Thomas A. Ault

Principal
Health Policy Alternatives

Thomas A. Ault is a Partner with Health Policy Alternatives (HPA), joining the firm in 1997 after many years of legislative, budgetary and regulatory leadership in health policy.  HPA provides technical, strategic, and practical advice about health care issues and the health care policy-making process to a broad range of clients.

Prior to joining HPA, Mr. Ault was Director of the Health Care Financing Administration’s (HCFA) policy bureau from 1993 to 1997, and was its Deputy Director from 1988 to 1993. During that period, he led policy development for numerous Medicare and Medicaid changes including coverage of new technology, inpatient and outpatient hospital prospective payment, physician practice expense and other fee schedule policies, and nursing home and home health policies. Prior to joining the policy bureau, Mr. Ault was Director of Policy Analysis for HCFA’s legislative office. He directed the agency’s technical and legislative assistance on the three reconciliation laws enacted from 1985 through 1987, as well as on the Medicare catastrophic coverage law.

Before joining HCFA in 1984, Mr. Ault worked for nine years in the Secretary’s policy office (ASPE) in a variety of senior positions on welfare and social security issues.

He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a B.A. in mathematics, and received an M.A. in public policy/operations research from George Washington University.