Departments Get New Leadership

With the new administration of Governor Bill Richardson, there is new leadership in most of the state agencies that have a significant impact on people with disabilities.

At the Human Services Department (HSD), which operates the state Medicaid program, as well as the Disabled & Elderly (D&E) Waiver and the Personal Care Option, the new Secretary is Pam Hyde. Ms. Hyde was the lead in-state researcher/author of the widely praised Gap Analysis that examined the state's mental health and substance abuse service system. She was a guest speaker at Protection and Advocacy's Mental Health Consumer Conference last September. Former State Senator Liz Stefanics has been named Deputy Secretary at HSD.

Patricia Montoya is the new Secretary at the Department of Health, which operates the Developmental Disabilities (DD), AIDS, and Medically Fragile Waiver programs as well as Mental Health services for those not eligible for Medicaid. Ms. Montoya is a nurse by profession and was the southwest regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Department in the Clinton administration.

Continuing in her position as Director of the State Agency on Aging is Michelle Lujan Grisham. Ms. Grisham was appointed to her position during the King administration and was kept on throughout the eight years of the Johnson administration. In addition to its direct long-term care services, the Agency on Aging operates the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

These appointees require confirmation by the State Senate.