As Area Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vaya Health, Tracy Hayes leads the executive team, oversees general administration, ensures operational excellence, and guides strategic planning, government relations, and public policy. As a former Medicaid beneficiary and recipient of public welfare programs, she has a deep empathy for the experience of Vaya members and strives to maintain the organization’s focus on our core mission: supporting the people and communities we have the privilege to serve.
Ms. Hayes brings nearly 20 years of experience with North Carolina’s Medicaid and State-funded programs to the role of Area Director and CEO. Having served as Vaya’s General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer since 2013, she led multiple complex initiatives and progressively larger business units, including the Legal, Compliance, Quality Management, Regulatory Affairs, Board Operations, and Communications and Public Affairs teams.
Prior to joining Vaya, Hayes served as Special Deputy Attorney General at the North Carolina Department of Justice, representing the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Her work on both civil and administrative matters related to the NC Medicaid program provided opportunities to gain valuable insight and build strong relationships with stakeholders throughout the state. In 2024, Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Hayes to the Brain Injury Advisory Council, which advises the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on how to plan, fund, and provide services across the state to help people with brain injuries.
Hayes obtained her undergraduate degree from New College of Florida and her juris doctorate from Tulane University Law School. She is certified in health care compliance and licensed to practice law in North Carolina.