McKee names interim health and human services secretary

Kristin Sousa, Rhode Island’s Medicaid program director, will serve as interim secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services starting Oct. 29, Gov. Dan McKee announced Tuesday.

Sousa fills the opening left by Richard Charest, who is leaving the cabinet-level position at the end of the month to take a job as CEO of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. 

McKee touted Sousa for her healthcare experience, including her current role overseeing all aspects of the state’s $5.2 billion Medicaid program covering one-third of Rhode Island residents.

“Director Sousa is an experienced state leader who has the knowledge and skills to step seamlessly into this role,” McKee said in a statement. “She understands the important work happening across EOHHS. I thank her for stepping up during this transition and for her continued commitment to serving the people of Rhode Island.” 

A graduate of Providence College with a bachelor’s degree in health services administration, Sousa has worked for the state since 2018, and as Medicaid program director since April 2022, according to her LinkedIn page. She previously worked as a senior program operations manager for Xerox State Healthcare, a subsidiary of the Xerox Corporation that managed government healthcare programs, according to her LinkedIn. A copy of Sousa’s resume was not immediately available.

As leader of the sweeping health and human services agency, Sousa will oversee nearly 200 employees and a $6.4 million budget encompassing public and mental health, hospitals, veterans services and those for children, families and people with disabilities. 

Both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are in the midst of major overhauls to eligibility and administration under the federal rescission package known as H.R. 1. Charest, who initially planned to retire on July 3, agreed to stay longer to help guide the state through the changes in Medicaid and SNAP, alongside spending of a $156 million federal grant for rural healthcare. His last day with the state will be Oct. 31.

There is no plan to search for a permanent health and human services secretary. McKee will be leaving office in January after losing his reelection bid in the Democratic primary. None of the gubernatorial candidates — Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes, Republican Aaron Guckian and independent Ken Block — have commented on their plans to hire a new agency leader.

“My priority is to maintain continuity and stability in the vital programs and services Rhode Islanders depend on while supporting a smooth and seamless transition to the next administration,” Sousa said in a statement. “I remain committed to serving individuals, families, and communities across our state and ensuring that EOHHS continues to deliver on its mission throughout this transition.” 

John Bonin, deputy Medicaid director, will assume Sousa’s previous role overseeing day-to-day operations of the state program.