Baker Donelson Welcomes Former CMS Medicaid Director Drew Snyder as Strategic Advisor

In his capacity as the head of Medicaid at CMS, Mr. Snyder provided oversight for national Medicaid policy execution and program administration affecting nearly 80 million Americans under Medicaid and CHIP programs, which together represent approximately $1 trillion in annual federal and state spending. During his tenure, Mr. Snyder spearheaded regulatory and policy reforms to refocus Medicaid's mission and was instrumental in the administration's negotiations to secure passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025.

Michaela D. Poizner, chair of Baker Donelson's Health and Government Solutions Department, said, "Drew offers an extensive background in federal health policy and operations. We are privileged to partner with someone of his caliber, whose experience provides significant insight into national health policy frameworks. For clients seeking effective strategies to address federal priorities, his senior leadership at the federal level will be highly beneficial across various domains, such as interactions with CMS and state agencies, navigating complex waivers, and pursuing funds through the newly created Rural Health Transformation Program."

Mr. Snyder will collaborate with Baker Donelson's Health and Government Solutions team, which encompasses more than 200 attorneys and public policy advisors across 12 states and Washington, D.C. The Firm's nationally recognized Health Law Group is among the ten largest health law practices in the country.

Mr. Snyder joins a public policy team that includes Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, who previously served as Assistant to the President and the director of the Domestic Policy Council for President Donald Trump, as well as Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva during his first administration. As a strategic advisor to Baker Donelson, Amb. Bremberg provides guidance to clients on policies, regulatory actions, positions taken by the administration, and the potential impact of executive orders and various administrative actions announced by the Trump administration.

"Baker Donelson has an exceptionally strong team of professionals with high-level insight into health policy, programs, and regulation," said Mr. Snyder. "I'm excited to add my experience to the Firm's ability to translate that insight into real-world solutions for health care organizations looking to succeed in the current policy landscape."

Before serving as the head of Medicaid at CMS in Washington, Mr. Snyder led the Mississippi Division of Medicaid for nearly seven years as executive director. Under his leadership, the agency overcame a projected deficit, sustained a nine-figure reserve, modernized operations, and maintained balanced budgets even amid a decade-long enrollment surge. The agency also implemented transformational payment reform that generated significant additional revenue for the state's hospitals.

Prior to that, Mr. Snyder held senior roles in Mississippi state government, including as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Governor and Assistant Secretary of State for Policy and Research, where he honed his skills in legislative and regulatory strategy.

Mr. Snyder is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi.