Ena Backus, the longtime leader of Vermont’s health care reform effort, has resigned from her role in the state’s Department of Social Services. Meanwhile, as Dr. Harry Cheng prepares to step down from his interim role as commissioner in late February, officials are still looking for a permanent head of the Children and Families Division.
Backus, the agency’s director of health care reform since 2018, will join U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vt.’s Vermont office next week as an outreach representative. Welch’s spokeswoman Emily Becker said in a written statement that it is widely interpreted to focus on “the pressing healthcare issues facing communities in Vermont.”
“Our loss is Senator Welch’s gain,” Human Services Secretary Jenny Samuelson said in an emailed statement. She called Backus a “key member” of the agency.
Backus’ current deputy, Wendy Trafton, is now scheduled to appear before various legislative committees.
Backus played a key role in negotiating the recent two-year extension of Vermont’s All Payers Accountable Care Organization with the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, which administers the rules for Medicare payments in the state. fulfilled. The flexibility granted under that agreement supported attempts by Vermont regulators to develop payment structures that reward health outcomes and quality of care.
Prior to joining the Social Services Agency, he was a staff member of the Green Mountain Care Commission and served as a Policy Analyst at the commission’s inception in 2011. During her last two years there, she served as director of health policy. She grew up in the Bristol area and now lives in Montpelier.
“Ena couldn’t have asked for a more committed partner from the people of Vermont, and we appreciate their continued service,” Samuelson said in a statement.
Burlington’s Harry Cheng was appointed Interim Commissioner of the Ministry of Children and Families in October, succeeding Sean Brown, who was transferred to the Executive Office.
An emergency physician, Chen served on the Vermont Department of Health Commissioner from 2011-2017 and interim secretary for the Department of Social Services from 2014-2015.
He and his spouse, Vermont Democratic Party Speaker Ann Lezak, spent a year in 2017 and 2018 in southeastern Uganda via the Peace Corps. Rezak announced this week that she is stepping down as she and Chen plan to return to Uganda.
In a statement, Samuelson thanked Chen for taking on the “tremendous task” of leading the department. “We thank him for his dedication and service and look forward to continuing to work with him next month as we work to fulfill the role permanently.
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