Lower Healthcare Costs | Key Takeaways from National Employer Health Data

Matthew Rae is Associate Director of the Program on the Health Care Marketplace at KFF, where he has managed the Employer Health Benefits Survey since 2011. His expertise lies in analyzing the private insurance market, evaluating policy proposals, and applying advanced data methods to survey and claims data. He has co-authored numerous reports on employer-sponsored insurance, healthcare costs, and coverage trends, contributing to the broader understanding of how private insurance markets function and evolve.

Before joining KFF, Rae held roles with the Government Accountability Office, New York City Small Business Services, the Service Employees International Union, and the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. He holds graduate degrees from Columbia University and is pursuing a Ph.D. at George Washington University.

Lynne Cotter is a senior health policy research manager for the Program on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and works on the KFF Health System Tracker, monitoring healthcare costs over time. Prior to joining KFF, she worked as a research scientist at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, analyzing healthcare trends and innovating methods of health communication to support data-informed policy changes.

Dr. Cotter completed her doctorate in Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in psychology. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in nutritional science with a minor in global health and a Master of Public Health degree from The Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

Melanie Schoenemann joined The Alliance in September 2025 as Vice President of Business Development and Account Management. In her role, Melanie provides leadership for the Business Development and Account Management teams, helping The Alliance strengthen relationships with employer-members, expand its reach, and continue to innovate on behalf of those the cooperative serves.

Melanie has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry, including overseeing strategic growth. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business and a certificate in advanced management at the Wisconsin School of Business, Center for Professional & Executive Development.