Topher Spiro is the Managing Director of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, where he has primary responsibility for developing and managing all aspects of American Progress’s work across a broad range of issues, including implementation of the Affordable Care Act and cost containment. Prior to joining the Center, Spiro worked on health care reform at both the federal and state levels. He served as deputy staff director for health policy for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions under Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA). At the committee, Spiro was a member of the team that drafted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. He has also served in other senior roles in the Senate, as senior policy advisor for Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and for the Senate Special Committee on Aging. In addition to his Senate service, Spiro served as health policy director for the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission, where he coordinated implementation of health reform and led the stakeholder consultation process for the Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange.