The DC Health Benefit Exchange has added attorney Ikeita Cantu Hinojosa to its professional staff to serve as Associate Counsel and Policy Advisor, where she will focus on legal and policy issues associated with operationalizing the Exchange.

Ms. Cantu Hinojosa brings more than a decade of experience in health law and policy at the local, state, and national levels and has devoted her career to improving health, safety, and well-being.

Most recently, she has been advising DC-area law firms on matters involving health care, the FDA, labor and employment law, and other matters. In 2010-11, Ms. Cantu Hinojosa served as the director of the Partner Relations Group for the Office of Public Engagement in the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and earlier handled culturally and linguistically appropriate services within the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.

In 2007-10, Ms. Cantu Hinojosa was assistant director of government relations for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she was the national state strategist and managed all aspects of state policy affecting 88 affiliates. Earlier, she served as associate counsel for legislative affairs for the National Association of Social Workers.

“I am delighted to have Ikeita join our team. Her experience implementing the Affordable Care Act means that she can hit the ground running and that greatly benefits our implementation efforts,” said Mila Kofman, J.D., executive director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange.

Ms. Cantu Hinojosa earned her B.A. in political science and communications at Texas Tech University and her law degree and Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan.