On Monday, June 18, 2012, acting Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) Al Delia announced that Craigan Gray, MD, MBA, JD, would no longer serve as director of Medicaid. Michael Watson, DHHS Chief Deputy Secretary, is set to replace Dr. Gray. The decision to make this change is part of the reorganization of Medicaid’s management divisions.

In accordance with the reorganization, Watson will serve on the Secretary’s executive leadership team. Beth Melcher, Assistant Secretary of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services will become chief deputy secretary. John Dervin will assume the role of chief of staff.

Dr. Gray, a member of the NCMS since 1978, was appointed as Medicaid director in April 2009.

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State Medicaid director fired (The News and Observer, 6-19-12)
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