Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, announced the arrival of Managing Director Richard Cho to Manatt Health, its Health Care industry group. Coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Cho brings a deep understanding of the intersection of Medicaid and housing, enhancing Manatt’s industry-leading capabilities in addressing policy, implementation and interagency collaboration at the center of health equity, affordable housing and access to health care.
“Manatt’s reputation for advising clients across all aspects of Medicaid strategy and innovation is unmatched, and Richard’s experience only adds to our capabilities in this space – his ability to navigate the intricate regulatory and policy frameworks of integrating health care and health-related social needs will be invaluable to our clients,” said Manatt CEO and Managing Partner Donna L. Wilson. “With his background, impressive leadership in high profile positions and understanding that collaboration is critical for success, Richard brings all the qualities we look for when expanding our teams.”
A highly experienced executive in the government and nonprofit sectors, Cho brings a wealth of knowledge in housing and homelessness, the social drivers of health, health equity, population health, behavioral health, criminal justice and advancing evidence-based policies. He has been a preeminent voice on the topic of Medicaid’s role in addressing the social drivers of health and using Medicaid funding to pay for health-related social needs, including housing-related case management and services that support transitions to permanent housing.
As Senior Advisor for Housing and Services at HUD, Cho developed a key interagency partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve coordination of health care, supportive services and housing. He played a crucial role in creating action plans to increase housing access for justice-involved individuals and led strategic efforts to address homelessness nationwide.
“Social drivers of health solutions are critical components in ensuring that everyone in our country has the opportunity to achieve health and well-being, so we’re thrilled to welcome Richard to Manatt as we continue to advise clients on these challenges,” said Manatt Health Leader Bill Bernstein. “His contributions will continue to set Manatt apart when it comes to issues involving health equity and access to care as we provide our clients with a sophisticated understanding of ever-changing federal and state regulations and policies.”
In addition to his experience at HUD, Cho has held leadership roles at the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, where he developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to address homelessness and support vulnerable populations. During his time as Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Cho marked significant achievements in strategic planning and emergency response coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My time at HUD provided a humbling opportunity to bring meaningful change to those who needed it most as we worked to bring access to health care and affordable housing to the forefront, and as I considered the next steps of my career, Manatt’s commitment to equity and reducing health disparities in this space resonated deeply,” said Cho. “The Firm’s talented and experienced legal and consulting teams are doing innovative work with a collaborative mindset, aligning directly with my approach to business, and I look forward to working with them to support our clients.”
Cho joins the Firm’s roster of legal and consulting professionals who have also joined over the last year across core industry sectors, including Cross-Industry Corporate and Finance (Bill Broome); Digital and Technology (Tim Andrews and Lisa W. Rosaya); Entertainment (Binta Niambi Brown); Financial Services (Warren Biro, Haley Fiallo, Mike Katz, Jessica Sklute, Troy Zander); Health Care (Haider Andazola, Heide Bajnrauh, Axel Bernabe, Patrick Brennan, Tom Cassels, Pat Cerundolo, Christina (Chrissy) Farr, Dr. Shamiram (Shami) Feinglass, Robert (Rob) Fraiman, Erin Estey Hertzog, Kendall Hussey, Paul Irving, Dr. Tracy Johnson, Jason Klimek, Anna Lansky, Ross Margulies, John O’Brien, Tina Papagiannopoulos, Lisa Sbrana, Melindah Sharma, Alexander Somodevilla, Jerry Tichner, Mark Wietecha, and Shaina Zurlin); and Cross-Industry Litigation (Schuyler G. Carroll, Randy S. Grossman, Kareem A. Salem and Justin Wolosz).
Cho earned his B.A. from the University of Chicago, Master in City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and M.A. and Ph.D. in Public Administration from New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.