Governor Gavin Newsom announced today the departure of HHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly after serving for over five years in the role and overseeing many major health care reforms
SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, today praised the leadership of California’s Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly as he departs the role after five years. During his tenure, Secretary Ghaly has worked closely with health care advocates on many health reforms including:
- The work to remove barriers to Medi-Cal for all Californians, regardless of immigration status
- Implementing greater affordability assistance in Covered California
- Establishing the state’s new Office of Health Care Affordability and leading efforts to implement a 3% statewide health care cost-growth target
- Spearheading major reforms to the Medi-Cal program through the implementation of CalAIM to address social determinants of health
- Leading California through the Covid-19 pandemic
- Measuring and addressing health equity through the creation of Health Equity & Quality
- Measures at DMHC, implementation of Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) Inclusive Care Act, and more
Health Access interim Executive Director Amanda McAllister-Wallner issued this statement following the announcement:
“Secretary Ghaly has been a key partner to health care advocates across the state, engaging with our concerns and putting California health consumers at the heart of his decision-making. We have valued his experience, compassion, and know-how to move ahead major health reforms, even during a pandemic that challenged the limits of every aspect of our health care system. More Californians have health care coverage and can access that care without going into debt because of the work of Secretary Ghaly. We wish him well and commit to building on the visionary progress made during his tenure with incoming Secretary Johnson.”
The Governor appointed Director Kim Johnson as the next CalHHS Secretary effective October 1. Director Johnson has led the California Department of Social Services since July of 2019.
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Press inquires can be directed to:
Rachel Linn Gish, rlinngish@health-access.org, (916) 532-2128