TennCare Commissioner Leaves Post

The Bredesen Administration announced today that TennCare director J.D. Hickey is leaving his post to work for a private company. Before Hickey was hired in 2004 to lead the state’s Medicaid program, he worked with the international consulting firm McKinsey and Company.

McKinsey conducted the 2003 survey of TennCare which predicted dire financial consequences for the state if no reforms were undertaken. That study became the justification behind Bredesen’s TennCare reforms.

State Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz says the position of TennCare director is one of the toughest in state government. Goetz says while it’s no surprise Hickey is returning to the private sector, he leaves TennCare in good hands.

“JD came to us through McKinsey and is obviously tremendously talented and bright person, it’s always difficult to replace somebody like that. He developed a management team of Darrin and Wendy and others who are really going to be able to carry this program forward.”

TennCare’s chief financial officer, Darrin Gordon, has been named the new TennCare director. Medical Director Wendy Long will remain in her post.

Hickey has overseen the dramatic changes within the program including last year’s disenrollment of 170-thousand people, benefit and prescription drug changes, as well as modifications to the contracts with the managed care companies.

Hickey, trained in medicine and law, will be taking the helm of Qualifacts, a data information company co-founded by Governor Bredesen in 2000.