ARIZONA NEWS

Director of Arizona’s Medicaid agency announces retirement

Nov 8, 2018, 3:00 PM

(Arizona Governor's Office Photo)...

(Arizona Governor's Office Photo)

(Arizona Governor's Office Photo)

PHOENIX – Longtime Arizona public servant Thomas Betlach is retiring from his position as head of the state’s Medicaid agency.

Gov. Doug Ducey announced Betlach’s retirement from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System on Thursday.

Betlach’s last day will be Jan. 4.

Ducey will appoint his successor.

“Tom is the model of a servant leader, someone whose innovative thinking paired with institutional knowledge motivated and inspired,” Ducey said in a press release.

Betlach has been working for the state in various capacities for 27 years, the last nine as AHCCCS director. He’d been deputy director of the agency the previous eight years.

“It has been my privilege, honor and blessing to serve as the AHCCCS director,” he said in the release.

Betlach’s work for Arizona spanned five governors and included five years as the state budget director.

He also served for a time as president of the National Association of Medicaid Directors board.

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Director of Arizona’s Medicaid agency announces retirement