Tigue Appointed Medicaid Director

Published on Wednesday, March 08, 2017

CRANSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island’s Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, Anya Rader Wallack, announced Patrick Tigue today as Rhode Island’s next Medicaid Director. He will start his new position on Monday, March 20.

“Medicaid’s top priority has been to provide better care and improve health outcomes for Rhode Islanders,” said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “I know Patrick will maintain our focus on improving the delivery of health care to the nearly 300,000 Rhode Islanders enrolled in Medicaid, while also providing taxpayers and businesses with more predictability.”

“Patrick has proven himself to be a very effective manager for one of the largest insurers of low and moderate income Rhode Islanders. He understands insurer operations, but also has a real commitment to Medicaid’s mission and programs,” said Rader Wallack. “Patrick can lead us in modernizing and innovating in our Medicaid program without losing sight of the people we serve.”

"I am honored by this opportunity to lead Rhode Island’s Medicaid program,” said Tigue. “It is critical that this program is run as effectively and efficiently as possible to ensure that the Rhode Islanders served receive the care they need to lead healthy, productive lives. I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to accomplish these goals."

In recent years, Rhode Island has made a clear commitment to expanding access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. In large part because of the state’s commitment to Medicaid expansion, Rhode Island has cut its uninsured rate by more than half since 2012, to less than 4.5 percent. The Raimondo administration recognizes that in order to expand access to care, we need to responsibly manage costs and pay for better health outcomes, rather than volume of services.

Shortly after taking office, Raimondo signed an executive order creating the Working Group to Reinvent Medicaid. With strong partnership from the General Assembly and community leaders, the Reinventing Medicaid Act of 2015 was passed.

In November 2016, Rhode Island announced the next step in its healthcare system transformation efforts (Reinventing Medicaid 2.0). Rhode Island has received approval for nearly $130 million in federal funds that will better position the State to meet 21st-century healthcare needs and demands. In partnership with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the funds will be used to implement Medicaid payment models that result in better health outcomes and better-quality care, and to strengthen the state's healthcare workforce pipeline. Continuing to implement the Reinventing Medicaid reforms and transformation efforts will be among Tigue’s top priorities.

Tigue has spent his career focused on driving improved health outcomes and expanding access to care through health policy reform. He most recently worked for Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island as Director of Operations and Strategy. In this role, he led the company’s Commercial Products team with responsibility for operational oversight, regulatory affairs, sales, and strategy. Previously, he worked for the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Tigue holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master of Public Policy degree from Brown University’s A. Alfred Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy.

CONTACT:

Ashley G. O’Shea – EOHHS

O: 401-462-6394

C: 401-318-1228

ashley.g.oshea@ohhs.ri.gov