Stephanie Carlton
The McKinsey Partner Running CMS
Deputy Administrator & Chief of Staff, CMS
Overview
The ideological architect in the room. Authored the Patients' Choice Act as Republican Senate Finance staff — the conservative ACA alternative proposing tax credits and state-based markets. Spent years as a McKinsey partner building the consulting playbook for health system reform. Was Acting CMS Administrator before Dr. Oz was confirmed. Now oversees $1.7 trillion in federal health spending. CPAC USA 2026 speaker.
Career Arc
Professional Timeline
January 2025–Present
Deputy Administrator & Chief of Staff
CMS
Early 2025
Acting CMS Administrator
Partner
McKinsey & Company — SHaPE Practice, Center for U.S. Health System Reform
2022
Harvard Kennedy School resident fellow
Guest lecturer
Wharton
Republican staff
Senate Finance Committee — authored Patients' Choice Act
Labor & delivery nurse
Board of "major pro-life nonprofit"
Red Flags
Conflicts & Concerns
McKinsey's history in healthcare includes work that has been criticized for optimizing revenue extraction over patient outcomes. Carlton built McKinsey's health system reform playbook.
The Patients' Choice Act she authored was the conservative counter-vision to the ACA — every policy recommendation she makes filters through this ideological lens.
Acting Administrator before Oz — she set the initial direction of the agency in the current administration.
CPAC 2026 speaker signals continued political alignment beyond the advisory role.
Physician-Owned Hospital Relevance
Carlton is the ex officio filter through which all committee recommendations pass at CMS. Her McKinsey background and conservative policy ideology represent the management consulting and deregulatory frameworks that govern how CMS interprets physician ownership questions. No stated interest in expanding physician-owned hospitals.
Sources