Beau Reitz grew up in Kaiser, a suburb of Salem, Oregon, where state politics were part of everyday life. His mother is a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, and the National Association of Letter Carriers scholarship made it possible for him to attend Georgetown. Naturally, when he interned for Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Kurt Schrader, he started his policy life in the postal space.
However, Beau’s work in Wyden’s office rapidly shifted to health care policy in January 2020 when COVID arrived. Suddenly, his work revolved around Medicare Part D reforms, affordability debates, and the early versions of legislation that eventually became the Inflation Reduction Act. This period grounded his long-term interest in health policy and shaped the direction of his advocacy career. After graduating, Beau returned to Oregon and works as a Government Affairs Policy Analyst with Providence Health Plan. His role spans several states in the northwest, focusing on state legislation and federal regulation through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS). “People are struggling to afford health care,” Beau said. “And state policy decisions have such a deep impact on people.” He is also pursuing a master’s degree in public policy and administration at Northwestern University, giving him practical grounding in policy administration to complement his work.
His BHF mentor Chris Long of the Better Medicare Alliance, has been a significant influence, helping Beau bridge the gap between state-centered work and the complexities of federal Medicare. “Chris deeply understands the nuances of the health care landscape,” Beau said. “His insight expands my thinking and helps me see the bigger picture.” Beau credits the Foundation with expanding his perspective. “The Fellowship has opened doors I couldn’t reach from Oregon, giving me community, guidance, and the confidence to aim higher,” Beau said.
