Merea Bentrott

SVP, Government Relations & CSO
Iowa Health Care Association 

Email: merea@iowahealthcare.org
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/merea-bentrott-05655565 
Website: iowahealthcare.org 
Phone: 515-978-2204 

Merea Bentrott is Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Chief Strategy Officer for the Iowa Health Care Association. In her role, she oversees IHCA’s legislative, executive branch and grassroots operations as well as leading the association’s growth, planning and strategy objectives.  

Merea previously served as Policy Advisor and Legislative Liaison to the Iowa Department of Human Services [DHS], where she served as the point person between DHS and the legislative and executive branches, and advised the DHS Director, Director of the Iowa Medicaid, and DHS leadership team on federal, state, and local policies and regulations.  

Prior to DHS, Merea worked at the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.  

She has a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies and specialization in Gerontology from Iowa State University, is widely published on LTSS issues, and has presented at multiple state and national LTSS conferences throughout her career.