Montanaro to be appointed as Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals director

GOV. GINA M. Raimondo said she plans to nominate Maria Montanaro as director of the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
GOV. GINA M. Raimondo said she plans to nominate Maria Montanaro as director of the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said she plans to nominate Maria Montanaro as director of the state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

Raimondo will submit Montanaro’s name for consideration to the state Senate this month for confirmation.

“One of our priorities is fostering innovation in state government. It is widely known that there are several challenges facing BHDDH that are holding us back from providing families with the safe, quality care they deserve,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Maria has spent her career finding ways to improve services and outcomes for families. She will be an excellent addition to our health and human services team.”

Elizabeth H. Roberts, the nominee for the secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said Montanaro’s dedication to the state’s families “will be a tremendous asset as we move forward.”

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“It is great to welcome Maria back to our state as we begin to roll up our sleeves on how to improve our delivery systems across all agencies to make sure we are providing the best care, while reassessing our cost structures and contracts,” Roberts said in prepared remarks.

Montanaro is leaving her CEO post at Magellan Behavioral Care of Iowa, and will start her position at the state department Feb. 2.
During her time with Magellan, she managed more than $330 million in Medicaid services for 450,000 recipients for the state of Iowa, according to information from the governor’s office.

Prior to leaving Rhode Island for Iowa in 2012, she worked as a senior adviser for integrated health management services at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. She was also the CEO of Thundermist Health Center from 1997 to 2011.
Rebecca Boss will continue to serve as acting director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals until Montanaro begins the position.

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