Keysha Brooks-Coley is vice president of advocacy for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies. 

Brooks-Coley leads the Association’s advocacy team, driving strong relationships between BCBSA and BCBS companies and members of Congress, the administration, national state-based organizations and external partners. In this role, she directs all of BCBSA’s lobbying and political advocacy strategies, including federal and state relations, grassroots efforts, field operations, coalition-building and the political action committee in support of the Blues’ legislative and regulatory priorities, with a particular focus on advancing a more affordable, equitable healthcare system.

Brooks-Coley brings over 20 years of experience in legislative affairs to her role. Prior to joining BCBSA, she served as vice president of federal advocacy and strategic alliances with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Brooks-Coley led the organization’s federal engagement with Congress and the Administration, and she oversaw ACS CAN’s Judicial Advocacy Initiative. She also led advocacy strategic alliance efforts and executed advocacy strategies and tactics with patient and provider organizations. Additionally, she served as chair of the Patient Quality of Life Coalition, a coalition of more than 40 patient, provider and health system organizations advocating for legislative and regulatory solutions to address healthcare quality and value.

Brooks-Coley’s deep policy experience includes serving in a dual role as a professional staff member on the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ Subcommittee on Retirement Security and Aging and health policy staff for Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD), where she focused on issues including women’s health, public health and health disparities. She also has experience as a legislative assistant for healthcare, aging and education issues on the staff of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH) in the United States House of Representatives.

Brooks-Coley has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from Towson University and a master’s degree in political management from the George Washington University.