Media Center

Fred Riccardi serves as the President of the Medicare Rights Center. He has developed and implemented a variety of successful programs with diverse partners, including ombudsman programs for New Yorkers with specific health care needs. For over a decade, he has been a lead Medicare advocate nationally, collaborating with an array of stakeholders to help inform federal and state health care policy.

Notably, he has influenced national health care policy through his expert testimony before Congress on crucial issues affecting Medicare beneficiaries, including telehealth access and health care coverage. He is a frequent spokesperson on Medicare issues in major media outlets and is passionate about helping older adults and people with disabilities live longer lives with dignity, independence, and support.

Julie Carter is Counsel for Federal Policy in the Washington, D.C. office, where she helps set and advance Medicare Rights’ advocacy agenda. Julie plays a large role in developing administrative comments and in effectively communicating the organization’s policy goals. She acts as chief liaison to multiple stakeholder coalitions, and to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education. Before joining Medicare Rights in 2016, Julie was a Health and Aging Policy Fellow with a placement at the Administration for Community Living as well as a fellow with Justice in Aging. She has a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in English and History, and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She is a passionate fan of baseball, reading, data, poetry, and good Mexican food, which is nearly impossible to find in D.C. Julie is admitted to the California bar.

Mitchell Clark is the Director of Communications & Marketing at the Medicare Rights Center. He leads communications, marketing, and donor engagement, elevating Medicare Rights’ services and policy solutions to beneficiaries, partners, donors, and the press.

He holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Philosophy from the University of Georgia. Outside of work, he enjoys watching classic films, exploring new technology, and spending time with his family.

Lindsey Copeland is the Medicare Rights Center’s Director of Federal Policy. Based in the Washington, D.C. office, she is responsible for developing and implementing a health equity-driven advocacy agenda that is informed by the organization’s experience helping people with Medicare navigate emerging and systemic access, affordability, and coverage issues. She and the federal policy team elevate these challenges, and the solutions the Medicare Rights Center supports to address them, for policymakers, stakeholders, and the press. Through this work, Medicare Rights seeks to protect, strengthen, and improve the Medicare program, as well as the health and economic security of older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families.

Prior to joining Medicare Rights in 2017, Lindsey oversaw federal advocacy and governmental affairs for several national nonprofits that focus on health and aging policy, including one of the nation’s largest networks of health and human services providers and the association representing directors of state agencies on aging and disabilities and long-term services and supports. Lindsey holds a B.A. in English and Political Science from Hollins University and a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. She is admitted to the Virginia Bar.

Giovanni Florez joined the Medicare Rights Center in 2015. As Director of Enrollment & Community Engagement, Giovanni leads Medicare Rights’ low-income enrollment operations, working to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries gain access to cost-saving benefit programs. Giovanni also coordinates the New York State Medicare Savings Coalition (NYSMSC), an alliance that brings government agencies and advocates together in dialogue and provides a forum to review the latest information on implementing health care programs for Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes. Giovanni also coordinates Medicare Rights’ membership with the Community Health Advocates (CHA), a New York State network composed of community-based organizations that works to promote access to quality and affordable health insurance for all New Yorkers.

Giovanni has a B.A. from Montclair State University and an M.P.A. from John Jay College. Prior to joining the Medicare Rights Center, Giovanni worked in the office of the New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On his off time, Giovanni enjoys jogging, watching and playing futbol (aka soccer), and eating.

Sarah Murdoch joined the Medicare Rights Center in 2014. As Director of Client Services, Sarah oversees programmatic operations of the Client Services Department. This includes the national helpline; Medicare Rights Center’s participation in state ombudsman and technical assistance programs such as New York’s Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP), Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP), the Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN), and Community Health Advocates (CHA); and Medicare Rights Center’s volunteer and intern program. Previously, Sarah served as the Helpline & Volunteer Coordinator, managing helpline counselors who work directly with beneficiaries to advocate for access to care, services, and benefits available through Medicare and Medicaid.

Sarah has a B.S. from The University of Chicago and an M.S.W. from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining the Medicare Rights Center, Sarah worked at Catholic Charities Senior Services in Chicago, coordinating community-based services and home care for older adults. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys baking, hiking, and sharing time with family and friends.

Casey Schwarz joined the Medicare Rights Center in 2011 as Client Services Counsel. Today, as Senior Counsel for Education & Federal Policy, she helps deliver accessible and accurate education materials to Medicare beneficiaries and the professionals who serve them. She also advances Medicare Rights’ policy goals through the administrative rule-making process and supports Medicare Rights’ close working relationship with legislators and their staff. When Casey is not working, she enjoys exploring in the outdoors with her children and knitting without them. She is personally and professionally committed to reducing inequity and injustice.

Casey earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from New York University School of Law, where she was elected to Order of the Coif. She earned her B.A. in Biomedical Ethics from Brown University. She is admitted to the Bars of New York and Maine.

Emily Whicheloe joined the Medicare Rights Center in 2015 to pursue interests in adult education and nonprofit work. As Director of Education, she oversees the development of Medicare educational materials for consumers and professionals, manages training programs for Medicare counselors throughout the country, and fields questions from Medicare beneficiaries during weekly helpline shifts. She uses her background in social sciences to approach research and writing from multiple perspectives, and she comes to the Medicare Rights Center with a passion for social justice and the belief that everyone should have access to healthcare.

Emily graduated from Vassar College with a major in Anthropology and minor in Hispanic Studies. In her free time, she enjoys taking photographs and exploring New York City by bike.