Drew Altman, the longtime chief executive of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), announced his retirement at year's end after leading the organization through three decades of expansion. Altman took the helm in 1990 when KFF operated as a modest family foundation and built it into one of America's most influential health policy research institutions.
Under Altman's leadership, KFF became a trusted source for rigorous analysis on healthcare coverage, insurance trends, and policy impacts. The foundation shifted from operating primarily a health plan to focusing on independent, nonpartisan research that shapes legislative debates and informs public understanding of complex health issues. Altman's tenure saw KFF expand its polling operations, establish itself as a go-to resource for journalists covering healthcare, and develop expertise across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance markets.
The foundation's research teams, led by prominent analysts and economists, produce regular reports on health insurance enrollment, costs, and access. These studies often become reference points in congressional hearings and state-level policy discussions. Altman positioned KFF as a neutral arbiter in increasingly polarized healthcare debates, maintaining credibility across political divides while publishing data-driven assessments that sometimes challenged conventional wisdom from both left and right.
During Altman's tenure, KFF addressed major healthcare transitions including the passage of the Affordable Care Act, subsequent repeal attempts, and the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on coverage and care delivery. The foundation's tracking surveys and explainer content became essential tools for policymakers and the public navigating healthcare changes.
Altman's departure marks a transition moment for an organization that has grown beyond its founder's original vision. His successor will inherit a foundation with significant resources, established credibility, and ongoing responsibility to maintain the rigorous, balanced approach that earned KFF its reputation in health policy circles. The retirement comes as healthcare policy faces continued pressures around costs, coverage,