Families USA Board of Directors Appoints New Chair, Deborah Bachrach and Two New Members, Lillian Tamayo and Tara Veazey

09.12.2025 /Press Release

Families USA Board of Directors Appoints New Chair, Deborah Bachrach and Two New Members, Lillian Tamayo and Tara Veazey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Families USA, the longtime health care consumer advocacy organization, announced that its Board of Directors has elected a new chair, Deborah Bachrach, as well as appointed two new members, Lillian Tamayo and Tara Veazey.

The new Chair is Deborah Bachrach, the former Medicaid director in New York State and a partner at Manatt Health. She joined the board in 2020 and has served as its Vice Chair for the last two years. The two new board members also bring significant experience in state-based policy and advocacy on health and budget issues: Tamayo served for 22 years as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida; Veazey was the founding director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center. All three will start their new positions at the October meeting of the Families USA Board of Directors.

"With so much at stake in health care both federally and especially at the state level, I am excited for this infusion of such strong and experienced board leadership at Families USA, to better support our community of state advocates, analysts, and organizers, across the country," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA. "As a longtime state advocate myself who understands how tough it is, I am excited to work with and learn from these esteemed health care policy and advocacy visionaries on my board. These board members have proven track records improving health access, security, and justice in places as diverse as Florida, New York, and Montana."

Deborah Bachrach, a leading expert in Medicaid and health policy, is a partner at Manatt Health, where she has worked with state Medicaid agencies, foundations, and safety net providers. She previously served as New York's Medicaid Director and as chief of the New York State Attorney General's Civil Rights Bureau. She holds a B.S. degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. degree from New York University School of Law.

"I'm grateful for the chance to further my service on the Families USA board, especially at this pivotal moment for health care. Families USA has been a strong advocate for affordable and comprehensive health care access, working diligently to ensure that everyone can receive the care they need and deserve. I am deeply committed to helping lead the organization as we navigate the challenges ahead, defend our achievements, collaborate on innovative solutions to protect access for all and enhance the health and well-being of communities across the nation," said Bachrach.

Lillian Tamayo is a leader in reproductive health and social justice. During her tenure as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida, she oversaw a significant expansion of clinical, educational, and advocacy services, spearheading initiatives to broaden health care access, introduce abortion services, launch gender-affirming care, and implement evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs. Her extensive board experience includes chairing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates (C4) and the Florida Planned Parenthood PAC and serving on the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Board of Directors. She holds a BA from Fairfield University and master's degrees in community psychology from the University of New Haven and social work from the University of Connecticut.

"I'm thrilled to serve on the Families USA board and actively engage in its essential work on the frontlines, tirelessly advocating against significant cuts to health care that jeopardize families' health and financial stability. As a longtime reproductive health and social justice advocate, I have seen firsthand the severe harm such disruptions to health care cause to disadvantaged people, families, and communities. I am proud to be in this fight with Families USA," said Tamayo.

Tara Veazey brings her experience in health care, state fiscal policy, and access to justice to her current role as Principal of Veazey Strategies, a policy development and strategic advocacy firm serving local and national nonprofits and foundations. Previously, she served as a senior policy advisor on health and families to Montana Governor Steve Bullock, where she led his successful bipartisan effort to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Her background also includes serving as the founding Executive Director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center, where she promoted equitable tax and budget policy. Veazey's early legal career included founding and directing a nationally recognized rural self-help law project, as well as serving for over a decade on the Montana Legal Services Association Board of Directors. She holds an A.B. in Public Policy from Stanford University and a J.D. from Yale University Law School.

"Now more than ever, Families USA's leadership is essential in safeguarding and advancing health equity and outcomes. I am honored to contribute to the organization's proud legacy of ensuring affordable, high-quality health care for all," said Veazey.

They join a Board of Directors with many other distinguished members, whose bios are listed on the Families USA website here: https://familiesusa.org/board-of-directors-bios/. Bachrach is just the third board chair in the organization's over 40-year history, succeeding Families USA co-founder Phil Villers, businessman and founder of Computervision, Automatix, and Cognition Corporation, and currently president of GrainPro, and most recently Sister Simone Campbell, the former director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Both will remain on the Families USA board.