Children's National CEO Makes DC Case for Pediatric Care

Michelle Riley-Brown, president and CEO of Children's National in Washington, D.C., says advocacy has become a larger part of her job as federal policy decisions increasingly shape how children's hospitals operate, according to Becker's Hospital Review.

Located in the nation's capital, Children's National sits close to the policymaking that affects pediatric care, and Riley-Brown said she now spends a growing share of her time educating lawmakers about children's hospitals and the patients they serve. Pediatric providers depend heavily on programs like Medicaid, which covers a large portion of children's care, making them especially exposed to shifts in federal funding and coverage rules.

The message reflects a broader reality for pediatric health systems: clinical and financial stability increasingly hinges on decisions made in Washington. As policy pressure mounts, hospital executives are stepping into public-facing advocacy roles rather than leaving that work to trade groups alone, framing the case for children's care directly to the people who write the rules.