARP’s State Affairs Director, Cheryl oversaw the successful effort to increase access to Medicaid services. She was AARP’s lead representative with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, drafting and securing adoption of consumer protection provisions in health insurance model laws. For more than a decade, Cheryl led AARP’s federal regulatory advocacy, brokering agreements with industry and government. She helped write federal standards for Medicare Supplement and Long-Term Care Insurance. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with State Attorneys General.

Cheryl has appeared frequently on national public affairs news broadcasts. A two-time recipient of AARP’s highest award for Outstanding Association Achievement, she is a member of the District of Columbia and Supreme Court Bars and a graduate of the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University, where she was a member of the law review.