Mahaniah steps into the state's top health care role
Photo | Courtesy of Ella Adams, State House News Service
Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah is sworn-in, ceremonially, to his post on Wednesday in the governor's ceremonial office.
Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah took the helm of the largest department in state government this month and visited the governor's suite Wednesday for a ceremonial oath of office ceremony.
Flanked by his mother, Sandra Chambers Mahaniah, and his wife, Dr. Katrin Schneck, Mahaniah joined Gov. Maura Healey to the applause of colleagues, friends and family packed into Healey's ceremonial office. Healey thanked Mahaniah for his "willingness to serve," calling him "a perfect leader for this position in these times."
Mahaniah stepped into the state's top health care role on July 14 after serving as undersecretary of health since April 2023. He replaced Secretary Kate Walsh, who stepped down after a tenure of more than two years, which included leading the state through the collapse of Steward Health Care.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services has more than 23,000 employees, and the secretariat received more than $32 billion in appropriations in the current annual state budget.
Mahaniah levels up as Massachusetts prepares for the impacts of a new federal law that includes major cuts to MassHealth and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding.
"I know things have gotten a lot more challenging given the lack of support and the defunding at the federal level, but I'm also really confident in the health care system here and our ability to work together, support one another, to find innovative ways of doing things so that we're making sure that we are providing care to people out in our community," Healey said at the State House on Tuesday.
Medicaid work requirements are not expected to begin in most states until the end of 2026, and funding changes to Medicaid and food stamps are slated to begin in 2028, according to New York Times reporting.
Earlier Tuesday, Healey released a statement "pledging" to protect health care in Massachusetts on the 60th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid Act, encouraging MassHealth members to continue to seek care as they "usually would."
"President Trump’s changes have not yet gone into effect, but they will," Healey said. "You should know that you have a Governor and a state government that’s going to do everything we can to help you understand the changes, how they might impact you and what you need to do to protect your coverage."
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