Fred Riccardi serves as the president of the Medicare Rights Center. As vice president of client services, Mr. Riccardi oversaw all of Medicare Rights’ client programming, including its National Consumer Helpline—which handles around 20,000 questions each year—and developed and implemented a variety of successful programs with diverse partners, including two new ombudsman programs for New Yorkers with specific health care needs. For over a decade, he has been a lead Medicare advocate nationally, helping Medicare beneficiaries and families access and afford their care and advising professionals on how to better serve their clients. He has collaborated with an array of stakeholders to help inform federal and state health care policy and is a frequent spokesperson on Medicare issues in major media outlets. Mr. Riccardi is also a lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work.