Source: Denver Business Journal
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday named new leaders for two state health care agencies after their roles were abruptly left vacant in recent weeks.
Gretchen Hammer, Colorado’s Medicaid director from 2015-2018, will serve as acting executive director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the governor’s office announced. Stephanie Beasley, deputy executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, will lead the state’s Behavioral Health Administration as its commissioner, the release said.
Hammer’s role must be confirmed by the state Senate. Beasley’s position doesn’t require confirmation.
Hammer will start April 13 and Beasley will start April 27, the governor’s office said.
Most recently, Hammer was a senior fellow with Mathematica, where she worked with state and local governments on health and human services programs, according to the release.
“My entire professional career has focused on expanding access and improving the quality of health care people need to live strong lives,” Hammer said in a statement. “I bring experienced leadership and health care expertise to help HCPF deliver on its mission and responsibly serve the Coloradans who need our services.”
Prior to working for the state of Colorado, Beasley was director of Children and Family Services in Nebraska. She also previously worked as vice president of community impact at Mile High United Way and deputy director of field operations for Indiana’s child welfare organization, the release said.
“I look forward to leading initiatives that expand access to services, strengthen community partnerships, and create positive outcomes, ensuring Coloradans have the support they need to thrive,” Beasley said in a statement.
The previous leaders at both state organizations left their jobs amid headline-making controversies.
At HCPF, former executive director Kim Bimestefer abruptly announced her resignation on Monday ahead of a reported resolution at the state Capitol that could have forced her removal.
Bimestefer, appointed to her role in 2018 by then-Gov. John Hickenlooper, came under scrutiny for HCPF’s high-profile mistakes related to payment for health care providers. Among them was a billing code error that, now corrected, is expected to save the state over $90 million this and next fiscal year.
The agency also faces accusations from federal regulators that HCPF overpaid providers for autism services by tens of millions of dollars. The payment issues prompted a U.S. Congressional committee to say it is including Colorado’s Medicaid program in a multistate probe into waste, fraud, and abuse.
Bimestefer’s last day with the organization is April 10.
Bimestefer, in a previous statement, said she expects HCPF will continue to “successfully navigate the challenging terrain ahead.”
“Working alongside HCPF leaders, staff and stakeholders, we have navigated one unprecedented challenge after another for over 8 years to protect the state’s most vulnerable, with this current chapter proving to be incredibly difficult,” she said.
The governor’s office said that Bimestefer added value to the agency during her tenure.
Dannette Smith, formerly commissioner of Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration, worked her last day on Feb. 27. She was appointed to the role in 2024. The agency was created by state lawmakers in 2022 to expand the behavioral health workforce and broaden access to care.
Smith’s retirement followed an internal investigation last year over allegations that she contributed to a toxic work culture for multiple employees, according to reporting first published by the Denver Post. Smith said that she told Polis on Jan. 27 she planned to transition to “semi-retirement,” according to a statement to the Denver Business Journal.
“This decision follows a career of more than 35 years dedicated to public service and meaningful impact,” she said. “I am confident that my record has reflected the progress achieved by the agencies I have led; the enduring professional relationships I’ve cultivated with current and former staff, colleagues, and community members, most importantly, the work carried out under my direction that I believe has improved the lives of individuals and families in Colorado and across the nation — speaks for itself.”
