Michael Garner Ph.D.

Michael has worked as an advocate and analyst on health, environmental, and educational policy issues for both the private and public sectors since 1992.

Previously, Michael was the CEO of The Garner Group. While managing The Garner Group, Michael and his team developed ground-breaking coverage policies around prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs), conducted nationwide surveys and analyses of gaps in state policies and programs for the treatment of Substance Use Disorder/Opioid Use Disorder, and assisted clients by providing state engagement advocacy plans to create awareness and educate policymakers on ultra rare conditions and diseases. Immediately before transitioning into his new role in Artia Solutions, Michael led an internal Public Policy Workgroup tracking and analyzing the progress of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” one of the most comprehensive domestic policy bills in over a decade. Finally, Michael provided policy support across all three companies on issues ranging from the removal of the AMP CAP to helping clients understand the major differences between Medicaid and CHIP.

Before starting The Garner Group, Michael retired as the Senior Director of Government Relations for Anthem Inc. and its affiliates in Florida. In this role, he was the lead lobbyist responsible for advocating legislative and regulatory policies on a wide range of issues affecting health care coverage, professional and facility regulation, prescription drug pricing and distribution, and health information collection and access for consumers. Michael was also heavily involved in health plan operations, mergers and acquisitions, and participated in developing successful responses to multi-billion-dollar invitations to negotiate/requests for proposals to provide health coverage in Medicaid, Medicare, and Children Health Insurance Programs.

Prior to Anthem, Michael served for many years as the President and CEO of the Florida Association of Health Plans (FAHP), the state trade association for health plans in Florida. He was the industry’s primary advocate, lobbyist, and spokesperson, representing almost 20 health plans serving every health care market in the state, including Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance, and the Federal Employee Health Plan.