Gov. Ducey appoints new director of Arizona’s Medicaid agency

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey announced Monday that Jami Snyder has been appointed director of Arizona’s Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.

Snyder has served as the AHCCCS deputy director since December 2017 and previously served as a bureau chief at the Arizona Department of Health Services, chief operating officer of the University of Arizona Health Plans and Medicaid director for the state of Texas.

“With an over 20-year career in the health and human services industry and prior experience atop a state Medicaid agency, Jami is more than qualified to take the lead at AHCCCS,” Ducey said in a press release.

“I am pleased that Jami will bring her unique insight and expertise to Arizona’s Medicaid agency, which provides quality health care to over 1.8 million Arizonans.”

We are excited to share the news that Gov. @dougducey has appointed deputy director Jami Snyder as our next director, effective 1/5. With 20+ years in the health and human services industry, Snyder's expertise and insight will continue to advance our mission of serving Arizonans. pic.twitter.com/9iCnOdpjG9

— AHCCCS (@AHCCCSgov) December 31, 2018

Snyder said she looks forward to supporting the agency, which serves 1 in 4 Arizonans.

“I’m honored to be asked to serve as the eighth Medicaid director for the state of Arizona,” she said in the release.

Snyder said she plans to explore opportunities for member engagement, improve access to health care and work with the community to address social factors that affect individual health.

She will succeed Thomas Beltach, who will retire as the current AHCCCS director on Jan. 4.

Betlach has worked for the state in various capacities for 27 years, the last nine as AHCCCS director.

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