Vernon Smith is a Principal with Health Management Associates, where he focuses on Medicaid, Medicare, SCHIP, state budgets and trends in the health care market place. He has authored several reports on enrollment, spending and policy trends in Medicaid and SCHIP, on the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and on state directions to address the uninsured.

Dr. Smith has spoken on these issues before many national and state audiences, including the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, the National Association of State Budget Officers, the National Association of State Medicaid Directors, medical and hospital associations, the National Health Policy Forum, committees of the U.S. Congress, and Medicaid reform groups in several states. He has been a guest on National Public Radio and quoted on these issues In the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and USA Today.

Before joining HMA, Dr. Smith served as Michigan Medicaid director and as budget director for the human services agency during 30 years of public service. He holds a Ph.D. degree in economics from Michigan State University. Among other involvements, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Anderson University, his undergraduate Alma Mater.