05/20/2019

MDHHS appoints new Medicaid director

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s new deputy director for Medical Services Administration and Medicaid director has a wealth of experience leading successful health care initiatives

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s new deputy director for Medical Services Administration and Medicaid director has a wealth of experience leading successful health care initiatives in both the public and private sector.

Kate Massey has been appointed to the position, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon announced today. She begins her new post on June 7.

Massey most recently was chief executive officer for Magellan Complete Care of Virginia. She previously served as vice president for Medicaid and Medicare for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, overseeing the launch of two Medicaid managed care organizations in Virginia and Maryland. She also worked for Amerigroup, where she established its Public Policy Institute and served as executive director.

She dedicated her early career to government service and public policy. She worked at the White House Office of Health Reform, overseeing implementation of provisions in the Affordable Care Act related to Medicaid, Medicare and public health. Prior to that, she served as unit chief of the Low-Income Health Programs and Prescription Drugs Unit in the Congressional Budget Office. She began her career in public service working for the federal Office of Management and Budget, leading a team focused on Medicaid, CHIP and private health insurance market programs.

“Kate’s health care leadership skills will serve MDHHS well as the department works to keep the Healthy Michigan Plan strong, address the social determinants of health, improve health outcomes and increase healthy equity for the Michiganders we serve,” Gordon said. “I am confident that her unique qualifications make her the perfect fit to lead our Medical Services as we improve healthcare outcomes for Michiganders."

As Michigan’s Medicaid director, Massey will oversee several health care programs, including MIChild and the Healthy Michigan Plan. She will report to the Chief Deputy Director for Health, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, and support the advancement of public health policy efforts for the state. Michigan Medicaid covers nearly 1.8 million people and there are more than 650,000 Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries.

Massey has a master’s degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson College of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree from Bard College in New York. Kathy Stiffler, who has been acting as deputy director of Medical Services and Medicaid director, will resume her previous post as director of the MDHHS Bureau of Medicaid Care Management and Customer Service and deputy Medicaid director.

• New Medicaid Director Press Release.pdf
• Kate_Massey.jpg