Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Names Shawn Crouch New Medicaid Commissioner

Article continues below...

Crouch's Health Care Experience Will Continue KyHealth Choices' Success

August 20, 2007 -- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Secretary Mark D. Birdwhistell announced today that Shawn Crouch has been appointed the new commissioner of the Department for Medicaid Services, effective Sept. 1.

Crouch has served most recently as the chief of staff for CHFS, and prior to that as theexecutive director for the Office of Health Policy and executive officer to the Undersecretary for Health.

“Shawn Crouch has served the Commonwealth of Kentucky admirably as the senior policy advisor for health care during my administration,” said Governor Ernie Fletcher. “Shawn was instrumental to the development of our nationally recognized Medicaid modernization, ICare program to assist small businesses purchase health insurance, and the lifting of the moratorium on certificate of need. I’m proud to announce him as our Medicaid commissioner.”

Under the Fletcher administration, Kentucky’s Medicaid program has received Federal approval to implement far reaching flexibility by the creation of specific benefit plans for different populations. Medicaid also has successfully implemented a pharmacy benefit administrator and a state-of-the-art claims and medical management system.

“I look forward to Shawn leading Medicaid with outstanding character, balancing the needs of our Medicaid members with the doctors and hospitals who serve them,” said Secretary Birdwhistell. “Shawn has been my strongest advisor for over 11 years in the health care industry. I’m excited to see him lead on KyHealth Choices.”

Crouch also served as the director of government relations for CHA Health and has experience working in hospitals and physician practices. Crouch is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a BS in Health Administration. A Kentucky native, Crouch currently resides in Lexington.
Current Medicaid Commissioner Glenn Jennings is retiring with over 38 years of public and private sector health care service. He has also served the Fletcher administration as the former executive director of the Kentucky Office of Insurance. Jennings has overseen the successful replacements of Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) in several states, including Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.

“Glenn Jennings' return to Medicaid was a successful capstone to a strong public service career,” said Birdwhistell. “The implementation of a new Kentucky MMIS system completes one of the major Medicaid modernization efforts and I thank Glenn for his efforts.”

Carrie Banahan will continue to serve as deputy commissioner, bringing over 25 years of experience in Kentucky’s Medicaid and Office of Insurance programs. Banahan has been responsible for implementing the KyHealth Choice’s policy and operational changes in the department.

Also announced today was the appointment of Carol Muldoon as policy advisor for the Department for Medicaid Services. Muldoon spent seven years as the chief operating officer for Passport Health Plan in Louisville, and brings over 20 years of experience in health care administration. She was most recently senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Keystone Mercy Health Plan, a Medicaid HMO with nearly 400,000 members, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“Shawn, Carrie and Carol bring over 55 years of experience to the Medicaid program,” said Secretary Birdwhistell. “I feel confident this leadership team will continue to build on Governor Fletcher’s health care successes.”

Source: Kentucky Health and Family Services Cabinet