June 21, 2006

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has named David J. McLaury as its new Interim Chief Deputy Director, officials announced today in Lansing.

“Dave has served in numerous administrative positions within MDCH's Medicaid administration over the past seven years, and brings a wealth of knowledge to a challenging position,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “He is a veteran state level administrator who has the experience necessary to help achieve our department’s critical objectives.”

McLaury has more than 32 years of administrative experience serving in various leadership roles within MDCH, utilizing strong management and analytical skills affecting positive changes within the state agencies he has worked.

As Interim Chief Deputy Director for MDCH, McLaury will oversee day-to-day operations of the department, including its Medical Services Administration, which manages the state’s $7 billion Medicaid program; the Health Policy, Regulation, and Professions Administration, which manages health policy, health professionals and systems, regulatory and legislative affairs; the Public Health Administration, which manages the state’s efforts to improve and protect the public health; and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Administration, which manages the state’s efforts to assist citizens that are mentally ill, along with MDCH’s overall business and financial operations. He reports directly to Olszewski.

Previously, McLaury served as Director of the Bureau of Medicaid Financial Management and Administrative Services in MDCH's Medical Services Administration. Among other projects, McLaury served as project manager for HIPAA transaction and code set revision projects, and managed the implementation of MDCH’s data warehouse project and the revision of the state’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS).

Prior to his work in Medicaid, McLaury spent his first 25 years of state service in the former Michigan Department of Public Health and served in several capacities including substance abuse services, budget and finance, Chief Information Officer, and eventually became that agency’s Public Health Administrator.

McLaury replaces A. Edwin Dore, who left MDCH earlier this month to become Ingham County Controller/Administrator. McLaury, 58, holds both bachelors and masters degrees from Rutgers University. He officially began work on June 5, 2006.