Rader Wallack Appointed Medicaid Director

Published on Thursday, October 29, 2015

Search Begins for HealthSource RI Director

CRANSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island Health and Human Services Secretary Elizabeth Roberts appointed Anya Rader Wallack, Ph.D. today as Rhode Island’s next Medicaid Director. She will start her new position on Monday, November 2.

“Anya understands that it’s hard to make it in Rhode Island without access to quality healthcare,” said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “We need to keep focused on our efforts to improve outcomes for the 260,000 Rhode Islanders enrolled in Medicaid, while also providing taxpayers and businesses with more predictability. Anya’s years of leadership in health policy will ensure that Rhode Island remains a national model for how states can improve quality, achieve better outcomes and drive down costs.”

“Earlier this year, Anya stepped up and led a successful effort to make HealthSource RI sustainable and responsive to Rhode Island’s unique healthcare needs. She has a national reputation as a healthcare leader who understands how to deliver better, more affordable care,” said Roberts. “As we look to build on the successful efforts to reinvent Medicaid and foster an environment for healthcare innovation, we will lean on Anya’s experience to implement innovative, sustainable reforms that improve health outcomes in every part of our state.”

Rader Wallack has spent her career focused on driving improved health outcomes and expanding access to care through health policy reform. She most recently led HealthSource RI (HSRI) through a transition period and provided a foundation for its ongoing success, including rightsizing the exchange’s budget from $52million under prior leadership to $30 million in FY 2016. She also worked closely with the General Assembly to pass legislation that provides sustainable financing for the agency’s work. Under her leadership at HSRI and because of the state’s embrace of Medicaid expansion and a state-run exchange through the Affordable Care Act, Rhode Island has cut its uninsured rate by more than half–one of the most dramatic reductions in the nation.

“I am very excited to take on this new role. Under Governor Raimondo’s leadership and Secretary Roberts’ direction, Rhode Island’s Medicaid program has established a strong foundation for sustainable reform,” said Rader Wallack. “I look forward to working in a new capacity with the Secretary, her team and our community of insurers, providers, advocates and Medicaid members to build healthier, more vibrant communities across Rhode Island.”

Earlier this year, Governor Raimondo made Medicaid reform a priority and championed an ambitious package of reforms that achieve over $70 million in state Medicaid savings without cutting eligibility. Estimates released earlier this week show that Rhode Island is on track to meet or exceed nearly all of the savings targets. The Reinventing Medicaid reforms are running ahead of all-fund savings projections and the State is on pace to achieve more than 97 percent of projected general revenue savings. Secretary Roberts expects the state will achieve the full general revenue savings in the first year of reform, though some individual initiatives may not befully realized.

The reforms establish new incentives for hospitals and nursing homes to provide better quality and better coordinated care by rewarding and paying for outcomes, rather than volume of services. In addition, the reforms bolster fraud and waste protections,invest in assisted living and adult day programs to offer more alternatives to nursing home care, support targeted community-based programs for individuals who need intensive services and support managed care for Rhode Islanders with severe and persistent mental illness.Fully implementing the Reinventing Medicaid reforms will be among Rader Wallack’s top priorities.

Prior to her role at HSRI, Rader Wallack served as president of Arrowhead Health Analytics, an independent consulting firm that specialized in state-based health reform. She is a past chair for the Vermont Health Care Innovation Project and the Green Mountain Care Board. She served as a special assistant for healthcare reform to Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. As deputy chief of staff and special assistant for health policy for former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, she helped lay the groundwork for health reform which achieved virtually universal health coverage for all children.

Rader Wallack replaces Deidre Gifford, MD, MPH who left the position earlier this month. Under Gifford’s leadership, Rhode Island’s RIte Care program was named the nation’s number one Medicaid program for children and families by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Gifford also played an integral role in shaping the Reinventing Medicaid Act reforms.

Director of Administration Michael DiBiase said there would be no gap in leadership at HSRI. “We will move expeditiously to recruit new leadership at HealthSource RI and Zach Sherman, current HSRI Chief of Staff, will serve as the acting director until a permanent director is hired.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mike Raia –EOHHS

O: 401-462-1834

C: 401-862-4603

Michael.Raia@ohhs.ri.gov