Dateline: January 12, 2011
Yesterday afternoon Gov-elect Corbett's transition team officials announced his choice for secretary of the Department of Public Welfare as Gary D. Alexander. Alexander, most recently served as Rhode Island's Secretary of Health and Human Services, where, according to the transition team, he was "the governor’s chief adviser on all health care, social services and rehabilitative policies, overseeing more than 3,000 employees and a combined budget of more than $2.5 billion." The Rhode Island state government website press release section credits Alexander with "crafting and designing the landmark and first in the nation Global Consumer Choice Medicaid Waiver (unique in the nation) transforming the Rhode Island Medicaid program into a value-oriented and performance-driven healthcare system focused on the needs of the consumer." We have reached out to NAMI Rhode Island asking for their assessment of Alexander's tenure as Secretary and to also assess their working relationship over the years. More to come after NAMI Rhode Island responds. In previous public service, Alexander has served as policy director for Rhode Island's Lt. Governor and as a healthcare budget analyst for the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
Alexander earned his Juris Doctor at Suffolk University Law School in 2002. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northeastern University in Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. The appointment of Alexander requires Senate confirmation.
See link to Health Reform Report featuring article by Gary Alexander specific to Rhode Island's global consumer choice waiver, http://healthreformreport.com/2011/01/why-rhode-island-is-the-model-for-the-nation.php
SB 251 "Assisted Outpatient Commitment"
