Gov.-elect Jerry Brown (D) appointed Diana Dooley (D) as the next secretary of California's Health and Human Services Agency.

Dooley currently serves as president and CEO of the California Children's Hospital Association and previously worked as a special assistant to Brown during his previous term as governor. Dooley will replace Kim Belshé, who has held the HHSA secretary post since 2003 (Anderson, Fresno Bee, 12/7).

Job Duties

In her new role, Dooley will be involved in the implementation of the federal health care reform law. She will serve as one of five members on the board that will manage the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Dooley's other job duties will include:

• Administering Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program;


• Managing more than 33,000 employees;


• Overseeing HHSA's annual budget of about $25 billion in state funds and nearly $60 billion in federal funds; and


• Running health programs for children living in low-income households

Read more: http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2010/12/8/brown-announces-appointments-for-top-health-budget-positions.aspx#ixzz17YoXvYs2