Kara Tollett Oakley, JD

Oakley Capitol Consulting LLC

As principal of Oakley Capitol Consulting, LLC, Kara’s practice focuses on public policy, strategy and advocacy.

Having devoted much of her career to representation of children’s hospitals, she has developed expertise in child health policy and healthcare financing. Kara has positioned children’s hospitals to thrive in a complex Department of Defense health care system, improved children’s health coverage and access to care, and accomplished millions of dollars in reimbursement improvements and recoupment of underpayments.

Kara is proud of accomplishments such as crafting the seminal legislation to improve healthcare for military children, Tricare for Kids, and shepherding it through Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act; ensuring concurrent hospice coverage for children of military families; and improving access and coverage of respite care and other critical services for families impacted by complex and chronic health conditions.

Always a problem-solver, Kara appreciates the challenges inherent in politics and policy. She excels in identifying common ground and crafting innovative approaches, such as community partnerships and strategic alliances, to achieve goals.

Kara founded and leads the Tricare for Kids Coalition, stakeholders committed to improving policy and practices to meet the unique needs of children in military and veteran families.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee and Florida State University College of Law with honors, Kara is thrilled to have two kiddos pursuing law degrees, one at each of her alma maters. She and her husband, their two Alaskan Malamutes and a stubborn cat cheer the Volunteers and Seminoles to victory from their home in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.