HHS Executive Commissioner Charles Smith has announced that Gary Jessee will lead the newly created Medical and Social Services division of the Health and Human Services system.
Jessee, who is currently the state Medicaid director, will become deputy executive commissioner of a division that combines Medicaid/CHIP, eligibility services and community access under a single umbrella. It begins operations Sept. 1.
Jessee was named state Medicaid director last year, after a three-year stint as Medicaid's chief deputy director for program operations. He has overseen the launch of the STAR Kids managed care program, which will serve 180,000 Texans 20 and younger who have disabilities.
The new Medical and Social Services division will combine the Office of Social Services, which includes SNAP food benefits, TANF cash assistance and community partners programs with Medicaid and the newly created Community Services department. The new structure comes from recommendations made during the system's Sunset review process.