Gov. Ducey Appoints New Arizona Medicaid Director

By Will Stone
Published: Monday, December 31, 2018 - 4:21pm

Arizona has a new Medicaid director.

On Monday, Governor Doug Ducey announced Jami Snyder will lead the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which is known as AHCCCS.

Snyder served as the deputy director of AHCCCS for the past year.

Her appointment follows the retirement of the agency's longtime director Tom Betlach.

Snyder has more than twenty years of experience in the field, including as the Medicaid director in Texas and as the Chief Operating Officer of the University of Arizona Health Plans.

AHCCCS insures more than 1.8 million people in Arizona.

Snyder says she plans to keep focusing on the agency's major priorities, which includes making the program less fragmented.

In October, Snyder helped the agency transition the bulk of its enrollees into a plan where they can get physical and behavioral health services from just one provider network.

“Going forward, I think there are some real opportunities in regard to empowering members and exploring ways we can increase member engagement, as well as maximizing the use of technology,” Snyder said.