L.A. Care Health Plan has appointed Melanie Fontes Rainer, J.D., M.S.Ed., as the organization’s first Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer (CSTO), effective July 7, 2025. In this newly created role, Fontes Rainer will serve as a key member of L.A. Care’s senior leadership team and will be responsible for leading strategic planning and transformation initiatives to improve organizational performance. She will also ensure the organization’s strategy aligns with L.A. Care’s long-term vision, for framing their governance, and strengthening performance management systems to drive accountability and optimize their ability to effectively execute. Lastly, Fontes Rainer will guide and oversee the health plan’s strategic giving programs to deliver value to the communities L.A. Care serves.
Fontes Rainer has spent much of her career serving the public in federal and state roles at the United States Senate, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and the California Department of Justice. Most recently, she served as the National Director for Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) under the Biden-Harris Administration, where she helped advance civil rights protections in healthcare. Previously, she served as Counselor to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, providing him strategic guidance on a multitude of health policy issues. As a Senior Advisor at the California Department of Justice, Fontes Rainer led a national team to save the Affordable Care Act at the United States Supreme Court, preserving health coverage for millions of Americans.
“Melanie has extensive experience designing large scale programs, working with a cross-sector of leaders and teams to implement policy changes, and overcoming programmatic implementation challenges,” said Martha Santana-Chin, CEO of L.A. Care. “Building on our strong foundation, Melanie’s expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the current healthcare landscape and transform L.A. Care through our new strategic plan, furthering the organization’s mission to provide access to quality, affordable health care and support the safety net.”
Fontes Rainer is a national leader in healthcare policy, law and regulation. Her expertise spans private and public health insurance, the Affordable Care Act, competition in healthcare, cost containment, transparency, privacy, cybersecurity, digital health and AI, civil rights, and regulatory oversight of healthcare.
“It is such an honor to join L.A. Care and be able to serve the people of Los Angeles County by helping the health plan advance its critical mission,” said Fontes Rainer. “Access to healthcare empowers our communities to thrive, and I am proud to join an organization that works to improve and protect that care every day.”
Fontes Rainer is a proud Mexican American, with deep roots in Arizona where her family has been for more than 500 years. She lives with her husband, their dogs Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Mookie Betts, her cat Marion Barry, Jr. and her mom who raised her as a single parent. She is an alumna of the University of Arizona and the City University of New York, Brooklyn College. In 2023, she was awarded the University of Arizona’s Distinguished Citizen Award in recognition for her work to make healthcare affordable and accessible for people across the country.
