As a senior advisor to Health Management Associates, Cheryl J. Roberts brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience helping states, health plans, providers, and other healthcare organizations navigate complex Medicaid policy and healthcare transformation. Her expertise includes managed care transformation, implementation of major federal Medicaid requirements, program integrity, behavioral health, maternal and child health, oral health, rural health, community engagement, Medicaid financing, and organizational change.
From May 2022 through January 2026, Cheryl served as Director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). She directed Virginia’s $24 billion Medicaid program, serving more than two million Virginians and leading approximately 750 employees. During her tenure, she led the successful implementation of Cardinal Care, one of the nation’s largest Medicaid transformation initiatives, integrating multiple managed care programs into a single, person-centered delivery system. She also advanced initiatives to strengthen behavioral health, improve maternal and child health outcomes, focus on quality and accountability, enhance fraud waste abuse efforts, and foster strong partnerships with beneficiaries, providers, health plans, legislators, and community organizations.
Prior to serving as DMAS director, Cheryl held several executive leadership positions with the agency, leading many of Virginia’s largest Medicaid procurements, managed care initiatives, and federal waiver implementation efforts. She has worked extensively with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), state Medicaid agencies, national associations, providers, and managed care organizations to improve healthcare access, quality, accountability, and outcomes. Cheryl is a nationally recognized Medicaid leader and was a board member and President Elect of the National Association of Medicaid Directors and executive committee of National Association of State Health Policy. She is a frequent speaker on Medicaid transformation, policy, and public sector leadership.
Cheryl earned her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from The City College of New York. She is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.