Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, today welcomed back Manatt Health Counsel Julia E. Smith in New York. Smith has an extensive background working with state Medicaid agencies and a wide range of health care stakeholders as they develop and implement Medicaid policy across the country. She brings sophisticated subject matter knowledge and hands-on experience to the Firm, further expanding Manatt’s industry-leading Medicaid and policy platform, which was also recently strengthened through the arrival of Senior Advisor Shelli Silver in Los Angeles.

Smith’s practice focuses on advising state Medicaid agencies, state behavioral health agencies, nonprofit providers, managed care plans and other related industry leaders in the areas of Medicaid law and policy. She has experience researching, analyzing and assisting in the development of federal Medicaid waivers, State Plan Amendments and other state Medicaid authorities.

After initially working at Manatt, Smith spent time with a leading health system, advising on regulatory and compliance issues as well as serving in a consulting leadership role where she focused on state Medicaid policy and program development. Her legal and consulting background aligns with Manatt Health’s capabilities in being a go-to partner for state and industry clients operating at the forefront of a dynamic and increasingly complex health care landscape.

Smith is the latest addition to Manatt Health’s growing team of health care legal and business consulting professionals, which includes recent arrivals Nicholas Bath Jr., Dr. Troyen A. Brennan, Tracy A. Massel, Zoe Barnard, Cynthia Bero, Dr. Christina Jenkins, Alice B. Leiter, Claudia Page, Rachel L. Sher and Tara R. Straw.

Smith received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and her B.A. from Swarthmore College.