April 26, 2021
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Todd Smith, Chairman of the Georgia Group at Total Spectrum/Steve Gordon and Associates, is pleased to announce that Blake Fulenwider has returned to Total Spectrum and will be a Partner and Total Spectrum Georgia’s Chief Health Policy Advisor. Blake will be based in our Georgia office, but he plans to both advocate for and consult with healthcare clients in Washington, D.C. and throughout the nation.
Blake gained extensive experience as a consultant and healthcare advocate during his first stint at Total Spectrum. He has also been in senior leadership positions for a Georgia Congressman and two Georgia Governors, and has over a decade of experience advising, creating, and administrating federal and state government healthcare policy.
He spent the last three years as Chief Health Policy Officer for Georgia’s Department of Community Health. Blake was responsible for both oversight and administration of the Division of Medical Assistance Plans – Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the State Benefit Plan, the Office of Health Analytics and Reporting, and the Office of Continuous Program Improvement. These programs comprise 98% of the Department of Community Health’s budget and provide healthcare for one in four Georgians.
Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp directed Blake to develop and implement innovative waivers to address accessibility, affordability, and the quality of healthcare. Blake worked with the Governor’s office to draft, submit, negotiate, and ultimately gain approval from the federal government for two novel waivers to the Patients First Act. These groundbreaking waivers are currently being implemented and are a model for the nation.
Blake was Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Community Health under former Governor Nathan Deal. As Deputy Commissioner, Blake successfully completed the first comprehensive reorganization of the state’s Medicaid division in over 20 years.
He first earned his policy chops as then-Congressman Nathan Deal’s health policy advisor.
Blake Fulenwider is a well-known and respected voice for healthcare policy among federal and state executive branch officials, members of Congress and the Georgia General Assembly, stake holders and advocates across the nation,” said Todd Smith. “I couldn’t be more pleased that Blake has chosen to come home to Total Spectrum.”
Total Spectrum, Total Spectrum Georgia, Total Spectrum Arizona, Total Spectrum Colorado, Total Spectrum USVI. Our principals, staff, and partner companies are communications, legislative, and campaign experts at both the federal state and local level. We create and execute tailored government affairs solutions using advocacy, research, communications, and political engagement.