Jeff Reynolds to Succeed Jerry Phillips as DHH Undersecretary

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014  |  Contact: Olivia Watkins (225) 342-1463 or (225) 610-8660 (cell)

BATON ROUGE- Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Kathy Kliebert announced today the appointment of Louisiana Medicaid Deputy Director Jeff Reynolds to succeed Jerry Phillips as undersecretary of the Department. Reynolds will assume his new responsibilities following Phillips' retirement on March 10, 2014 from the state after 25 years of service at DHH and a 30-year career in the United States Marine Corps. Phillips was instrumental in the successful creation of nine public-private partnerships aimed at improving access and availability to care for generations of Louisiana residents to come. Following his retirement, Phillips will pursue other employment options with the State in order to ensure the continuity of those partnerships.

Reynolds' began his career at the Department in 1990 as an account specialist for the payroll division. He was appointed the Medicaid Deputy Director in May 2011 after 21 years of work as an auditor, account manager and administrator. Reynolds helped lead the transition from the state's antiquated fee-for-service Medicaid model to a system of managed care.

DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert said, "For more than two decades, Jerry Phillips has been a leader in health care discussions in our state. During his time with us at the Department, how our state manages its health care system has changed dramatically. We are sad to lose Jerry's experience, knowledge and camaraderie, but we are confident that Jeff Reynolds brings the right skillset to this critical position."

The undersecretary for the Department is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating all activities for the Office of Management and Finance, including Medicaid, planning and budget, human resources training and development, fiscal information, information technology, engineering and architectural services, contracts and procurement support, materials management, Health Education Authority of Louisiana, and safety and security. In his new role, Reynolds will work closely with the secretary, secretary's staff and the deputy secretary to plan and execute all major departmental efforts and initiatives. The undersecretary is also charged with coordinating efforts with various other state agencies including the Division of Administration, for conferring with the Legislature, and for coordinating efforts with federal agencies and programs.

"There is no one better suited to assume the responsibilities of the role of undersecretary than Jeff," Phillips said. "I worked closely with him for most of my career at DHH and have known him to bring a critical eye and pragmatic approach to his work - essential skills when managing more than a quarter of the State's operating budget."

As Medicaid deputy director, Reynolds serves as the chief financial officer for Louisiana's Medicaid program with a nearly $8 billion budget.  He directly supervises three Medicaid sections, including administrative and vendor budgets, as well as the rate setting and audit section. He 

Reynolds joined the Department in 1990 as an accounting specialist after earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance at Oklahoma State University. He served on the board of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers from 2006 to 2009 and was the board president in 2010. 

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

###