Jessica Morelli

Most recently, Jessica served as Vice President at the Iroquois Healthcare Association (IHA), overseeing the advocacy efforts of over 50 hospitals and health systems located in 32 counties across Upstate New York. During her tenure at IHA Jessica led the effort for a change in law to add sole community and critical access hospitals to the definition of what constitutes a “safety net hospital” in New York State. In addition to government relations, operational strategy, and crisis management, Jessica led the implementation of several state and federal grants, including the IHA Opioid Alternative Project, which brought alternatives to opioids in emergency rooms, as well as multiple workforce recruitment and retention programs in rural and underserved areas of Upstate New York.

Prior to her role at IHA, Jessica served in multiple roles in state government in the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly as Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Aging Committee Director, and writer/editor. She also worked at the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) as both the Deputy Director of Governmental Relations and the Health and Human Services Legislative Coordinator. While at NYSAC, she was the liaison for the county public health, human services, early intervention and preschool special education officials throughout New York State. Jessica presented several papers on county health and human services issues at the National Association of County Officials (NACO) annual conferences.

Jessica served as the Assistant Legislative Representative for New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg in which she worked on behalf of the city’s eleven health and human services agencies advancing their state legislative priorities, including the successful passage of legislation authorizing pharmacists as immunizers. For five years, Jessica was also the Legislative Coordinator for the New York Public Welfare Association, whose members are the local social services commissioners throughout New York State.

Jessica has been recognized in City and State Magazine’s “40 Under 40” and is the author of state and federal grant applications, numerous publications, articles and analyses of local government, health and human services financing, public health, and hospital issues.