08/09/2021
Kate McEvoy, DSS Medicaid and Health Services Director, to Join Milbank Memorial Fund as Program Officer for State Leadership and Healthy Aging; William Halsey Appointed Interim Director
UPDATED: Connecticut Department of Social Services Medicaid and Health Services Director Kate McEvoy to Join Milbank Memorial Fund as Program Officer for State Leadership and Healthy Aging; William Halsey Appointed Interim Director
Milbank Memorial Fund, a non-partisan foundation focused on improving the health of communities and populations, announced July 28 that Kate McEvoy is joining the organization in September as Program Officer for State Leadership and Healthy Aging. An attorney specializing in health policy and elder law, Ms. McEvoy has led Connecticut’s HUSKY Health/Medicaid program since 2012 and has also served as president of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, among other leadership roles in health care and coverage initiatives.
***
In a statement for this DSS posting, Governor Ned Lamont said:
“Kate McEvoy has served with great distinction as Connecticut’s Medicaid director and health services director at the Department of Social Services. Along with Commissioner Deidre Gifford and many others across our administration and the General Assembly, I am grateful for Kate’s highly dedicated, professional and enthusiastic service on behalf of Connecticut residents of all ages. As just one example, she was a driving force in our efforts to protect older adults and people with disabilities from COVID-19. There are many others, including her outstanding work in improvements to the Medicaid/HUSKY Health program and support for Connecticut’s leading implementation of the Affordable Care Act. We wish Kate all the best, and thank her for her exemplary service.”
DSS Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford said:
“I would like to acknowledge and salute the outstanding contributions to our agency, our clients and to Connecticut’s overall health standing of Kate McEvoy. Kate has served with distinction as our long-time director of Medicaid and the Division of Health Services. She is a leader, an innovator, an inspiring believer in the right of all people to have access to high-quality health care and coverage. Next month, Kate is leaving DSS to accept an offer to join the Milbank Memorial Fund in New York City. As Kate told her staff yesterday, ‘This is a chance to return to my roots in aging policy and writing, which is what first inspired me in human services.’ As a former Medicaid director myself, I am especially proud to have had the opportunity to work with Kate and share in the accomplishments of our Medicaid/HUSKY Health program. Kate will be the first to say that this DSS success is not due to her or any other one person. It has been a total team effort across several areas of the agency. But there is no doubt that Kate has been a true leader and driving force in making Connecticut’s program one of the finest in the nation. We thank her and wish her the very best.”
Commissioner Gifford has announced the appointment of William Halsey to serve as Interim Director of Medicaid and the DSS Division of Health Services, effective August 20. “An experienced and versatile public health professional, Bill joined the DSS Division of Health Services in 2010 as the Director of Behavioral Health for the Medicaid program,” the Commissioner said. “In 2014, he took on an expanded role as the division’s Director of Integrated Care. In this capacity, he oversees a unit that manages Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) medical, behavioral health, dental and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefits for members, both directly and through contracts with several Administrative Services Organizations and the contracted NEMT broker. Bill is also responsible for several major reform projects, including the state’s Substance Use Disorder research and demonstration waiver. He has focused his entire professional career on serving Medicaid members, first by providing direct behavioral health services and, more recently, through oversight of covered services and development of program policy. Bill is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, earning his master of social work degree from Columbia University and MBA from the University of Hartford. We thank Bill for assuming this leadership role with the outstanding staff of DHS and partner divisions throughout the agency, as well as with our partner state agencies involved in Medicaid services. His experience and expertise will be invaluable in this role while the Department considers next steps for the future of the Medicaid/Health Services position.”
***
Founded in 1905, the Milbank Memorial Fund (www.milbank.org) supports innovative public sector leaders who are committed to making long-term, sustainable commitments to the health of all Americans. Milbank announced the appointment of Ms. McEvoy in this news posting (www.milbank.org/news/kate-mcevoy-to-join-milbank-as-program-officer-for-state-leadership-and-healthy-aging/):
Kate McEvoy will join the Milbank Memorial Fund as a program officer in September. In addition to leading the Milbank State Leadership Network, she will oversee the Fund’s leadership development programs, the Emerging Leaders Program and the Milbank Fellows Program, and guide the Fund’s Healthy Aging work.
Ms. McEvoy was previously director of health services in the Connecticut Department of Social Services, where she oversaw care delivery and payment reform work in Medicaid, CHIP and long-term services and supports. She is a former president and vice president of the National Association of Medicaid Directors Board of Directors and served on the steering committee of the Reforming States Group, the predecessor to the Milbank State Leadership Network. She also contributed to state health reform initiatives as assistant comptroller for the State of Connecticut.
An elder law attorney by training, Ms. McEvoy spent her early career working for a regional Agency on Aging and as a legislative liaison for the Connecticut Association of Area Agencies on Aging. She is a past chair of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association and led several major coalition-based projects around advance directives and end-of-life care. She has a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a BA in English and Economics from Oberlin College.
“Kate has been one of ‘deans’ of state Medicaid directors,” said Milbank Memorial Fund President Christopher F. Koller. “Everyone who knows her appreciates her integrity in policy and passion for public service. We are delighted to have her join our team and know that her considerable experience with state leadership and aging issues will help us better fulfill our mission of advancing population health.”
“It is an enormous pleasure and privilege to join the Milbank staff,” Ms. McEvoy said. “I am eagerly anticipating opportunities to advance policy that honors the preferences and needs of older adults, as well as to partner in bringing forward rising leaders in health policy.”
[Updated August 9, 2021]