Oklahoma’s state Medicaid director has resigned, reports NewsOK.com.
Nico Gomez announced his exit on Monday in a letter to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority board. The news comes after Gomez spent 20 years in public service, including 16 years at the Health Care Authority.
The past few years have been especially difficult at the health care authority. Over the past two years, the agency has been hemorrhaging funds. The entity has lost almost 900 million in state and federal dollars, due to state budget cuts and lost federal money as a result of those cuts.
The health care authority administers Oklahoma's Medicaid program, SoonerCare, which provides health care services to 800,000 low-income Oklahomans, including 523,000 children. In a letter to the Oklahoman, Gomez said he was proud to have led an agency that saves lives and supports Oklahoma’s citizens and community. In a statement, Mary Fallin called Gomez an inspirational leader.