John Rother is the President and CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care, the largest, oldest, and most broadly based coalition of major stakeholders promoting a affordable, sustainable, and fair health system for all Americans, whether covered by private insurance or public programs. The Coalition’s membership of 85 organizations includes major businesses, labor unions, insurers, providers, state based benefit programs, and consumers. 

Prior to joining the Coalition in 2011, Mr. Rother served as the long time EVP for Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs at AARP. There he led the development of AARP’s policy positions and advocacy strategies. Under his leadership the Association engaged in robust public policy research and analysis efforts that provided the evidence base for advocacy at the federal, state, and international levels. Mr. Rother wrote many articles and was a frequent speaker on health, retirement security, the federal budget, and the boomer generation. 

From 1981 to 1984, Mr. Rother was Staff Director and Chief Counsel at the Senate Special Committee on Aging under the direction of Chairman John Heinz (R-PA). From 1977 – 1981 he served as Special Counsel for Labor and Health to Sen. Jacob Javits (R-NY). 

Mr. Rother is a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is a member of the DC Bar, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and the Gerontological Society of America. 

Mr. Rother serves on several boards, including the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, the National Quality Forum, the Alliance for Healthcare Reform, the Pension Rights Center, and Generations United. He also serves on the MacArthur Foundation’s Aging Society Network and the Institute of Medicine’s National Roundtable on Value and Science Driven Healthcare. He has consistently been named as one of the most powerful people in healthcare. 

In 2010 Mr. Rother received the Robert Ball Award for Outstanding Achievements in Social Insurance for the National Academy of Social Insurance for “lifetime advocacy to strengthen Social Security and Medicare.