Cristen Bates

Cristen Bates is a dedicated public health executive with 20 years of service to the community. She currently serves as the Office Director for Medicaid and CHP+ Behavioral Health Initiatives & Coverage and the Deputy Medicaid Director at the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing (HCPF), the state’s Medicaid agency. In this role, Cristen is implementing statewide behavioral health transformative initiatives to improve the behavioral health access, quality, equity and service provided to Medicaid and CHP+ members, who now number 1.67 million Coloradans. In previous roles Cristen has worked in community health and safety net clinics, hospital administration, strategic communications, and patient engagement. She holds degrees from the University of Kansas and George Washington in psychology, public health, and health IT.