Rhode Island Medicaid Director Named Interim Health Secretary

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee named Kristin Sousa, the state's Medicaid program director, as interim secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services effective Oct. 29. She replaces Richard Charest, who is departing to become CEO of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. Sousa has led the state's $5.2 billion Medicaid program, covering a third of Rhode Island residents, since April 2022; deputy Medicaid director John Bonin will take over her prior role. The transition comes as Rhode Island Medicaid and SNAP undergo major eligibility and administrative overhauls under the federal H.R. 1 rescission package, with no permanent secretary search planned before a new governor takes office in January.

Finance